Resident Evil was a series in decline in 2004. After immortalizing the survival horror genre on the PlayStation with three merciless installments, the series was adrift in experimentation with light gun games and the incremental gameplay changes of Resident Evil Code: Veronica. Resident Evil 4 tore the series down to its roots and rebuilt it, trading gloomy monster closets for white-knuckle gunplay. Resident Evil 5 sticks close to the formula laid out in 4, offering a lush new setting for your darkest zombie blasting needs. The game is playable from start to finish in co-op which is a big change for the series. For more on the game read Ryan Geddes' review for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game.
Price Point
Resident Evil 5 is available for $59.99 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. You can also get a Collector's Edition for both consoles that will cost you $89.99. For the extra cash you'll get a Chris Redfield figurine, a Tricell messenger bag, a BSAA patch, a keychain, a bonus disc with a "Making of" documentary and digital art gallery. These extra treats are available for both consoles.
Presentation
Resident Evil 5 is one of the most technically spectacular games of this generation. It's crammed to the gills with environmental detail, elaborate character models, terrific natural lighting, and some fantastic explosion effects. Facial animations and lip-synching are also nuanced and bring out some subtle undertones in cutscenes. From a technical standpoint, you'd be hard pressed to find a more impressive game on either console.
Still, there are some small differences worth noting. The PS3 presents more brightly, and this helps to bring out more visual detail in dark areas. In comparison, the blacks in the 360 version tend to wash out some of the finer details. In brightly lit areas, however, the PS3's brightness adds a slight haziness to the image that makes brighter colors look a touch washed out. The PS3 takes a hit in the framerate department, with noticeable dips into the low 20's in some especially hectic scenes. It's also worth noting the PS3 version appears slightly more aliased than the 360 version. You won't see this without looking closely because environments generally have so much polygonal detail that straight lines never stand out. Still, you'll notice a slight jagginess on gun models and some simpler environmental objects in the PS3 version.
The PS3 version requires a hefty 4.8GB installation that took me upwards of fifteen minutes. Once the game is running, the PS3 version loaded into levels just a second or two more quickly than the 360. The PS3 will have you loaded in from the level select menu in 10-11 seconds while this takes 12-13 seconds on the 360. It's a small difference and shouldn't be an issue either way.
The biggest factor for most hardcore gamers will be the framerate. If you know in advance that framerate drops are an issue for you than the 360 version should be the one to get. Otherwise, both versions look just as good as one another. The 360 gets the win here because of its more stable framerate, but the PS3 version shouldn't be considered inferior by any stretch of the imagination. Both versions look better than almost any other game out there.
Overall
1. Xbox 360
2. PS3
Content and Control
Resident Evil 5 is a hefty package of features and content, all of which orbits around the story campaign. Both the PS3 and 360 versions offer mostly equivalent experiences in terms of content. You can play through the 6 chapters of Story Mode alone or in co-op with a friend. You can play co-op online, through system link, or in local splitscreen. As you progress you'll earn points for upgrading weapons, collect story files, and unlock cutscenes which can be viewed as one uninterrupted movie. You can also unlock figurines of all the different characters in the game. Beating the game unlocks a new difficulty setting and Mercenaries Mode, a returning favorite from Resident Evil 4. There is no online support for this mode currently, but you will be able to play in splitscreen with a friend. The PS3 and 360 versions both offer the same Achievements/Trophies to keep playing after an initial run-through. Completionists will have a field day with all the unlockables and extras in Resident Evil 5. After a speedy run-through of the game my total completion percentage was 25%. All of these modes and features are available in the PS3 and 360 version of the game.
The game controls similarly to Resident Evil 4, and it works equally as well on both machines. You'll walk at a deliberate pace by default, but holding the A/X button sends your character into a sprint. You'll have to stop all movement when you go into aiming mode. You'll hold the left trigger of L1 button, then fire with the right trigger or R1. You can use your knife while in aiming mode with the Right Bumper of R2 button. Chris can also execute context-sensitive melee attacks at close range with the X/Square button. Enemy movement is typically slow and the inability to move while aiming keeps the gameplay focused on fine-tuned shots and this works well on both controllers. I tend to prefer the PS3's analog sticks for shooters, but the game is equally playable on the 360. Whichever controller feels best in your hand should be your choice.
Capcom has done an admirable job of matching features and essential content in both versions of the game. You'll get all the modes, unlockables, and bonuses no matter who your console sweetheart is. The game controls just as well on the PS3 and 360, and with four different control types to choose from you should be able to find something that works for you on either machine.
Overall
1. Xbox 360 & PS3
The Verdict
Resident Evil 5 is a lavish production and it's clear that Capcom has put a lot of emphasis on delivering an equivalent experience on the PS3 and 360. Both versions are technically polished and have a level of production value that few games can match. With a wealth of modes, bonuses, and unlockables, you'll be getting a terrific product on both the PS3 and 360. There are some small graphical differences that might matter to some hardcore fans. The PS3's framerate is more prone to dips and has some slight aliasing that's not as noticeable on the 360. The 360 loses some detail with its black levels, but, again, the same happens for the PS3 in brightly lit areas.
While I'm hesitant to say that one version is legitimately "better" than the other, I'm going to recommend the 360 over the PS3. The framerate dips on the PS3 weren't an issue for me, but they might be irritating to some hardcore gamers with a trained eye. If you don't care about framerate, both versions are equally good.
Overall
1. Xbox 360
2. PS3
source http://insider.ign.com/articles/960/960005p4.html
