Have you ever wanted to work in video games? Well that's what the guys at GameBizCo Inc. do. Literally.
Join the cast of Another Videogame Webcomic as we peek behind the curtain to see what exactly goes into bringing your favorite video games to the small screen. It may be a job in video games, but it's still a job.
Resident Evil 5
Platform:Playstation 3
,
Xbox 360
Price: $59.99 (standard edition), $89.99 (
collector's
edition
)
If Resident Evil 5 taught me anything, it's that when the inevitable zombie apocalypse comes, they'll come at us from all sides and you'd better have a friend with you to watch your back.
Resident Evil 5 is the latest installment in Capcom's flagship survival horror series and while some things have changed, others have stayed the same. The game retains most of Resident Evil 4's control scheme with slightly different button assignments and the ability to swap weapons and items on the fly. Inventory management has always been a huge part of the Resident Evil series and things are no different for RE5. To accommodate the real-time inventory access, you can only carry nine weapons/ammo/items during each mission with the chance to swap out weapons/ammo/items between missions. But the biggest change to the series comes in the form of co-op gameplay, either controlled by another player or the computer AI.
The co-op gameplay is where Resident Evil 5 shines. The previous games have been fairly solitary in their design, both in playing the game (aside from having someone else watch you play) and the game itself. Sure, most of the games in the series have featured more than one playable character but being able to have both characters playable simultaneously has given the game a whole new feel. The action is such that you need a partner help you get through each of the missions because the enemies come at you from all sides. Local multiplayer is accomplished via split screen, but unlike most games, Resident Evil 5 splits the screen but keeps the correct aspect ratio allowing a consistent field of vision in both single player and co-op. Online multiplayer is fun, but having a headset makes a world of difference in the enjoyability factor. But not everything is great about your partner...
Playing the game single player can be a frustrating affair due to your AI partner's overwhelming stupidity. Your partner tends to waste ammo, breaking one of the cardinal rules of playing a Resident Evil game. You do get the option of putting her into "attack" or "cover" mode, which basically boils down to how quickly she decides to waste your ammo. But playing alone is manageable since the game's difficulty is lowered with weaker and fewer enemies.
The controls for Resident Evil 5 are nearly the same as it's predecessor, Resident Evil 4, and for some that may be an issue. When the fourth game in the series was released in 2005, the control scheme was a fresh update to the series but in 2009, it may seem antiquated for those of you who are used to both moving and shooting at the same time. If you think you might have a problem with those controls, pop in your copy of Resident Evil 4 (seriously, odds are you own a copy since it's been on three different platforms for the past 2 generations of video game hardware...) and see if you can play it again. If you're frustrated by the controls, Resident Evil 5 may not be the game for you.
If you can get past the controls, there's an extremely replayable game underneath it all. The Mercenaries mode returns which is a timed mode where your objective is to take out as many enemies as you can. It's like playing the main story campaign without that pesky story getting in the way. (Honestly, story hasn't really been one of Resident Evil's strong points...) You can also choose to play particular missions without having to start over from the beginning to pick up anything you may have missed in your first playthrough or just relive your favorite levels.
Rating
In spite of some of it's flaws, Resident Evil 5 is an enjoyable game. It boasts some of the best looking visuals to date and co-op play is a lot of fun. Playing with a friend of mine with a headset, it reminded me a lot of playing Dungeons & Dragons. Playing the game for the first time and planning out strategies adds a lot to the experience. So this one is an emphatic
"buy" from me.
If you can play through the game with another person, either online or offline, that's probably the best way to play. Just make sure if you do play online that both of you have a microphones. Good communication is key to surviving some of the more difficult levels and it's just plain fun to hear a friend's reaction to some of the craziness that goes on in the game.
Recommendations
Dead
Space
- From being completely surrounded and having a partner to watch your back to being surrounded and completely alone, Dead Space is another survival horror action game that's worth playing. Just the presentation of the entire game makes it worth a play though. The screen is clear of any HUD that shows you your life meter, ammo, etc. Instead, all of those elements are incorporated into your character's suit, which makes you feel as if you're watching the something unfold instead of playing a game.
Resident Evil 4
- I played this on the Playstation 2 way back when. It was a great game back then and it's still a great game now. Plus, Capcom has released a version for the Wii with updated controls. I haven't played that version yet, but I would wager that the Wii controls are better and more accurate than either the PS2 or Gamecube version.
Player Two
After the resurgence of multiplayer co-op, GameBizCo Inc. hired Player Two to be the Goose to someone else's Maverick. His workload isn't quite as heavy as most of the other people working at GameBizCo Inc. and as a result, he spends a lot of time in the break room or playing computer solitaire.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction
Player One
Player One is top dog at GameBizCo Inc. Nearly every game, from Pong to Mario Bros to Grand Theft Auto, requires Player One's expertise. His cocksure and sometimes inappropriate attitude is an annoyance to his coworkers but seeing as every game needs a first player, they make due.
First Appearance: Bonus Stage! Here comes Player One!
Damsel I. Distress
Whether it be a castle, a dungeon or mystical island, Damsel always needs to be saved... and she hates it. Damsel longs for the day when she's given the role of a strong female lead character who doesn't have huge breasts with hyper accurate physics.
First Appearance: LittleBIGPlanet
Final Boss
Underneath the huge brute that is Final Boss lies a timid creature who wouldn't hurt a fly. He puts on his "angry face" when throwing barrels down ramps or breathing fire but deep down he feels sorry for doing so. He's been known to throw a game or two in the player's favor.
First Appearance: World Record
John Minion
John Minion, or Min for short, is the hardest working employee at GameBizCo Inc. Playing everything from Goombas to no name thugs, Min gets beat up on a daily basis but loves every minute of it. He always wanted to work in the gaming industry and was originally hired as an intern. After years of getting coffee, his big break came when someone called in sick... and the rest is history.
First Appearance: Watchmen: The End is Nigh
Middle Manager
Middle Manager works in the Human Resources department. He runs staff meetings and interviews prospective employees. The other 90% of his time is spent playing Freecell on his computer.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction
