Resident Evil games were traditionally solitary experiences with a focus on inventory management, vulnerability and largely overwhelming odds. Nothing was scarier than being stuck in a room with 3 zombies and only having 4 bullets left. In 5 and 6, Capcom gave you a partner in almost every situation, controlled by either the game's AI or by another player in splitscreen or online. This allowed for more dialogue, cooperative world traversal (using both characters to get to places out of reach for one) and it meant that the developer could force more enemies on screen at any given time. With a second character with you at all times, the whole DNA of the series was undermined. You no longer really had to worry about resources as you could mule your partner and make them hold all your ammo or healing items, if you were in trouble they could save you and in 6 a system of two player close quarter combat finishing moves were introduced. Where was the vulnerability? Or the tension? It certainly didn't help that Capcom dropped the ball on the partner AI as in both games they were largely terrible, often resulting in wasted ammo or healing items as the game poorly judged when you needed help or what weapon to use.
I am a man of many interests. I am a passionate gamer, running my own YouTube channel (The Gadget Addicts) showing off the best of modern gaming in the form of Let's Play videos.
I am an ardent musician, having been a guitarist for the past 13 years. I am also a massive geek, I adore science fiction and fantasy films and TV shows and am trying to work up the courage to start writing a novel. If I can ever think of a good story to tell...
I live with my wife in the North East of England and own a belligerent little black cat.
