RE5 Great? Not if You're a Fan.

Capcom is no longer a supplier of my favourite drug.$0$0$0$0Owning a successful IP is a double edged sword in a way. On the one hand, development and release will get massive attention and high sales are (with few exceptions) a given, while on the other, any changes to the style of gameplay may irk some fans who have grown accustomed to certain... "atmospheric promises" that are tacitly made by the franchises reputation. To make my point early on: I expected Resident Evil 5 to be scary and was disappointed in this respect.$0$0$0$0I believe the first counter-argument would be that it is still a great action game, but I do not feel this gives adequate attention to the fact that RE5 is in effect a betrayal to RE fans. The survival horror genre, if not pioneered by Capcom was at least made into a capable blockbuster-producing one, and it is what put RE on the map. Now that they are essentially zombie exploding action games with no mind to ammo conservation or "creepiness" I find myself craving the traditional RE experience more and more. RE IS WHERE I CAME TO GET MY SCARY FIX, WHERE WILL I GO NOW? I remember when ONE zombie was terrifying in RE, now we have boatloads pouring in and I don't break a frightful sweat.$0$0$0$0$0The abandonment of the survival horror genre does not baffle me, because as far as I can tell from sales, the RE franchise is doing well (better than ever, really), and they certainly shouldn't be taking advice from a no-nothing RE fan like me. Still, I AM disappointed, because the scariness factor is what has made the RE games such excellent party games, the atmosphere and intensity are felt by everyone in the room, not just the person holding the controller. Now that it is no longer the case.$0$0$0$0$0Now, I believe it is within Capcom's right to make an action game avec les zombies, but I do feel somewhat betrayed by their refusal to acknowledge this oh so significant departure from the signature style of the franchise, in, perhaps a modified title, like RESIDENT ZOMBIES, or something like that. Anything to let us know things have changed. The style and gameplay change in RE4 seemed to me a necessary departure, it was a new gen of gemes so 3d was expected, and they hadn't tweaked the game in any significant ways since it was released.  The viewpoint threw out some of the "what's behind that corner" moments, and zombie animations were a bit arcadish, but overall, the game was still adequately creepy. RE5 has apparently completed the transformation, and it is clear now that Capcom no longer has a mind for survival horror.$0$0I ask you now: Where am I to get my scary gaming fix? I waited two years to play this game and now am feeling strangely empty.$0$0$0$0$0Kudos on making a great game, Capcom, which I do enjoy, but it's like every simpsons episode (IMO) after season 7, sure, it's a decent show, but when compared to what it used to be... well, you get the idea. Perhaps RE5 is for the next, not so attached to RE history, gen of gamers, but that doesn't make the RE transformation any less of a betrayal to the loyal RE fan who has come to expect a few signatory characteristics from his lovable zombie killin' survival horror franchise. Frankly, I feel I was tricked into playing an action game.$0$0

[PistolPumptMonk]

Man I really couldn't agree with you more. RE5 feels like a very solid action game which isn't a bad thing, but the scariness is truly missed. Even with RE4 being vastly different than other games in the series, it managed to stay creepy and I really appreciated it for that.

The thing about RE5 being a great action game is that even though it is a great action game, I already have plenty of those. Killzone 2, Uncharted, Resistance 1 and 2, Call of Duty 4 and 5, and so on... those types of games are more action than anything in my opinion. RE5 was supposed to be the stand out game in my collection. Action, sure, but super creepy at the same time.

So yeah man, I know how you feel. Having said that, I do somewhat enjoy the coop of RE5 and I'm still gonna play the crap out of it. I will just always wonder what could have been...

Bubbles + for the solid bloggage.

[Panthers]

Just wanted to say that Uncharted was scarier than RE5. When you had to first fight the monsters... that was scary. I think one big problem is that RE5 takes place during the day.

[Azuman]

You sir are a Star, I couldn't agree more on what you wrote.

I am completely Dissapointed of Capcom.

[michellejbuss]

I have not had a chance to get hold of Resi 5 yet despite RE 4 being one of my fav games of all time. I will be very disappointed if what you say is true.

[DarK-SilV]

I agree here is the proof
http://forums.n4g.com/tm.as...

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I'm a long-time fan of the series. I don't care that it's not that scary anymore. I actually prefer it this way. If they wanted to make a Fatal Frame, they would have.

I love this game!

[Panthers]

Its not just the scary factor. Its the fact that you are no longer trapped in a certain area trying to escape. The game is linear now with very little exploration and backtracking. I miss that. Whether it be a mansion, police station, or part of the city, I loved exploring those areas and reading all the info they give when you explore. I miss locked doors with weird keys.

EDI: also, Zombies are just scary. They need to bring back the T or G virus. I want Zombies.

[BI0RAPTOR]

I hear what you are saying I really do,I also was expecting a lot more on the old skool format.I even went out of my way not to read any information regarding this game,or look at any screen shots that were flying around on the net and in magazines,just so I would be totally unaware of what was coming.But although I was not disappointed with the finally game as I really enjoy it,I just did not get the rush or intend fear factor I got with playing the earlier format.I have maxed this game out(like many others)but still find myself going back for more so it as hit a spot somewhere in me,but I also like you and I guess many others find an empty spot wanting the rush of the old format.I find myself sometimes digging the cube out just for the nostalgia and the pure please I still get from playing the old format game's.I really do not know why CAPCOM waited nearly 2 to 3 years just to bring us a polished version of Resident 4.My guess is because they were following the story left off from Resident Evil 4 with the newly upgraded Type 2 Las Plagas,but with saying that I do believe they could have still found a way to balance the old and still much loved Resi format with the new.Until then I guess I will have to keep wondering what could have been and what should have been.Good Hunting to all.

[Squallredfield]

I had kinda seen it coming, that RE 5 would not try to be creepy or try to emulate a sense of fear.

But for all the lack of horror. I did feel tension and and anxiety.
i don't feel you can recreate the feel of Horror that well anymore, since people have have grown used to the scares that Resident evil have used.

Besides i don't think that Resident evil ever really gave a sense of horror, not like Silent Hill at least.

Resident evil 5 was not scary but tense and angsty, I personally had a constant awareness towards everything, because you didn't know what the game would throw at you, esepcially towards the end of the game were several enemies from previous games made an apperance.

[jtucker78]

"i don't feel you can recreate the feel of Horror that well anymore, since people have have grown used to the scares that Resident evil have used."

You can. Dead Space has proven that it's still possible to scare.

[jtucker78]

You're right on the money aj2009.

Bubbles for you.

What did you think of Dead Space by the way?
It managed to give me the scare fix that was missing from RE5.

Still got nothing to replace the old RE puzzles though :S

[aj2009]

Playing it right now, actually.

That game really is phenomenal, I re-rented it after renting res5 (I returned it without finishing it with my roommate, we just weren't all the compelled to do so), and now we're blasting through it... at chapter nine now I think. The scares are great, the weapon upgrade system is great, the difficulty is great (especially in terms of money availability and the need to conserve ammo) and the graphics and atmosphere have over and over made me stop what I'm doing just to say "look at that, for christ's sake, that looks amazing!"

I was really surpised that they were able to do zombaliens in space without getting cheesy or just plain stupid; very impressive game. I wish it had sold more, though. Right now it's only at half a mil lifetime sales whereas (last time I checked) res5 is at 4 million. An injustice, I say.

[Rock_On_PS4]

Dead Space,Left 4 dead, Dead Rising and others are better than Resident Evil 5 and are in the same survival/horror genre. RE series is an old dated series that needs to be retired and not milked any further with more crap games that continue to bring down the series.

RE5 is more like RE 4.5. RE5 tries to hard to copy high profiled shooter games already saturating the market. Hybrid shooter/horror/survival does not work for RE5 and the reviews on the metacritic are extremely generous towards RE5.

[snaz27]

if you want a new scary survival horror... well let me rephrase that... if you want a survival horror! (all survival horrors should be scary the clue is in the genre).. all i have to say is dead space! it scared the crap out of me at times and i am not really the jumpy sort! if you havent got it yet boy oh boy its a must have! also i want project zero ps3! how awesome would that be! i loved those games they also made me crap myself lol... i know this is an old blog but i still had to leave a comment

[swiftshot93]

RE has never been "scary" but it had an atmosphere that made the game feel creepy. Also, tension was always a huge part of RE. Tension is still in RE5, but it is not as prominent as the past RE games were.

I agree that RE5 lacks the tension and atmosphere that were illustrated in previous RE titles, but with that said, I can not get enough of this game. The fun factor in this game is truly top notch, I just cant stop playing. And as an RE fan myself I am really enjoying the story too. RE5 is such a damn good game, whether or not its a good RE or action game is irrelevant, because this game is 100% worth the $60 IMO. Its really just that great and I couldnt recommend it any more.

[TabathaNShey]

Chris is my sex slave and I am a fan since the beggining <3 as you can see by my avatar Chris is a awsome model with me lol I kid. But RE 5 was good even though its more action.