‘Resident Evil 6′ Reviews Are A Decidedly Mixed Bag

Capcom’s Resident Evil 6 has decided to replace survival horror with action-packed set pieces, a fact which has divided a number of reviewers. According to Computer and Video Games, the game tends to favor shoot-outs and intense zombie-related confrontations over puzzle-solving and item management. For the first time, Resident Evil has become more of an arcade experience than an adventure game with light action elements.

“An accomplished shooter on the whole, and a fittingly thunderous send-off for current gen ‘Resident Evil.’ The next instalment needs to tighten the focus, deciding which ideas are worth sticking with, but this could be the definitive videogame blockbuster – huge, colourful and surprising,” the Official Xbox Magazine UK explained in its review of the latest installment of the long-running franchise.

GamesBeat stated in their write-up of Resident Evil 6 that, while the entry is certainly pleasing on a visual level, the game is essentially all over the proverbial map when it comes to content.

“Everything in ‘Resident Evil 6′ is bigger, louder, and prettier than its predecessors, but that does not necessarily make it a better game. While it finally embraces the adrenaline-fueled action the series has slowly moved toward for so long, the rest is a schizophrenic mess,” Giancarlo Valdes explained in his review of the title.

The folks at GameSpot, meanwhile, had very few positive things to say about the latest Resident Evil adventure. In fact, the website’s review of the game ranks as one of the lowest on Metacritic. Although the title will probably sell loads of copies this holiday season, gamers may be in for an unpleasant surprise when it comes to actual gameplay.

“How far can cinematics get you when the gameplay sandwiched between them is so poorly paced, so utterly misconceived, so reliant on stick wriggles and button tapping? There’s a place for contextual prompts and cinematic storytelling in video games, but ‘Resident Evil 6′ is a mishmash of elements put together without any sense of care or direction,” Senior Editor Kevin VanOrd wrote. His overall score: 4.5.

Resident Evil 6, which is set ten years after the events which transpired in Raccoon City, is slated to hit retail shelves for the PS3 and XBox 360 on Tuesday, October 2. Despite the wonky reviews, are you looking forward to the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise?