Resident Evil 5

[heybtbm]

The demo is up on XBL for the unwashed masses (i.e. everybody). Only 486 Mb or so. It downloaded in 2 minutes...I was surprised.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The demo is up on XBL for the unwashed masses (i.e. everybody). Only 486 Mb or so. It downloaded in 2 minutes...I was surprised.

From what I've played (not much) I find it to be quite difficult! (That's a good thing).

Also, the RE4 control scheme is alive and well in the options...

...although the new RE5 control scheme isn't that different, other than the new side-strafing it's basically just control re-mapping.

I'm NOT a fan of the "live action" inventory swapping ... that is to say, it's going to take some practice to manage an inventory box with action still going on on-screen ... I really liked pausing to get what I need and then taking some extra time to re-arrange my inventory crate in RE4.

I'm going to play some more later, but based on my first impression - it was pretty damned sweet.

[makaar]

I just played the demo and the following things bug me about it (some have been touched upon already):

1. The live-action menu system. I agree with the above in that I enjoyed arranging my inventory and organizing it accordingly. The new menu tries to put emphasis on the urgency of the environment, and it succeeds in that aspect, but I still liked the old way better.

2. Healing herbs. In the menu, it has EQUIP taking priority over USE. This is very annoying for me as I quickly double-press to use the herbs and heal myself, but in the midst of battle, I'm going to find myself equipping it first, and quickly handing it over to my partner. I've already died a couple times this way. She is good at healing you, but doesn't always help when you need her.

3. Too Team-Reliant. I didn't care for Resident Evil 0 much as it relied too much on team effort. This one seems to be going the same route. I can usually deal with a few escort missions, but the new girl has caused me to fail a few times already due to her lack-of dodging...oh well..

I'm sure I'll get over this in the actual game....time will tell I guess.

[G-Boobie]

I just played the demo and the following things bug me about it (some have been touched upon already):

1. The live-action menu system. I agree with the above in that I enjoyed arranging my inventory and organizing it accordingly. The new menu tries to put emphasis on the urgency of the environment, and it succeeds in that aspect, but I still liked the old way better.

I see where some folks have issues with the item menu not pausing the game, but I kind of like it. It adds another layer of tension(though of course, the game already has plenty of that). I think the briefcase pause menu was my only real complaint about RE4, other than the game being three hours too long.

2. Healing herbs. In the menu, it has EQUIP taking priority over USE. This is very annoying for me as I quickly double-press to use the herbs and heal myself, but in the midst of battle, I'm going to find myself equipping it first, and quickly handing it over to my partner. I've already died a couple times this way. She is good at healing you, but doesn't always help when you need her.

Yeah, the herb thing will take some getting used to.

3. Too Team-Reliant. I didn't care for Resident Evil 0 much as it relied too much on team effort. This one seems to be going the same route. I can usually deal with a few escort missions, but the new girl has caused me to fail a few times already due to her lack-of dodging...oh well..

I think that Sheva is an even better team mate than Dom from Gears: not once did she get whacked while running into a wall for ten seconds, nor did she ever get in my way Bethesda style. In fact, she even purposefully kept out of my line of sight in the courtyard scene. Refreshing!

The only time she croaked for me was when the chainsaw dude whacked her while I was reloading and she was shooting his face, point blank. Since he got me once too, I figure that makes me and the AI more or less evenly skilled. That may not be a good thing.

The problem with the RE Zero stuff was all the goddamn puzzles: as long as the team-oriented stuff in 5 keeps that to a dull roar, I think I can deal with it.

I loved it. Capcom is kicking all kinds of ass this generation...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Spent some time with the demo again last night and have some more impressions.

First off ... I'm not a fan of the 360 controller for RE games.

I didn't enjoy playing through Code Veronica with the DC controller, and while the Gamecube controller was SLIGHTLY better, I prefer my RE games on a Dual Shock. I know, that's more personal preference than anything ... but to me the series on anything other than a Dual Shock feels awkward.

My first few times in the town square area saw me meet my doom rather quickly ... while RE4 had a few instances of swarming hordes, RE5 seems to really push the speed and claustrophobia of that element.

I was also kind of surprised to see that "megaphone guy" was just a peon that can be taken out with a few pistol shots. Based on his prominence in the early trailers I expected him to be like the village leader in RE4.

The partner aspect certainly feels "new" (or vastly different than what I always felt was an awkward system in RE 0 ... like most awkward things in RE 0) enough to be interesting, and I can't say that she did anything to hinder me in my efforts, and while she called for my help, even in the instances where I wasn't able to help her out, she seemed to wind up with more health at the end of the demo than me every single time.

It seems to be an odd balance between the partner AI play in Gears of War and Ashley escort sections of RE4.

Like a few other aspects of the game, it may frustrate me a bit at first and I'm sure it'll take some getting used to ... but I'm not afraid of change if it's technically sound stuff.

[heybtbm]

I was having trouble too...mainly dying repeatedly using the default controll scheme. I switched to "RE4" mode and the game (and 360 controller) felt perfect.

I don't like the parter AI. Mainly because she won't open crates or barrels by herself. She just ran around with 0 bullets because she wouldn't fetch them herself. That could be a major annoyance when you have to rely on the "live inventory". Also there is a spot in the 2nd level where you have to boost her up and you can obviously see bullets up there. She doesn't retrieve them for whatever reason. I hope the real game makes her a little smarter.

The white/asian/middle eastern zombies look laughably out of place and ridiculous, but hopefully it's explained through the story (i.e. foreign oil company workers or something).

All in all though...very cool. This is probaly my most anticipated game of all time (or at least since RE4).

[Ponyone]

Was anyone else getting a blue line that would flash on and off once in a while during the first cut scene (it was on the top black bar for me) and then continued on for the rest of the ingame?

Don't tell me it was just me and my 360 is about to nuke. I do not have a fridge to hide in.

[kaedesdisciple]

Count me as another who got really frustrated until I switched to RE4 mode. It was like night and day when I made that change. That's when the demo got fun. Little tough switching my movements from Gears 2 back to this again, so I think I'll lay off the demo now that I've played it through and wait for the official release as I still need to finish Gears 2.

Now I'm REALLY looking forward to this one. Wonder if I can convince the wife to play with me, she likes zombies...

Edit: Wow, 1,000 posts. Not sure how I feel about that.

[drewbrim]

Just got done playing the demo and it's pretty sweet!

For those that are having trouble with the menu/items they're set to the d-pad so you don't have to bring it up and waste precious time. It's pretty easy to pull out your shotty, heal yourself, and hand bullets to sheeva once you get the hang of it. Granted you can only have do that with 4 items, but it's better than nothing.

[maxlords]

What setting is RE4 mode on the demo?

Also....is anyone else a bit iffy about buying this after the demo? And will it be worth bothering to get the LE? I suspect it'll be common as dirt but hard to find complete.

I have the 360 version preordered, but I'm not sure if I REALLY want it....

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I've played it about 10 or so times since my initial outing and I'm now totally comfortable with the new RE5 control scheme, live item switching, ordering Sheva around amidst being swarmed by zombies, swapping items and so on and so forth.

With repeated play, just like in RE4 all the nuances become pretty intuitive, and I'm now completely stoked to get my hands on the retail version.

[Ed Oscuro]

They Hunger via Sven Co-Op is going to trash this game, no doubt about it.

In all seriousness, I saw a gameplay vid some time ago and wasn't terribly impressed, partly because it seemed they were playing with GameCube controllers from the awful game mechanics (whatever happened to the second analog?). If there's a proper control scheme that'd be neat, although I don't really get the use of context-sensitive jumps over some small obstacle - doesn't really help the feeling of freedom in a game.

[heybtbm]

In all seriousness, I saw a gameplay vid some time ago and wasn't terribly impressed, partly because it seemed they were playing with GameCube controllers from the awful game mechanics (whatever happened to the second analog?). If there's a proper control scheme that'd be neat, although I don't really get the use of context-sensitive jumps over some small obstacle - doesn't really help the feeling of freedom in a game.

RE5 allows for the use of the 2nd analog stick just like any 3rd person action game in three of it's four control schemes...although I don't know why anyone would want to. The "RE4" control scheme goes back to one analog (identical to the Gamecube version).

After trying the different options, I prefer the RE4 mode. Mainly because to run, you need to hit "A" (+ the left stick). If you're using the dual analog schemes, you can't use the right stick and end up running in an awkward, bumbling straight line (since you can only control the direction with the left stick). RE4 mode eliminates this goofy run mechanic.

[walrusmonger]

I played the demo again with a friend, it is much better with 2 players. My friend sent me some rumour about there being a red 360 bundle with the game, if this is the case I'll be buying both versions

[Mayhem]

What setting is RE4 mode on the demo?

Control setting A (even says "like RE4" down the bottom for it).

And yeah I've just been playing the demo as co-op with my brother, much more fun and allows for flanking and double-team.

[alexkidd2000]

Is the split screen not going to use the entire screen in the finished version?

[Dastardly Dylan]

I can't download the demo because of my age! Why didn't I just forge it when I first got my 360 in 2006!

But oh well, I already played the hell out of the demo before it was released in North America.

[exit]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned already, but the demo was released on the PSN around Midnight last night. Only played it for a couple of minutes before going to sleep and from what I played the controls seem very stiff. I'm sure I'll get used to it after playing it longer, but other than that the game looks very pretty.

[The 1 2 P]

I just finished playing the demo and man could I not navigate with those controls. I even used the controller "A" Resident Evil 4 settings and I couldn't cope. Whoever I played with online probably hates me because I couldn't back them up. I then played by myself to try and adapt to the controls. I'll have to play around with the settings tomorrow. The game looks awesome though.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

You know ... I'm really SHOCKED at the high level of users who can't conform or cope to the games control style.

It's as if people haven't spent the past 15 some odd years playing Resident Evil games.

The controls aren't necessarily "easy" to use (great control has never ever been a hallmark of the series) ... but they're not significantly different than those found in RE4 (or any other RE game for that matter) ... standard tank controls: UP=move forward, L/R=pivot, Down=back

the addition of strafing not withstanding (because honestly, it's not that drastic of a change to the overall scheme) there are really no radical changes warranting this level of mass confusion and/or frustration (it's not just on the DP forums, look at any site that has a review with user responses).

Have people who are having major troubles with the control scheme not played through RE4 or any other significant RE release in the past 10 years, or are we just spoiled by similar games with super fluid/ergonomic control schemes like Uncharted Drake's Fortune, Gears of War 2, etc.??