It goes without saying that Capcom’s Resident Evil series is one of the most beloved game franchises on the planet – this of course can cause its passionate fan base to be opposed to change. However, the radical changes that have been made to Resident Evil 6, are exactly what make this sequel one of the most enjoyable titles in the series. After Capcom left behind its ‘tank controls’ with Resident Evil 4, a game which revolutionized the horror genre, the Japanese developer now abandoned another hallmark feature of the zombie infested world that is Resident Evil. In 2012 we finally get to move past the ‘stop to shoot’ mechanic which had been with us since the series began with ‘The Mansion Incident’.
Capcom finally made the move to allow players to walk and shoot for the first time in franchise history and they should never look back. It is a huge relieve to be able to move around while battling the C-Virus infected zombies of the latest game in the series. Being able to move and shoot isn’t the only big improvement over its predecessor but also the fact that the many playable characters can now slide, roll and jump fluently within combat to avoid enemies or other obstacles along with open melee combat. Resident Evil 6 finally feels like an action game should in this generation . Of course this focus on action may bring some concern to fans of the franchise but there is no reason to worry since Capcom managed to maintain much of the Resident Evil flair and moments of tension that the series is known for.
Much like Resident Evil 2 did almost 15 years ago, the sixth entry into the franchise brings the return of multiple campaigns which intersect and fill in the blanks for each other. Players can chose between three separate and distinct campaigns which include two playable characters each. With Resident Evil 6 we see the return of series favorites and Raccoon City survivors Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield. Other notable characters in this year’s title are Ada Wong who is as mysterious as ever and also has an unlockable campaign which connects the dots between the other three playthroughs available from the start. Jake Muller who is franchise villain Wesker’s son is also featured as a playable character.
Each of the campaigns have a very distinct play-style and should offer something for everyone. Playing as Leon will be most reminiscent of the ‘typical’ Resident Evil franchise while Chris is more of an action heavy option which can be compared to many third person shooters today. That leaves Jake’s campaign which is a melee combat focused character and pivotal to Resident Evil 6’s story. All three campaigns are full length featured parts of this massive game. As in its predecessor, Resident Evil 6 features full 2 player coop which can be played locally, over Xbox LIVE or PSN as well as system link which means there is no excuse to play this game how it was intended to be played – with a buddy. If players chose to go through this globetrotting adventure alone, they should be pleased to know that the AI partner is no longer a resource steeling and nearly useless companion.
Resident Evil 6 has made leaps in computer controlled partners and while he or she is indestructible, it is a much better option than having to save him or her every five seconds. Resource management and upgrades are now managed in a more fluid and streamlined fashion. Upgrading specific guns has been removed from the game in exchange for a character specific load-outs and perks, which can be applied after they are unlocked by gathering skill points throughout the game. Quick-Time-Events or QTEs which can often seem arbitrary and even annoying in many games have been implemented well also and actually add to the urgency to this year’s title. However the QTEs do leave some room for improvement – there where instances when I couldn’t draw my gun prior to the sequence initiating – this problem arose when I was stuck holding a knife in a QTE sequence which required me to shoot something and led to me falling to my death.
Resident Evil 5 saw the series downfall of the Umbrella Corporation and the world was safe once again – that is of course until a new bad guy emerges to spread a new virus which takes the team all over the globe including ancient underground catacombs, a zombie overrun China and Eastern Europe. The story in Resident Evil 6 is loaded with characters and call-backs that franchise fans will love but newcomers may be lost if they haven’t kept up with the lore. Capcom has put a much greater emphasis on narrative with this game than its two predecessors and it is a welcome change. Resident Evil 6 is a beautiful game and packed with explosions, action and Michael Bay type cut scenes – of course this is another departure from the franchise’s roots but another welcome change which should draw new players to the series.
So far I have sung nothing but praises about Capcom’s latest big numbered Resident Evil title and that is simply because this is a very good game with not much to complain about apart from some gameplay bugs which have been patched at the time of review, some issues with the camera I experienced at times when in small spaces and a certain level of chunkiness with the controls. Resident Evil 6 will send players all over the planet to fight the C-Virus and creates a genuine desire to see out the fight with all three intersecting campaigns. Visually this is the most stunning Resident Evil game yet and the improved gameplay allows players to battle the various zombie and boss enemies with the most intuitive controls of any game in the series. On top of all of that Resident Evil 6 is playable in full 2 player coop and provides a satisfying conclusion to the narrative. If you are a fan of Resident Evil or are simply looking for an excellent coop experience with loads of variety and action then Resident Evil 6 is for you.
Score: 9 / 10
Resident Evil 6 was developed and published by Capcom for Xbox 360 and PS3 on October 2nd. A retail copy of the Xbox 360 version was provided to us by Capcom for reviewing purposes.
