1 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 Artwork by: Milena ‘Milish’ Korzeniewska 2 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 With the imminent release of Resident Evil 6 for PC around the corner, we’re taking a stagger through the history of the series. Where it came from, where it’s been and whose brains are the tastiest. My bets are on Chris Wakefield. There’s plenty of info on Resident Evil 5, to help you get up to speed for 6 and a peek into what the 3DS’s Mercenaries release was like so that you could get your zombie fix on the road. We’ve got the review of RE6 on consoles to whet your appetite for the PC version which is only one short zombie shuffle away now. For now, sit back and relax. Pay no attention to the shuffling sound outside the door and always, always make sure you aim for the head. If you have to. If you like our work and want to support us GameOn do a monthly Magazine for the Kindle, iOS, Android and Windows. Kindle UK Kindle Worldwide iOS, Android and Windows 3 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 About Capcom Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Mega Man ®, and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Korea, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom and its products can be found at www.capcom.com or www.capcom-unity.com. 4 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 About GameOn GameOn Networking Ltd was founded in 1997 with the aim of providing “lag free” gaming solutions for dedicated online gamers. Online connectivity in the late 90s was such that real- time gaming was beyond the reach of the average gamer, and so GameOn began hosting LAN parties throughout the UK. To date, GameOn has hosted almost 100 LAN parties. In August 2008, GameOn began producing GameOn Magazine, an online PDF magazine covering all aspects of gaming including reviews, previews, news and articles. The dedicated magazine staff also provided coverage at high profile gaming events such as E3 and gamescom. In February 2012, GameOn Magazine launched in ebook form on the Amazon Kindle marketplace in both the UK and US and has since developed from strength to strength. With the same quality coverage as always and dedicated writing and research staff the magazine has gained a loyal following and secured its position as one of the best selling gaming magazines on the Kindle store. Later in 2012 GameOn lauched the colour version of the magazine via Magzter store which is avilable on Android, iOS and Windows. For more information, please visit www.gameonmag.com 5 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 Resident Evil 5 Review Platforms Available: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 Resident Evil 5 (along with its predecessor Date: March 2009 RE4) has taken a drastic turn from the Genre: Survival Horror, Third person shooter series’ beginnings. Gone are the narrow Publisher: Capcom hallways of the Spencer Mansion and the confined alleyways of Raccoon City. In From its humble beginnings all those years ago their place are, for the most part, wide open in the Arklay mountains, through Raccoon City environments where you’ll be blasting and Spain, and now Africa, Resident Evil is a hordes of the undead, or rather, the series’ franchise brought into the new generation with newest foes, the Las Plagas, whom fans of a literal bang. The series has gone through Resident Evil 4 will immediately recognise. a lot of changes in story, from starting with the T-Virus, and the inclusion of the G and The Las Plagas are a more challenging enemy T-Veronica virus in-between, Resident Evil 4 than your standard undead. They aren’t slow gave us Las Plagas and now Resident Evil 5 and lumbering; instead, they will run, use presents us with a different strain of this. weapons and try and outsmart you. Playing on the Veteran and Professional modes, I 6 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 take down. Taking control of Chris Redfield, it is your mission to find and arrest a man named Irving. He has been distributing Bio-Organic Weapons, or B.O.W’s, and it is up to Chris to bring him to justice. However, unlike traditional Resident Evil constantly found myself being challenged as games, Chris won’t be I proceeded further through the game. The alone. He is helped throughout his adventure boss battles are nothing short of epic and these by Sheva Alomar, an African agent of the fights usually require more brain power than Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance ammunition, which is a refreshing change. (BSAA), the unit whom Chris now works for. One of the major complaints about the demo Playing a Resident Evil game essentially that was released was the control system - the as a co-op game is a totally different major complaint being the inability to move experience from the older Resident Evil and shoot at the same time. Capcom stood games. There are no truly scary moments by the control method and I personally feel here, such as that moment we all know with it works beautifully after about ten minutes the dog and the window incident from the practice. The controls feel fluid and are original. The feeling of isolation is all but perfectly suited to this type of over the shoulder action game. The sudden stops also serve to build a bit of tension as a horde of Las Plagas come towards you and you have no choice but to aim for the head for the quickest 7 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 can’t open on his own is no longer an obstacle once Sheva helps you out. It’s all very teamwork based, and it works surprisingly well. With the inclusion of a partner comes the inclusion of dual inventory decimated by the constant presence of your management. You’ll have to swap items in partner. While she is an able helper, even and out for Sheva as well as yourself and when controlled by AI, I can’t help but feel more often than not, as able a partner as an option of playing totally alone would she is, you’ll find yourself keeping weapons have been of benefit to long time fans. and ammo and using her as a packhorse for your items. This can be a chore as The game is designed for co-op though and you constantly have to keep an eye on the game takes every chance to remind you two sets of items instead of just your own; (just how many broken ladders can one small however this is where co-op comes in. village have?). Every time there’s a broken ladder, you’ll need to give Sheva a helping Any gamer of this generation (minus fighting hand to climb them, and every door that Chris games) knows online is the place to go for 8 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 multiplayer action and Resident Evil 5’s works emblems to collect them, allowing you to perfectly. You can either start a game and purchase “character figures” for viewing, allow another person to join, or search a list as well as new costumes, new weapons and of currently active games and jump in, it’s the ever present Mercenaries mode, where as simple as that. The only problem, as with you are dropped in a level with a set amount any online game, is that if you play with a of ammo and left to kill as many Las Plagas stranger there’s a high chance they will take as possible before the time limit runs out. all ammo and gold for themselves leaving you short. However, if you can find an able It would be a crime to review this game friend to play it with, it’s a joy to play online. without mentioning the visuals. They are some of the most gorgeous graphics The weapons on a console to date (and can give some in the game PC games a run for their money) and the are good frame rate never takes a hit, even when and varied, there is a lot of action on screen. from pistols to the RE The characters are well designed, however staple: the voice acting is typical Resi fare and you’ll the rocket most likely find yourself laughing whenever launcher. you hear Irving talking, as he releases such Most of these gems as “I’ve just had an extreme makeover” weapons are while he transforms into a hideous monster. upgradeable and once fully A fantastic game no doubt, but a questionable upgraded entry into the Resident Evil series. As good you are ablo as it is, it just doesn’t feel like a Resident to purchase Evil game. There’s lots of action, lots of infinite ammo explosions but no scary moments. This for use on doesn’t stop it being a great game though, your next and one that deserves to be played by any playthrough, third person action fans, as well as Resident which is useful Evil fans looking for the complete story. for the harder Kevin Malone difficulties. The game also has a good Resident Evil 5 amount of replay value, giving Scored: 8 out 10 you the option to shoot BSAA 9 • GameOn Magazine Resident Evil Edition • March 2013 Resident Evil 5: The Bosses With Resident Evil 6 on the horizon for the PC, Generally, I like most bosses in games, and RE5 it’s not surprising I found myself booting up is no exception.