It's a far from perfect game, with lots of muddled pieces and the general feeling of too many cooks at certain stages - or at least too many over-eager cooks - but Resident Evil 6 is far from the abomination that some fans and forum frequenters might have us believe. There are a lot of new and different elements, but change isn't always for the worse, and though the new weaponised J'avo are more like something out of Gears of War (hence the cover shooting system used to dispense with them) than from earlier Resident Evil games, they are no less pleasing to kill. Capcom clearly knew that their monsters were the key appealing factor for some returning fans, so decided to introduce a whole new rogue's gallery of fiends, as well as the traditional "zombies" who are now a little faster, and as a result a little more threatening. Each new gruesome face, from the J'avo through to the excellent Lepotitsa and Rasklapanje are wonderfully designed as usual and offer diverse and pressing threats to the band of controllable characters. That strong character design is matched in what amounts to an excellent presentation package by exceptional visual and lighting effects and a focus on atmospherics that make for a darker, more brooding aesthetic than in Resident Evil 5. In short, the series has never looked this good, even if there is some compromise in textures and certain animations. Co-op play is very good, and a marked improvement from Resident Evil 5 - addressing the AI problems of that previous game - and allowing friends to drop in and out of play with success, though it does mean the tone shifts even more from horror to action when there's someone there who has your back. There are also a couple of online modes - Mercenary and Agent Hunt Mode - that feel a little insubstantial next to the scale of the campaign, but which are entertaining enough to offer another variation to gameplay.
Verdict While it isn't quite the earth-shattering success that Capcom clearly hoped for when they decided to bring in so many diverse elements to create a huge action-led experience, Resident Evil is still an entertaining enough experience. Let go of those "hardcore" hang-ups about the game betraying its roots, and embrace the idea of it as an action horror and there is a lot to enjoy - had it all been a little tighter, and Capcom had been a little more disciplined in their scope, then Resident Evil 6 might have been a great game. As it is, it's only great in parts, and let down criminally in others by some sloppy execution and a lack of focus. Resident Evil 6 is released today. Version tested: XBox 360.