Resident Evil 5
Jun Takeuchi walks us through the latest build.
Since we were last closely acquainted with a playable build of Resident Evil 5, Capcom has evidently gone back and had a little think about how to make the game more appealing to Western gamers.
The first thing to note is that a new alternate 'Action' control system has been introduced alongside the traditional one we all know and love/hate. Prompted by producer Jun Takeuchi's affection for first-person shooters, it remaps the aim and fire controls to the left and right triggers. "Obviously the Resident Evil series is really popular in the west, so we wanted to put in a system that western users might find a little easier to control," he tells us.
If you've spent any time with Call of Duty or Gears of War, you'll find it comes naturally, and as a result of being able to do what comes naturally, you don't have to clamber over the usual Resident Evil obstacle of rewiring your brain to adapt. Equally helpful is the decision to map the knife slash and various punches and kicks to the right trigger depending on the context.
But although the fire and aiming basics are retooled, the important thing is it still feels very much like Resident Evil, with the same stop-and-fire combat style that's characterised the series since day one, so diehard fans needn't panic. As ever, the tension comes from the need to conserve ammo, and to do that you need to pull off headshots on demand, aided by a laser pointer.

Fireworks night, Umbrella style.
Like the E3 demo, the section we're given to play also showcases network co-op, with a split-screen, offline version also shown. Similar to Resident Evil Zero, context-sensitive actions and puzzles are the order of the day, with lead character Chris Redfield providing sidekick Sheva Alomar with a leg-up (prompted on-screen where necessary), and the duo doing things simultaneously to solve puzzles, or providing crucial cover fire when set upon by shambling T-Virus victims. (Can we still call them zombies?)
In terms of Resident Evil 5's puzzle content, Takeuchi reckons, "It's probably about the same amount as Resident Evil 4," but claims it will feel like more of an adventure than last time because of more elaborate level design. "Resident Evil 4 didn't have much in the way of exploration or going off down different paths - it was very simple. Mikami-san himself described the game as a big circuit, basically. So, in Resident Evil 5, the layout of the game will be more complicated, so there will be more of an element of exploration and adventure than 4."

Co-op jumping.
Set ten years after the events of the original, we're told that the game effectively joins the dots for Chris Redfield in the intervening period. "Bioterrorism is taking place in various parts of the world," Takeuchi states, "and people are using the T-Virus to commit various acts of terrorism. The reason Chris has been sent to Africa is to fight an incident of bioterrorism that's broken out there." Now a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), Redfield meets up with fellow agent Sheva, who acts as your guide for the early portion of the game.
Asked if the game would reprise the roles of other familiar characters, Takeuchi said enigmatically: "You may see some familiar characters from other games that you already know." In terms of playable characters, however, "It'll just be Chris and Sheva." Later in our chat with Takeuchi-san, he allayed fears that Resident Evil 5 would be any less epic than previous efforts. "We've been saying it'll take 20 hours to play right through it, but recently the staff have been playing through the game, and even the really good members of the team are finding it still takes them about ten hours to get through it.
"For people who are new to the series it might take 30 hours to play through the whole game, so if you look at that, and look at the amount of content in the game, it's on a bigger scale than Resident Evil 4," he says. Good news - but its size hasn't meant that it has been a struggle to fit the game onto a single DVD. "It hasn't been that much of a problem, and one of the main reasons for that is that all of the movies in the game all use the game engine, so we don't have to fit in lots of pre-rendered movies onto the disk."
But what about the dreaded hard-disk install for PS3 owners? "We're still working on those technical elements in the last couple of months, but we can tell you that if users are dissatisfied with that kind of thing, then it's certainly something we keep in mind when we develop. We'll do our best to come up with something that users will not criticise, but love..."
Takeuchi also confirms that Capcom has ditched the infamous typewriter save system, and replaced it with checkpoints. In addition, the usual multiple difficulty levels have been retained, and there will be unlockable mini-games of sorts. "We can't say exactly what there will be, but we'd like you to look forward to it." Our spies reckon the Mercenaries mode will make a return, but no confirmation is forthcoming.
A downloadable demo, however, is definitely on the cards: "We'll be making an announcement about that relatively soon," he says. And what about downloadable content? "That's one of the things we're thinking about right now. We do get that question a lot, and people seem to want it, so it's possible that it's something we would like to respond to.

Covering your partner while under fire plays a big part.
Happily, he also says he would personally be up for going back and remaking some of the older Resident Evil classics, given the opportunity: "If we had the chance to go back and remake Resident Evil 2...you know, I think there is the demand for it. It's certainly something we would like to consider and think about, but, quite frankly our hands are full with Resident Evil 5 right now, and trying to get that out of the door, so we're going to have to put all of our focus on Resident Evil 5 for the moment." Get the online petition started now.
Perhaps predictably, he quickly steers the conversation back towards Resi 5, which he reckons will be amazing. "We have the biggest budget of any game in the series so far, we have the best staff working on it, and Capcom is working as one to make this the best entry we have in the series. All the staff have been looking back at all the great games that have been in the series so far, and they all feel the pressure to make something better than any of the previous games in the series.
"Personally, though, the most amazing thing is seeing how the staff are doing their best and working all hours in order to make them even better than Resident Evil 4, which was a classic." If it's better than 4, I think we'll all be happy...
Resident Evil 5 is due out for PS3 and 360 on 13th March 2009. Check back soon for more news on the forthcoming demo.
You may also like...
-
Happy Action Theater Review
-
Mass Effect 3 Demo: The First 20 Minutes
-
Face-Off: Final Fantasy 13-2
-
Why Devs Owe You Nothing
-
Retrospective: Star Wars Episode I Racer
-
Digital Foundry: PS3 Skyrim Lag Fixed?
-
Call of Duty: Black Ops has best game ending ever, says Guinness World Records
-
Sony's $50m Vita marketing campaign targets PS3 owners
-
Metal Gear Solid 5 expected between April 2013 and May 2014
-
Game of the Week: Catherine
-
Who Killed Rare?
-
Gotham City Impostors Review
-
App of the Day: Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer
-
Lollipop Chainsaw screenshots show off custom costumes
-
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review
-
Face-Off: The Darkness 2
-
Alan Wake's American Nightmare gameplay
-
FIFA Street footage pits France vs. Germany
-
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Vita Review
-
The Darkness 2 Review
-
Grand Slam Tennis 2 Review
-
EA evaluating FIFA Street features for FIFA 13
-
App of the Day: Sir Benfro's Brilliant Balloon
-
Epic's Sweeney on graphics tech: "the limit really is in sight"
-
One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP Review









Comments (27) Latest comment 3 years ago
Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
if you can remap the aiming to the right stick, and movement to the left, then i am sold.
at least i don't have to unlearn the controls that have been burned into my brain from every other game.
now all they have to do is add this type of control system to dead rising 2, and i believe capcom will be on to multiple winners.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
I do hope your not serious EG!
"Happily, he also says he would personally be up for going back and remaking some of the older Resident Evil classics, given the opportunity: "If we had the chance to go back and remake Resident Evil 2..."
I tell you what Capcom, announce this (along with some more traditional RE titles) before RE5 ships and I'll 100% spend cash on your arcade shooter!
/ waits wallet in hand....
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Secondly, colour me interested now.
I'd love to play a demo beforehand to see if I'm happy with the controls and just to get a feel for the game.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Not that anyone needs to talk this game up to me, I'd buy it if it got 1/10 across the board, it cost £100, if you bought it the producer cut off one of your legs, and it could only be bought from 1 shop on the Isle of Man.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
We need to go back to Raccoon city and forget all this tomfoolery.
I will still buy and play this or course.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Of the 'originals' Resi 1 is definitely my favourite.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
I used to play the original AiTD games on the PC way back when and really enjoyed them but damn games have come a long way since then and I for one think Res games need to catch up.
Anywho, I'm glad that they are making changes to the system for Res 5. I'm hoping this will make me like it as much as everyone else seems to.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
The QTEs in RE4 was actually very good and challenging opposed to most QTEs these days. According too many reviews back when the game was released the QTEs was great and revolutionary.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
13-Nov-08 10:09:07
I *welcome* HD installs. I welcome everything that cuts down loading times *while I actually play*.
+ 100
Comment below viewing threshold Show
That is exactly the reason I love the Resident Evil games. If they had went the way of many other titles they would'nt be Resident evil games, just another FPS or 3rd person shooting game with zombies. The way Resident evil 0 - CV controlled were great. The Res 4 - 5 contros are an evolution of those but still stay rooted in Res tradition.
I personally would hate if a jump button was added to Res, along with twitch rightstick camera movement, plenty of ammo, headshots, shooting while running, strafing etc.... thats why Call Of Duty, GOW, Res4, Halo and many others are here. Variety is the spice of life.
:0)
REMAKES??? wowsers... the Res1 remake for the cube was Fu*king amazing, Please do 2-CV. I would happily trade in my lefticle for those
Comment below viewing threshold Show
(I can dream)
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
I'll be damned if I'm paying E5 for Mercenaries or extra characters, just put everything on the disc from day 1, and let us unlock them ourselves through gameplay!!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
If they could release the old ones over Live or something, then I'd be in! And I'd love to see remakes of the older ones too. Or if not, can't we at least have a port of the Resident Evil 1 Remake that came out for the GameCube? That was great!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Perhaps just update the graphics a little and release it on XBLA. And PC, preferably, but that's just a pipedream.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
/also wants all remakes, too (harder, longer, tougher, nicer
Comment below viewing threshold Show
"Happily, he also says he would personally be up for going back and remaking some of the older Resident Evil classics, given the opportunity:"
*gets wood*
"If we had the chance to go back and remake Resident Evil 2"
*cums*
"It's certainly something we would like to consider and think about, but, quite frankly our hands are full with Resident Evil 5 right now"
RE2 remake has been wanted by the true Resi fans for years. Fuck Resi 5 if there's the possibility of that. And the thought of a 3 remake with a HD Nemesis would truly help me forget about the atrocious things that were done to him by Paul Anderson.
I am sort of getting worried about the danger of conformity regarding Resi 5, but I just think about how Capcom always come through and deliver some of the greatest games. They are a company I trust to make games. Let's just hope I'm not eating my words in a few months' time.
Comment below viewing threshold Show