Purple Realm

Well, at the time of writing, it's about 3pm on Sunday, and I've just completed the game on Amateur mode, so I'll run over a few things.

Control system

There's actually four to choose from: I opted for the Resi 4 controls, because that's what I'm used to. I've not tried any other control systems yet, but many reviewers have bitched about the system without trying the Resi 4 controls. Personally, I love it. Attacking and running is easy, and opening the inventory also, although I kept trying to open my inventory at enemies rather than shoot them for a while. Inventory is live, so you can't pause when you're fucking about trying to choose a weapon. Knife and melee attacks are well implemented - stun an enemy, get close, press x and see what I mean.

Story

Eh, it's predictable and overly dramatic, as we love and expect. But it's still interesting. To be honest, I would've liked more dialogue and cut-scenes, but as you go along the game you actually unlock huge files to read in the "Library" part of the main menu. The files you earn actually tell most of the entire story, which is great in the respect that I've followed Resident Evil faithfully since the first game, and don't need to sit through all the history during playthrough, but not all of us have HD tvs, and those of us without have to squint to read a 12 page file about the story of this particular game.

Enemies

Fans may be disappointed at the lack of zombies, but the majority of the enemies (Majini) are much the same as the Ganados from 4. Some incarnations of creatures familiar to fans appear throughout, changes subtle, but basically there's not so much difference between anything we've seen before. Combat in Resident Evil 5 is a lot more tactical now, which is always interesting. Got some huge boss fights, of course, and the action cutscenes are ever present, so you gotta keep your hands on the controller!

Weaponry

You have your usual plethora of guns and ammo - handguns, SMGs, rifles, shotguns, et cetera, all upgradable to a certain extent. You may only upgrade so far as your money will take you - and you're curbed by the level of your progress through the chapters in the game also. Fully levelling a weapon may bring some excellent rewards - but you only seem to get those rewards if you've beaten the game once. You purchase said rewards in the Bonus Material menu - and they're costly indeed. But worth it!

Sheva

Now, here we hit a little snag. Sure, she's pretty to look at, but basically, she's a pain in the ass, no matter how well-sculpted hers may be. Give her assorted weaponry and she'll use up all the weakest stuff first. Meaning that Grenade Launcher I trusted to her was not used. In fact, even when I gave her the Launcher and nothing else, she would not use it.
She takes ammo or doesn't take ammo when you expect her to do the opposite, and she has a habit of just running off without you.
Equip her with a rifle, is my advice. Her saving grace is that she's a crack shot with it.
Oh, another thing is she has a lovely habit of getting herself killed, which is Game Over.

Co-op

Seeing as my Xbox is not online, co-op is a friend at home thing - Mik.
It's much more fun to play the game this way. Each person signed into their profile will use their own store of guns, ammo and health for the game. You can exchange things if you wish, though.
Any treasure picked up by either of you is given to both of you - and is not halved between you. You each get one of whatever one of you picks up, as long as it's gold, gems or the like.
Getting through a level on co-op is a good way for both of you to pass the level so you can move on to the next one seperately or together, which is really handy when you're faced with a tough situation and Sheva's AI just don't cut it.

Longevity

While the masses complain about the short playthrough, you unlock plenty of extras, including The Mercenaries mini-game, (debuted on Resi 5's predecessor) four difficulties of play, stage select - which lets you return to any previously played stage with your current weapons, ammo and money, New Game Plus, which I can't really figure out the difference between this and stage select, a choice of filters for gameplay, costumes, the option to play as Sheva, and if that don't cut it, try turning on the ability to damage your partner.

Overall Score?
It's certainly interesting to play. Co-op mode is awesome, but without it you may struggle with the AI. The graphics are pretty, the bosses are gigantic, and there's plenty of fun to be had. I really do love the tactical element to the gameplay. Thoroughly enjoyable, but Sheva's AI is the biggest pain in the proverbial, ever.
8.9/10.

(Role playing-game). Here is how you tell. (Yes, I wrote this myself, I am a geek, so sue me.)



Your village is invaded over something trivial and expected, it seems, but you soon find out it is actually one evil being trying to take over the entire world with a plan of dramatic and fiendish proportions.

Someone coughs twice, then dies.

Your clothes are short cut and revealing, yet you have loads of belts and strips of material that serve no purpose other than to flutter when you move, and your hair is naturally spiked into enormous peaks when you wake up in the morning.

You can either carry up to 99 of each item you find, or your backpack has handy little cubit markers that enable you to figure out how to arrange your findings in the most efficent way.

You meet with at least two quirky characters who choose to join you until they've had the revenge they're personally after, but become good friends and stay with you for the entirety of your quest. One will join out of gratitude or, because they're simply bored. Chances are you'll kidnap one of them before they join you, too.

In each town you visit on your travels, random strangers will ask you to ferry messages to each other, even though they're only a few feet apart.

You'll find yourself talking to absolutely everyone you see, and most of them don't seem to mind. Often, they will just bestow little gifts on you, ask you to play games with them for prizes, ask you for huge favours, or generally give you your own life story.

People will happily let you take everything of value from their home. Most of these people own the same furniture as one another, too, and they tend to keep treasure chests in their houses that are pleasantly yours for the taking.

You will be pleased to find that every place in your entire world has the same currency.

You will remember little about your own life, yet when people decide to give you some knowledge, they begin with, "Well, as you know, you were..." and you're either an orphan of a tragedy, adopted, or unknowingly in the royal bloodline.

You will hear many fairytales of an ancient civilisation, that was situated in the sky. You will find this civilisation at some point, and see that it is not a myth.

The route to your main nemesis is long and complex. You will fight through many dungeons to face a big enemy, of which many will be defeated only to take second, third or fourth forms that you must fight consecutively.

Your main nemesis will come close to your grasp a number of times, only to slip through it time and time again.

Nearly every town you visit will conveniently stock weapons to match your team, each town holding more powerful weapons as you travel further.

Your nemesis will eventually have locked themselves away in a huge castle, teeming with an infinite number of minions and beasts, which will take you many hours to fight through. There will be a maze in there, and when you eventually find your nemesis, they will take the time to fully explain their evil plot before engaging you in combat.

Finally, you will have restored peace to the entire land by defeating the final form of your nemesis. You will either return to your home, walk off with your love interest, or die heroically after your battle.



So, don't worry if you find yourself stuck in a situation like this. It's certainly not boring, especially if you wanna be famous one day.

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