Video Game Review: Resident Evil 6

Following the mixed reception of Capcom’s Resident Evil 5, Capcom would be looking to redeem itself in the eyes of disgruntled fans, with the release of Resident Evil 6. After the release of Resident Evil 5 in March 2009, there was left  a proverbial void in the hearts of hardcore Resident Evil fans. From reviews, comment threads and forums the message was pretty clear. Fans wanted a less action-oriented game, less co-op and fewer thundering blockbuster cut-scenes. They wanted more exploration, more investigation, more puzzle-solving and most of all, more horror. Some die-hard gamers wanted a return to the good old days of Resident Evil 2 where you couldn’t go 20 minutes without almost crapping yourself for fear, but most would have been extremely happy with a proper follow-up to Resident Evil 4. After all, that’s where Capcom hit a perfect balance between action, adventure and terror.

With Resident Evil 6, Capcom seems to have made a laudable attempt at striking a balance. The game definitely has something for all categories of its fans, whether they are action-typed, horror oriented or those who enjoy puzzle solving. The games story is built around three characters, each with their own single player campaigns. Subsequently, each campaign captures a different sub-genre to the game. You can choose to play the first ‘horror type’ campaign which features Resident Evil 4’s Leon Kennedy and the mysterious agent Helena.

Video gamers then get the chance to play the second campaign which is built around Chris Redfield and his team on a mission to wipe out a new biohazard menace on the mean streets of a Chinese city. This puts us squarely back in action territory, with you shooting at guys who are shooting back at you, even if the guys in question have a nasty habit of mutating into deadly monsters just when you think you’ve put them down.

For the third campaign, you play as a new character named Jake Muller who’s a mercenary and happens to be immune to the T-Virus. As the story goes, the United States government wants his blood, and a terrorist organization wants him dead. It’s still very action-oriented, but Jake has serious close-combat skills and a nice line in jumping and swinging manoeuvres  which gives his adventures a different feel to Chris’ or Leon’s.

Background Story: It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President’s side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world’s population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left.

So there you have it folks. I’d say its a solid 7 out of 10 for the video game. Wouldn’t you agree?