So what if Japan got this demo weeks and weeks ago? The all-region version is here now, letting everyone in on Capcom’s latest not-a-zombie slaughterfest.
Obviously it’s a must-play—did you play Resident Evil 4?—so go queue it up. Continue on for impressions.
I get the feeling that this is either identical or similar to the preview that John had in October, because I came to same general conclusions as he did after playing it. There’s that glimmer of what’s going to make this game interesting ever-present in the short demo. Nuts and bolts-wise, this is Resident Evil 4 through and through, but only the most jaded and cynical human beings would think that was a bad thing.
Yet it wouldn’t be an interesting game if it was just HD Resident Evil 4 (though if Capcom made this, I would buy it); fortunately the changes that are made bring up some interesting questions about not only the game itself, but the future of the franchise. That’s because in motion, these elements largely serve to mitigate the horror elements. The homicidal not-zombies are scary, but they’re less scary in the daytime, and this demo takes place entirely in blistering sunlight. Having a partner around most of the time also depletes the feeling of fear, while at the same time ramping up the tension as you work to protect each other. It’s an interesting emotional trade-off, to the point where it doesn’t even seem like this games wants any part of the survival horror genre its franchise spawned.
The demo carves out the storyline and leaves the gameplay elements bare. Without that context, it’s impossible to tell how the world will react to the game’s more…controversial elements, or if a controversy is even warranted. So the demo doesn’t answer many questions about the game, but it does confirm that yes, there’s a lot to be fascinated by here. Have you played it yet? Don’t you agree?
Related Links:
Resident Evil 5: Continuing on the Transformation Trail From Horror to Suspense
TGS Trailer Time: Resident Evil 5
Trailer Review: Resident Evil 5