Resident Evil debuted back on the PS One console in 1996 and it pretty much introduced the survival horror genre into the world of gaming.
The Resident Evil series continued to stay like this until the release of Resident Evil 4 in 2005, with the game taking a different approach by becoming more action-orientated. Yet it still retained the series’ iconic puzzle solving elements and scary atmosphere.
It wasn’t until the release of Resident Evil 5 that long-term fans of the franchise started to complain. The survival horror elements were all but taken out as the franchise started to play more like a third-person shooter type video game.
Resident Evil 6 takes a similar approach much to the dislike of hardcore fans. But is Resident Evil 6 still a good game regardless of how much the series has changed over the years?
Let me start off by saying that the full Resident Evil 6 video game is a lot better to play than the awful demo Capcom decided to release a few weeks before the game came out.
The demo was poorly structured because it failed to even include a tutorial for you to learn and get used to the game’s controls!
Thankfully, the full game teaches you the basics and after a few minutes of gameplay, the controls and overall pace of the game isn’t as frustrating as the demo version.
Speaking of the controls, Resident Evil 6 adds a lot more new moves that both Leon and Chris were unable to do in Resident Evil 4 & 5 respectively. One of the biggest changes is that you can now move and shoot at the same time.
Melee attacks have also been improved as you can now perform punches/kicks and even some pro-wrestling type moves. Gone are the days where you had to fend off enemies using only a small knife – although a knife is still available for you to use.
Another thing that is prevalent here in Resident Evil 6 is the use of quick time events (QTEs). QTEs are used too frequently here and it can be annoying seeing a “game over” screen just because you happened to push the wrong button.
The feeling of hopelessness and fear is now gone in Resident Evil 6 as the game play more like an action-game more than anything else. In previous Resident Evil games, ammo was scarce and players normally had to walk through dark corridors full of zombies.
Not only that but you had to search numerous rooms to unlock doors and solve numerous puzzles in the process. Although some of these elements still exist in Resident Evil 6, these gameplay features are rare.
All in all, the level design is Resident Evil 6 is very linear and the game plays like a first or third-person shooter. Most of the time is spent moving forward following a waypoint while you kill lots of zombies and other unworldly creatures.
The feeling of “horror” is no longer present because Resident Evil 6 is essentially a 2-player co-op game, so there’s always a partner that is with you at all times to help you out in any sticky situation you might be in.
That’s not to say Resident Evil 6 is a bad game because an all-out action game, it might be one of the best out there. Most people will agree that Naughty Dog’s Uncharted games are the closest to emulating the drama and excitement you witness from a big budget Hollywood movie.
With the amount of action and explosions present here in Resident Evil 6, people will immediately think this is a movie directed by Michael Bay. Yes, the set pieces in Resident Evil 6 are impressive yet they’re also fun to play. I don’t want to give away too much but there are moments in the game where you can drive a jeep, ride on a motorcycle and even fly in a jet!
In terms of the graphics, Resident Evil 6 is among the best I have ever seen on a console. Gone is the washed out color palettes they were used in Resident Evil 4 & 5 as this game’s colors look a lot more vibrant and the lighting effects are a lot more realistic this time around.
Walking around the neon-lit city lights of Lianshaing, China is a sight to behold. Some of the huge bosses you have to face are menacingly impressive looking too.
Unlike most FPS games that are released these days, the single player campaign here in Resident Evil 6 lasts way longer than just 5 -7 hours. There are three different campaigns you can choose from at the start of the game with a fourth campaign unlocked once you have finished the game.
You can choose to play any of the three campaigns in any order so everyone potentially could start off the game differently.
Leon’s campaign is arguably the best campaign as it plays more like a scary and slow paced traditional Resident Evil video game. If you loved Resident Evil 4, you will definitely think enjoy his campaign the most. Chris’ campaign plays more like if it was third-person version of a Call of Duty video game.
His campaign is full of action and is likely to put off hardcore Resident Evil fans. Jake’s campaign is the most adrenaline fueled as he and his partner will often be running away from a big monster. Ada Wong is the last campaign included here and is similar to Leon’s campaign.
All in all, the single player mode is extensive and it will sure to keep gamers occupied for 20 – 30 hours depending on the difficulty they chose.
A flaw in the campaign design is that some of the characters encounter each other at different points in the game. This isn’t a bad idea (on paper), although it is when the characters usually meet up with one another when they are facing a huge boss. This essentially means you will have to face a boss more than once depending on which campaign you chose!
When you finish the single player mode, there’s also Agent Hunt and Mercenaries modes for you to explore too. Agent Hunt mode is a fun multiplayer mode where you can play as the enemies to hunt down the main characters in the game.
Mercenaries mode is similar to other Resident Evil games where you play as the main characters again needing to kill lots of enemies in a specific amount of time. Only three maps are available in Mercenaries mode though, but its likely more maps might be added as future DLC.
Long-term fans of Resident Evil games will be sorely disappointed by Resident Evil 6. There are no more “survival horror” type elements as it has become more of an action-style game in the vein of Call of Duty and other shooters. Still, if you treat Resident Evil 6 solely as an action game, it is one of the best ones out there.
Even though the single player campaign is long, there was never a dull or boring moment. If you’re looking for an all-out action experience, Resident Evil 6 will not disappoint you. However, if you’re looking for a good horror game, I suggest you elsewhere…
Graphics: 9.5Sound: 8.0 Gameplay: 8.5Lasting Appeal: 9.0
Overall: 8.5