Review: Resident Evil 5

Developer(s) Capcom

Publisher(s) Capcom

Engine MT Framework

Platform Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (reviewing on Xbox 360)

Release date PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
March 2009

Genre(s) Survival Horror, Third Person Shooting (TPS)

Mode(s) Single-player, online and offline co-op

Rating(s) BBFC: 18
ESRB: M
OFLC: MA15+
PEGI: 18+

A boring day to you all ladies and gents and welcome to another run down review. I know I’m late for the party but some folks I know are questionable for this particular game since its release. This was never on my game picks but when I heard that some new DLC is on its way I thought of taking the chance and buy the baby just for the love of the DLC and what’s left of RE Saga.

I have to warn the readers first that my review will be left questionable for those who love the franchise. Back in the old days, I was one of them and the plot kept me guessing and asking for the next sequel. However, its momentum diminishes from the next title to another.

For what I’m about to say right now is based on my opinions and experiences so here we go.

Presentation:
Gory enough? Scary enough? Or even bloody enough to be a bad-ass survival horror game of the RE Franchise? Basically there’s nothing new here. Great environment details but it wasn’t bloody, gory and scary enough to get you in the game and feel fear for survival.
Score: 7.5/10

Graphics:
I have to hand it to Capcom, this is the best good looking graphics in RE series. Even if its not as terrifying environment as its predecessors its still have some gem on the details.
Score: 9/10

Gameplay:
This is where it hurts the most. The controls were RE4 like but not exactly. One disappointing feature that was removed was firing-while-running/walking. It’s a habit of mine to shoot while open a path up front but unfortunately this game left me frustrated at times. Picking menus and managing inventories for both players is a new combo for me. The difference between this and RE Zero is the character can be playable with another player while Zero is completely controlled by just one. But if you’re playing it all alone the second character will be automatically controlled by AI. Unfortunately, AI can be stupid sometimes. On the flipside, if you play it as co-op weather split screen, system link or online it sure gives a great fun. The game is all about teamwork and this game gave an excellent balance to it. So overall, it’s a decent offline game but you’ll get a lot of fun by playing with friends that the control issues will be forgivable overtime.
Score: 9/10

Characters:
Chris Redfield, one of the original cast of the first RE and the male protagonist. It gave a good vibe fans when we’re going to play his role once again. However, this time he is not alone. Sheva Alomar is joining his quest and play as the female protagonist. Some familiar characters from the previous titles will be around too. Voice acting was not as great as the other survival horror movie I played (Dead Space) so for me the acting was from good to generic.
Score: 8/10

Overall:
Time has passed for the franchise and as its progressed further, it got old. The meaning of “Survival horror” theme is no longer there. I have to give credit of the gameplay but I can’t consider this game to be gory, scary and terrifying as its used to be. If I were to compare this to Dead Space which in fact inspired by RE series and specially RE4, Dead Space has delivered the gore, blood and disturbing environments and not to mention its controls is very fluid and satisfying than RE5. There’s no place for RE to be considered a survival horror like it used to but I do hope re-inventing the theme is required. For those who is looking for a pop corn horror game please, don’t say that didn’t warned you. But if you’re in for the game and specially for those who want to play with their friends or love ones, this will not waste your time and money.
Score 8.5/10

Pro(s)
Best graphics I’ve seen in RE series.
Co-op is a flavor for RE and served well.
Upgrading weapons and inventory management is cool
Plot continues to flare from previous titles.

Con(s)
A frustrating itchy feeling controls.
AI and partner AI is a drag.
One player campaign can be boring sometimes.
Not as scary, gory and disturbing as it used to.

Happy hunting,

~Mookie-Mookie~

Review: Final Fantasy 13: Launch Trailer

Title: My Hands
From the album: Echo
Song by: Leona Lewis

Link I saw: http://www.actiontrip.com/

http://www.actiontrip.com/rei/video.phtml?id=5993

I really had to comment on this one. It didn’t gave me the same hype as it was in Call of Duty: Modern Warefare 2. The voice acting might end up as bad as its predecessors. But I have to give credit on eye popping visuals and graphics. I just hope the gameplay and battle system will steer in a different direction.

So all I can say is it gave me a “meh” feeling from the song and the voice acting. But I will peruse and buy this game once its out in the market.

Guys what’s your say?

~Mookie-Mookie~

Review: Dead Space

Developer(s) ‎ EA Redwood Shores

Publisher(s) ‎ Electronic Arts
‎ ‎
Engine ‎ Godfather game engine

Platform ‎ Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (reviewing on Xbox 360)‎

Release date ‎ October 2008‎
‎ ‎
Genre(s) ‎ Survival Horror, Third Person Shooting (TPS)‎

Mode(s) ‎ Single-player ‎

Rating(s) ‎ BBFC: 18‎
ESRB: M
OFLC: MA15+‎
PEGI: 18+‎
USK 18‎
‎ ‎
Wow! A brand new year and a brand new decade to start. I have been away from ‎my blog for a little too long. Luckily, I took my time heading back to my old ‎purchased games from last year (not to mention I haven’t finished them most so I ‎had to head back). But even at the final day of 2009 (after watching Dead Space: ‎Downfall) I went out and bought me two old games Dead Space and Gears of ‎War. I know it’s a little late but I had to buy them both for a good price and all ‎thanks to Mr. Habib at Eagle Software in Shola Mall. “So in 2010 I am officially ‎open to horror games and movies”‎

Survival horror game isn’t new for us. Two well known titles were Resident Evil ‎and Silent Hill and both franchise made a name and kept their diehard fans ‎happy and satisfied (well at least most of them if not). Moreover, up until now ‎both franchises are still making new titles. In 2008, a new title was release from ‎an unexpected company and that was EA (Electronic Arts). As far as I noticed ‎from that year, EA released two interesting titles that I have never seen before ‎from them (the other one was Mirror’s Edge but that’s a different story). ‎

But since this is another review article, I mind as well talk about it so here we ‎go…‎

Presentation:‎
Before the release, EA launched Comics and a site specialized for the game. A ‎very intriguing and moving presentation that left me puzzled with “oh s@#t!” or ‎‎“WTH is going on?” moments. When I finally got a hold of the game, I had to say ‎that it wasn’t bad but could have been better (harsh am I not?). Surely, I salute ‎the sounds and surprising attacks of the uglies but the run-in-the-mill plot and ‎missions deprived the thrill a bit and left me bored by doing almost the same old ‎tasks over and over. Environment was very well crafted and original for a ‎repulsive horror-in-space piece. ‎
Score:‎ ‎ ‎ ‎8/10‎

Graphics:‎
Before the release, EA launched Comics and a site specialized for the game. A ‎very intriguing and moving presentation that left me puzzled with “oh s@#t!” or ‎‎“WTH is going on?” moments. ‎
Score:‎ ‎ ‎ ‎9/10‎

Gameplay:‎
New things caught my attention like activating the menus, I’m used to take my ‎time browsing the menus. For me it’s the same as pausing the game. But DS ‎develop something which is browsing them without pausing. Pretty neat and ‎challenging at the same time, so whenever I brows I have to make sure to do it in ‎a safe place or fast (like healing). In weapons, there are no best weapons in the ‎game. Each of them is useful in certain situations, so it matters depending on ‎how you use and upgrade them. Not much puzzles to solve though but the zero ‎gravity gameply was fun leap from one place to the other and also short space ‎battles…you can’t seem to hear them scram in space (I guess they borrowed the ‎theory of the saying “in space, no one can hear you scream”). Controls were ‎responsive (compared from another TPS I tried “Ghost Recon: Advance ‎Warefare 2 which was horrible). The theme isn’t new but the concept was a little ‎different yet stirs a different direction. ‎
Score:‎ ‎9/10‎

Characters:‎
Well, they’re limited and easy get acquainted though well phased voice acting is ‎well delivered.‎
Score:‎ ‎9/10‎

Overall:‎
This is something new to me. Gameplay hour was worth its price. Just like RE ‎and Silent Hill franchise, I would like to have a new franchise like Dead Space to ‎include on the list. ‎
Score ‎ ‎9/10‎

Pro(s)‎
Character and the environments is well delivered.‎
Sounds really made a great horror feeling.‎
Weapons and its features are interesting (I wonder if they cane make a ‎multiplayer battle using these weapons in the future…cool!!).‎
Zero-G is fun.‎

Con(s)‎
Missions tend to get a little repetitive in an odd way.‎
Not as innovative in plot-making and storytelling as I hoped for. ‎
Predictable plot. ‎

Good Hunting Guys!

~Mookie-Mookie