Resident Evil 5: Versus Mode (Xbox 360) Review

Posted by Adam Larck on 04.11.2009

Can the slower pace gameplay of Resident Evil 5 translate into a good multiplayer mode? Read on to find out.



Title: Resident Evil 5: Versus Mode
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Survival Horror
Players: 1-4
Rated: M for Mature

With Resident Evil 5 being out for a month now, most fans of the game have already beaten it at least once by now and have probably tired of the Mercenaries Mode. However, this week Capcom released the Versus Mode for the game. Costing 400 Microsoft Points and only being a 1.8 MB download, Versus Mode allows for up four players to play four different types of modes. However, how does a game that has such a unique control scheme like RE 5 translate when going into multiplayer?

Well, the translation isn’t bad, but there’s definitely a learning curve to overcome. I play a lot of shooters online that are more of the run-and-gun method, so actually having to stop, aim and then shoot at another opponent in a multiplayer game is a different feeling that took me time to get used to. I still don’t have it mastered yet, but I can see improvement from when I started on Versus Mode.

When you first jump onto versus mode, you’ll see the four types of games able to be chosen: Survivors, Slayer, and the team variant of each one. Slayer tasks you with getting the most points by killing enemies and chaining chains together, while Survivors has you trying to get the most damage done to human opponents while computer enemies chase you around. Both of these modes are point based, so it does not matter in the long run how many kills you had (I placed over someone once who had three more kills then me in Slayer, but I had a higher chain). Also, the max team size is two players and there are only two teams on the map, but the number of Majini makes up for the small game size.

The inclusion of the Majini in all modes is another hurdle you have to learn to deal with early on. In Survivor mode, I still want to focus solely on the Majini attacking me, but always forget about the humans I’m supposed to be going after and end up getting destroyed every time. It can be hard trying to balance the two out, as Majini can give you ammo, grenades, and herbs once killed.

I get the opposite feel in Slayer mode, however. When you actually want to kill Majini, players normally go after each other to keep chains alive. I had many times where I’d be focusing on a few enemies around me, and then get nailed from across the level by an arrow. While this is part of the game, I find that a lot of players will often ignore the Majini to go after just the players.

Another aspect I want to hit on in both modes is dying. When you run out of health, you don’t die immediately. Instead, you wander around limping while trying to get your health back up. In free-for-all modes, this just relates back to tapping the B button as fast as you can while opponents try to finish you off, but in team modes your teammate actually has to heal you. While good in theory, most of the time your teammate will be on the other side of the map and you’ll be dead by the time they get to you, if they even try to help at all.

The mode comes with eight levels to play, but for those that have played the game they may seem a bit familiar. That’s because most are taken almost directly from the game (one of the reasons that the download size is so small). Each map has different weapons that can be found on it throughout the course of a match, which is good because starting weapons are normally lackluster for some of the characters. Also, some of the special enemies (executioners, etc.) can sometimes drop weapons when killed, but that hasn’t happened to me yet on there in my matches.

In Survivor mode, everyone starts out with a pistol and other weapons have to be found, while in Slayer mode each starts with their own specialty weapons depending on their costume. There are a total of 10 characters to buy to use in Versus, using points gotten in any of the modes.

There are a few things needed from other multiplayers, though. A bit more options on games would be great, like changing the time limit (5 minute default for Survivor, 3 for Slayer) or changing the type of Majini spawning would have been a nice touch for custom games. Also, if you try to join a full game, it just kicks you back out to the Versus screen. Just going back to the game selection screen would have been great.

However, some new little features are a nice touch in game. The radar isn’t constantly taking up your screen. Instead, you have to hit RB to pull it up (showing everyone on the map is a little unnecessary). The game also keeps track of your high scores on every map for every time of game as well. Also, in the lobby, by pressing Start you can look at the different point values in the game. It’s a nice little feature for new players trying to get the different values down.

The 411 - Versus mode is a big change for tradition shooter fans, but Resident Evil fans should like the extra replay value the game will get. While it seems ridiculous to have to pay for multiplayer, Capcom does a decent job trying to make a single player game multiplayer. Fans of the game and people looking for something new to try may want to check this out, but for casual shooter fans don’t expect to find familiar footing.

Graphics	10.0	The graphics look amazing in the game. I never encountered any slowdown or frame skips from playing online, even with Majini’s and explosives happening all around.
Gameplay	7.0	The gameplay is good, but too many new things at once isn’t always a good thing. With trying to learn how to use the controls in multiplayer, the extra Majini all around you and point system could have been done away with.
Sound	7.5	Really not much to say about the sound. Normally the Versus is pretty quiet except for gunshots and the Majini. While the sounds are good, they aren’t really extraordinary.
Lasting Appeal	7.0	The multiplayer is fun for now, but I see it being like many games and just burning out after a few weeks or a month or two. I think the single player and co-op will pull people from the multiplayer, although it’s fun to spend time playing once in a while
Fun Factor	7.8	I enjoyed it, but the curves you have to learn to overcome takes away from it until you finally get decent at it. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time with it, but being a bit easier to pick up would have made for a more enjoyable experience.
Overall	7.9   [ Good ]

Screenshots
All 6 Resident Evil 5 Screenshots