As a Survival Horror fan and a huge Resident Evil fan I am constantly hearing from gamers that Resident Evil is no longer a Survival Horror franchise. The fan boy in me cringes at these remarks, but I must admit the basic themes of this franchise have been through a major revamp. Progressively, the series has shifted away from its Horror themes. I am not dropping any bombs here and saying Resident Evil 5 is not a Survival Horror game but what I will say is that this franchise is not as scary as it used to be.

5.) Where are the Zombies?

This is the big question fans have been asking since Resident Evil 4.  Resident Evil was originally THE ZOMBIE GAME, which made it terrifying. A putrefying corpse that knows nothing but hunger used to scare the crap out of me as a kid. Back in 1996 when the game was released Zombies were scary, now they are a novelty. Which is part of the reason they were nixed from the franchise I am sure.

Instead of Zombies in Resident Evil 4 and 5, we have LIVING individuals who are injected with parasites that attack the brain, making them totally psycho. The parasites continue to grow to the point of bursting from the head, killing the host. Although the concept of human experimentation is still quite frightening, I think the idea of a foreign entity growing in a person to the point of bursting out of them has been a long time Science Fiction theme. Alien is perfect example of this, although the splat was through the chest instead of the head.

4.) It’s a fine line between Sci-Fi and Horror!

Horror and Science Fiction are very closely related genres, and if you have a film with both elements you have to walk a fine line on which theme should be paramount. Films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Alien are films with fantastic horror elements, but the  Sci-Fi theme’s of Futurism, and Space Travel are much more overpowering; deeming them Sci-Fi films.

The Resident Evil franchise has had a consistent Science Fiction theme, one that is a vital part of the main plot line, which is Umbrella Corp. A super secret corporation that specializes in radical experimentation. If you drop the theme of a haunted mansion (or city in the case of Resident Evil 2, and 3), and zombies but keep the theme of Umbrella - than you have a story based on labs and experiments, which in and of itself (sorry people) is a Science Fiction based plot line.

3.) Survival Horror Street Cred

More and more, horror films are getting more violent, and more shocking. Today there are horror films in the movie theater that would have only existed as independent films a few decades ago. Survival Horror is the same - the games in this genre have progressively become more and more disturbing, and if your game isn’t truly shocking it’s going to lose its street cred.

Survival Horror fans love violence, it is the bread and butter of the franchise but in the past few years it seems Resident Evil has been toned down. It is true that Capcom is trying to reach a bigger audience with this franchise, and the effects are clear. Resident Evil games now play like action shooters like Gears of War, and although both are violent they certainly don’t have the feel of Survival Horror.

2.)  Location, Location, Location

Part of the strength of the original Resident Evil game and why it was genuinely frightening, was simply because you were confined to a single space; in this case the Spencer Mansion.  The felling of being trapped is one of the oldest themes and most potent of the horror genre.  The idea that there just may be a chance you will never leave that mansion alive added a feeling of dread to the game play. With Resident Evil 5 you have large open and expansive environments that nullify that feeling of being trapped, and ultimately detract from the terror.

1.) Action on Steroids

If you look at any great Horror film - what makes it great is the helplessness you feel while watching it. Whether it is Jason, or Freddy, or a little girl that crawls out of your T.V. set, they all have something in common; they can’t be killed! It is this theme of helplessness that is the Horror genre’s foundation, and Survival Horror is exactly the same.

With the Resident Evil 4 reboot it is hard to feel helpless when you have Leon S. Kennedy A.K.A. killing machine behind a shotgun picking off crazed villagers like they are those cardboard ducks at a carnival. The same can be said about Resident Evil 5 when you look at Chris Redfield, an all around BA military guy, you don’t feel quite so scared playing this game in the dark. The Characters in the Resident Evil games don’t seem quite so vulnerable any more, and that is part of the reason the franchise just doesn’t quite have the scares it used to.

Don’t get me wrong I still love this franchise I just have to except the fact that it has changed, and in some ways for the better. There are still Survival Horror themes in this franchise but it just does not feel the same. What do you guys think?

If you are feeling nostalgic

On the eve of the most glutinous day of the year we have found out that the Japanese will be getting a nice holiday treat from Capcom. Today we discovered that the Resident Evil 5 Demo is set for release Dec. 5th in Japan. The demo will be available only on the Xbox 360, and only to the land of the rising sun.  Sorry homeboys it seems we will not be seeing a Resident Evil 5 demo in the good old USA yet.

RE5 Development is said to be going so well that it will be released a whole week early then originally scheduled. Here in the U.S. RE5 is set for release March 13th, as previously scheduled. Although we have heard nothing of a demo in North America, we are set to get one for the 360, and PS3 but when is still unknown.

So while we are getting stuffed this Thanksgiving just know that Japanese people will be getting stuffed as well, but with the knowledge that they will be getting a RE5 demo Dec. 5th, and be getting the full game a week earlier then previously scheduled.  2 Japan, United States ZIP.

In the Beginning…

In 2005 Gamecube released its blockbuster survival horror smash hit Resident Evil 4. The game was hailed as the best in the Resident Evil series and the best in the survival horror genre; winning multiple awards including game of the year. Originally the game was exclusively a Gamecube title, but later that year it was re-released for PS2 and recently released for PC. There are glaring contrasts between the console version and the PC version of the game; such as the loss in atmosphere and ambience and the change in game controls, but the PC version is definitely worth the price for a truly great survival horror game.

The Skinny

The plot is a based on a US special agent named Leon S. Kennedy (no relation to JFK) who is sent on a mission to Europe to rescue the president’s daughter from a religious cult known as the Los Iluminados (the illuminated ones). Leon’s journey takes him to a secluded Spanish village, where a group of hostile villagers await him. The plot thickens as it becomes apparent that the villagers are highly aggressive almost to the point of madness; chasing you with axes, sickles, and my personal favorite the chain saw. As you progress through the game you eventually retrieve the President’s daughter, Ashley from the cult and soon discover that the there is a much more sinister force than the Los Iluminados (which has made an appearance in every Resident Evil Game since its conception); that’s right everyone’s favorite evil organization Umbrella is back. Your journey takes you through wonderfully dark and creepy atmospheres, dilapidated villages, musty caves, and secret research facilities. As you progress through the game the atmospheres become more and more frightening.

Console vs. PC

There are a few distinct differences between the console version and the PC version. One change is graphics; the PC version’s artwork is not as rich as the console version and with a game that is known for rich atmospheres it is a definite deterrent. Second and possibly biggest draw back is the controls; the combat system is based on using laser guided weapons to hit targets and since the game is not compatible with a mouse it takes away from the enjoyment by forcing you to use your keyboard. There are also action sequences in the game where you will have to hit a number of random buttons to escape traps and trying to remember the correct keys on your keyboard for those scenes can become complicated. You will definitely want to buy a PC controller for this game because it is really the only way to enjoy the game adequately.

The PC version has its pros as well as its cons. One is the bonus material; there are extra weapons you can acquire that are not available on the Gamecube version, such as the P.R.L. 412 laser cannon (anything with the word cannon in it has sold me). You also have an alternate version of the game in which you can play as Ada Wong, a second special agent that gets tangled in Leon’s mission. Another huge positive is the PC version was released at $20 and now sells below that mark while the console version was still selling in the $50’s.

My 2 cents

If you prefer PC games to console, RE4 is a good investment; you will be getting hours of enjoyable game play. My advice; is to be sure and buy a game pad for your PC if you purchase the game especially if you prefer console games because without it the transition will be near impossible. The bottom line is that the PC version is a remarkably fun game; despite a couple small draw backs.

The Resident Evil title almost sells itself; it is a game with an awesome plot line, a remarkably fun combat system, and lots of cool creepy atmospheres. I would recommend it to any gaming or Resident Evil fan.

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