I am unabashedly a fan of Resident Evil. Ever since I walked into that creepy mansion in the outskirts of Raccoon City I have been hooked, having played and owned every single main game in the series.

Like every long-running series, the Resident Evil franchise has had its highs and lows, but when all is said and done, you would be hard pressed to deny that Resi is an iconic series, birthing characters and game mechanics that will go down in the gaming history books.

As you can probably tell by now, the announcement of a new Resident Evil game, to me, is nothing short of a gaming event. Consequently, when Capcom officially announced Resident Evil 6 a few days ago I felt like a kid in a candy store, and my excitement only grew once I laid eyes on the fantastic trailer. But I don’t want to be the only geek on this hype train; I want you right there with me, so here are six awesome reasons that prove why you too should be marking Resident Evil 6's release date on your calendar.

Reason 1: Mr Badass Protagonist, I'd like you to meet M. Badass Protagonist the second

For a series with famously horrific dialogue, it is surprising that Resident Evil has somehow managed to create such endearing and iconic characters. The series' core protagonists have evolved over the years, developing individual character arcs which (although convoluted) have managed to overall make a weird sort of sense. These characters have somehow managed to overcome their many flaws, including their imposed dialogue impairments, and ingratiate themselves with gamers worldwide.

Such are the cases of Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy. The first has been the stalwart male protagonist of the series since its inception, and has gone from being an overwhelmed, cardboard cut-out, clichéd cop character, to a man with a mission in life, deeply affected by the rollercoaster of trauma that has surrounded him for years. The second, the rookie Raccoon City cop with the Bieber haircut, was literally transformed into a badass before our very eyes, whilst still being perhaps the most relatable of all of the series characters.

Resident Evil 6 will make series history by putting these two characters in the same game together. That was the collective gasp of Resi fanboys around the world which you just heard.

Reason 2: a story Bond would be proud of.

I have a somewhat love-hate relationship with Resident Evil's story. Most of the time, the yarn crafted by the cooky guys at Capcom isn't much more than soap opera fare. However, over the years I've found myself engrossed in the mythos of Resident Evil. I read up on the characters on wiki sites, enjoy the multiple conspiracy theories bouncing around the internet, and try to keep up with the ever-expanding history of the evil Umbrella Corporation.

The point is that what started out as a simple 'night of the living dead' game has morphed into a whole world, featuring espionage, intrigue and worldwide bioterror. I love it, and I can't wait to see just what Capcom has up its sleeve, especially with a game reported to follow three protagonists in branching yet intertwining storylines, which will see our protagonists in locales around the world. Time to update those wikis fanboys.

Reason 3: Ada-freaking-Wong

We first heard of Ada Wong all the way back in Resident Evil 1. Apparently the girlfriend of one of the scientists working in the mansion lab, Ada's name was said scientist’s computer password. Poor dope. As the series progresses we encounter Ada in both Resident Evil 2 and 4, and learn that she is somewhat of a superspy, working for one shadowy organization or another, in an attempt to obtain information and samples of the bioweapons at large.

The quintessential femme fatale, Ada Wong is an incredibly memorable, scene-stealing character, who was an absolute joy to play as in Resident Evil 4. The Asian sensation is poised to make her comeback in Resident Evil 6, and will be playable. Huzzah!

Reason 4: Survival-horror? Action? Does it matter?

The feelings I first experienced when I first played Resident Evil 5 are hard to describe. It featured prominently on my screen; both Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, the series’ original protagonists, were featured in the game; horrifying mutated dogs were lunging at my neck; all of the ingredients that make up the Resi recipe seemed to be present. But it just didn’t feel like a Resident Evil game. It very quickly dawned on me that the survival-horror which defined original Resi games had been replaced with non-stop monster-killing action. Solitary walks down confined corridors, with nothing but a single clip of ammo and your trusty knife were out; co-op and no-holds-barred kill fests were in. Although this transition had been initiated by Resident Evil 4, the definitive jump made by Resi 5 was somewhat jarring. In the end though, I didn't really care.

The fact of the matter is that Resident Evil 5 was a good action game. The game mechanics of the original Resident Evil games were starting to show their age, and a change was needed. The series was turned on its head, and no-one can say that's automatically a bad thing. Resident Evil 6 seems to be pushing that action envelope even further, and to Capcom I say go for it. They gave me Megaman; I trust those guys.

Reason 5: Co-op Madness?

Six player online co-op? Six players, controlling six Resi characters, facing a horde of the series' best monsters? Although this has not yet been confirmed by Capcom, the rumour mill is running at full force, encouraged by a post about the game featured on Xbox.com. The post has since been removed, but if there is any truth to the rumour you should be excited; very excited.

If you have played the mercenaries mode featured in Resi 5 with a friend, you know how addictively fun co-op Resident Evil madness can be. Adding four more of my pals into the mix is a stroke of genius if you ask me. I’m in.

Reason 6: Zombies!

Watch the trailer. Zombies are back. Rejoice!

Labels: Feature, Joey Núñez, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 6

The Resident Evil series is, first and foremost, part of the survival horror genre. It has terrified gamers for over a decade now, with shambling zombies and creepy Spanish villagers, giving many a player plenty of nightmares as a result. The more recent entries in the series - most notably Resident Evil 5 - have taken the controversial route of being far more action-orientated. Capcom's decision to do this has left many hardcore fans baffled, as the well-recognised clunky controls and somewhat awkward gunplay have never been strong points of the series, so for Capcom to dedicate an entire game to this awkward gunplay would seem like a bizarre choice.

Well, with Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, that's just what they've done.

As the title suggests, this 3DS release is solely based on the Mercenaries 'mini-game' found in both Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. It's a basic score-attack mode, in which you take on the role of a famous character in a range of locations, and try and kill as many zombies as possible in the time limit given. Even in the aforementioned prior games, it didn't have the depth of similar modes such as Gears of War's Horde mode, or the Terrorist Hunt of Rainbow Six: Vegas, but as a little extra it could provide at least a couple hours of light entertainment once the main story was over. Making it the focus of its own game and then charging full price for it, however, seems completely absurd.


Make no mistake about it, this is literally the same mode ripped straight out of the prior games, right down to the characters and locations. Enemy types are copied from Resident Evil 4 and RE5, there are no new weapons or maps, and very few new gameplay mechanics to push it beyond what fans already expect from Mercenaries 3D. Killing enemies scores you points, smashing crystals earns you more time and you just keep doing the same thing until the time is up. There are no objectives, not much in the way of enemy variety and the whole design just seems lazy. The overriding feeling I have towards the design of Mercenaries 3D is that, even as an extra in prior games, it wasn't all that engaging or fleshed out, and it has not been improved or enhanced at all for transition into a fully-fledged release.

Initially at least, there are just eight maps to choose from, across only five different locations. Capcom has hinted that there might be some DLC further down the road, but at the moment, everything is recycled. In terms of characters, there are a decent number to choose from and unlock, but they do little other than providing lip service to existing fans. Medals can be earned and weapons are unlocked, but none of these unlocks are reason enough to plough through the same generic and same-y missions over and over again.

Resident Evil 5 was a very action-heavy experience, and the somewhat dated gunplay struggled to keep up with the design of the missions and levels. Whereas in Resident Evil 4 the clunky combat was offset by the slow pace at which the enemies attacked and the chilling atmosphere created, the fifth entry just felt a bit like a laboured version of Gears of War. In Mercenaries 3D, the combat is not particularly exciting either. The way in which Capcom seems to try and get round the fact that the gunplay is slow and clunky is by making the enemy AI completely shambolic. Enemies will walk at you at a snail's pace, stand in front of you for a good few seconds before even thinking about hitting you, and are basically lambs for the slaughter. This type of gunplay can be excused in a careful, methodical environment, but in a fast-paced score-attack setting, it just doesn't work.


Capcom has tried to modernise the setup slightly by offering perk-style abilities, such as being able to use healing items more effectively or allowing players to execute instant kills at certain points during a mission. Overall, though, it just feels like a cheap and tacky attempt at trying to introduce something worthwhile into what is still essentially a mini-game.

The game becomes slightly more enjoyable when played in co-op, either locally or online. The process of hooking up with friends or strangers is quick and easy, and the ability to heal each other and link together kills for score bonuses is a nice touch that makes having a second player there feel worthwhile. What's most baffling about the online functionality of Mercenaries 3D, however, is the lack of leaderboards; this is a game entirely about trying to achieve high scores, and yet you can't even compare them with friends and the rest of the world. It really is strange, especially when you consider how brilliant the online component of Capcom's last 3DS title was in Super Street Fighter IV 3D. The lack of leaderboards is just one more reason why players will find very little incentive to keep coming back for more after they've played through each mission; that is, assuming they can stomach the clunky combat.

Mercenaries 3D's strongest card is probably its visuals, with character models that honestly don't look much worse off than the stunning ones offered in the recent console games. The environments look decent enough, but effects such as explosions and bullet damage look incredibly poor when compared to the rest of the visual presentation overall. Animation is very impressive for the player characters, but enemies move stiffly with rather jarring animation routines. The audio is laughable, with poor audio quality rendering weapon sounds and character voices obsolete. The music is just as corny as you'd expect from the series, too, so you might want to play this game on mute.


There is no getting away from the fact that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D lacks the content and longevity required for it to be a full priced release. Not only that, but the clunky gunplay and baffling lack of online leaderboards represent areas in which the series desperately needs some renovation. As it stands, Resident Evil's gameplay simply does not fit in well in a fast-paced score-attack format, and asking consumers to spend £40 on an experience like this just seems like daylight robbery. I would say a weekend rental might give you some light entertainment, but Capcom's braindead decision on the save-game front has practically killed that option as well. If you're finished with the brilliant Ocarina of Time, and are looking for the next big thing to keep your 3DS from gathering dust, then I'm afraid you're just going to have to keep on looking.

3/10 [?]

Labels: 2011, 3DS, Capcom, Nintendo 3DS, Resident Evil, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Review, Tom Acres

This article contains information about PlayStation Store content relevant to the U.S. PSN region, but may not necessarily be applicable to other regions.

It's been a long wait, but the PlayStation Network is finally back. You can now sign in, message your friends, play games online, and return to purchasing. But, wait a second, the PlayStation Store isn’t up again yet, is it?

Nope. Oh balls.

The PlayStation Store is the thing I have missed most during the PSN outage, and although our online games shopping centre hasn't quite reopened yet, now that the PSN is back to running on most of its cylinders it’s only a matter of time before we can all begin a collective shopping spree. In celebration I've decided to guide you through my planned purchases, whilst simultaneously recommending some awesome games currently available on the PSN. Where do we start?

Well, with the classics, of course!

I have been clutching a PlayStation controller in my hands since 1997, so I’m pretty familiar with a lot of the original PlayStation's games, many of which I just can’t wait to replay. Now, I know there are many of you out there who missed the PS1 golden age, and given the virtual sea of PS1 classic games to choose from on the PSN (not all of which are worth your money), I’m here to help you out. There are a few real gems in the PS1 classics section of the PlayStation store; here are just a few that I'd suggest you take a look at.

Bloody Roar 2

If you like fighting games, and don’t mind stepping into some 1999 graphics, Bloody Roar 2 is worth a look; a 3D fighter (think Tekken), which gives you the opportunity to control eleven distinct fighters, in combo-heavy hand-to-hand matches. The major selling point? Like those lovable Autobots and Decepticons, these fighters are actually much more than what meets the eye. All the fighters in the game have been genetically altered, and can transform into a human/beast hybrid mid-battle. Wolfmen, bunny ladies and weird insect dudes; Bloody Roar has them all. It's easy to recommend Bloody Roar 2 over its predecessor, as it offers more characters and modes, as well as better graphics than the original, albeit first-generation PS1 graphics.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Simply put, Symphony of the Night is Castlevania at its best. If you have no idea what Castlevania is, then I weep for your soul. In a nutshell, the Castlevania series of games follows the Belmont clan of vampire hunters throughout the generations, in their seemingly eternal fight against Dracula, the vampire king. Unlike the recent Lords of Shadow, the classic Castlevania games are strictly a 2D affair, heavy on the plaforming and the battling. Imagine Megaman with a mediaeval vampiric gothic twist, and you’ll start to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Symphony of the Night is the central gem in the Castlevania crown. The game follows the story of Alucard, the son of Dracula, as he braves the dangers of Dracula’s castles. It's 2D platforming at its best, with just a smidgen of RPG-style character growth. With a great plot, gorgeous art style and pitch-perfect gameplay, how can you live with yourself knowing that this classic is just a download away, but you've never bought it?

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Ever wonder what the guys at Naughty Dog - the developer famous for creating the Uncharted and Jak and Daxter games - were doing way back in the nineties? Look no further, my young padawan: Crash Bandicoot is what they were doing.

Sony’s premiere mascot and the PlayStation’s response to Mario, Crash is a cartoon-looking bandicoot – yes, they're actual animals – who wears jeans and has a liking for jumping on things. The Crash Bandicoot games were the best 3D platformers the original PlayStation ever saw, exuding all of the great production values that Naughty Dog is famous for. For a few laughs and some genuinely enjoyable platforming, Crash is the way to go. The third game in the series is easily the best of the lot, but you can go ahead and get all three - you certainly won’t regret it.

Final Fantasy IX

Back in the 1990’s, Squaresoft - now known as Square Enix - was on a roll. When Final Fantasy VII was rolled out on the PlayStation 1, no one could know that it was the game that would define that generation of gamers. Expectations were high for each subsequent game, and for the most part Squaresoft did not disappoint. The PSOne was home to three main-series Final Fantasy games, all of which were astounding. Now, we all know that Final Fantasy VII is an easy recommendation, but some of you might have overlooked the somewhat underrated Final Fantasy IX, which, looking back, is one of my favourite games in the series.

After the modern styles of Final Fantasy VII and VIII, Squaresoft decided to revisit its roots in Final Fantasy IX. Everything from the character design to the battle system is a throwback to the company’s SNES-era Final Fantasy titles; you can count that crystals, castles, airships, unlikely heroes and princesses will all make an appearance. The eight characters in the game mostly correspond to one of the classic 'jobs' that the series is known for - thief, white mage, blue mage, black mage, summoner, etc. - and all are compelling, unique and likeable. This is a Final Fantasy game, so - surely enough - the plot is epic and will have you in a battle for the fate of the world itself. A classic RPG through and through, if you can tolerate the classic sensibilities of the game, Final Fantasy IX is well worth your time.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

The original Resident Evil started it all. Resident Evil 2 is perhaps still the definitive game in the series for most gamers who played the classic titles. Resident Evil 3, however... well, it just was. The critics knew the game was great, but it simply wasn’t as successful as its predecessors. Chances are, you probably didn’t play this game either. I can guarantee you’re missing out on some of the best survival horror to ever come from Capcom.

In Resident Evil 3, you play as Jill Valentine, protagonist of the original game, as she desperately attempts to escape Raccoon City whilst it is being overrun by zombies. To complicate matters further, Umbrella Corporation has developed a bioweapon, designed exclusively to track and kill Jill, called 'The Nemesis'. Resident Evil 3 plays just like its predecessors, with the series' classic controls, but the Nemesis creature really adds something new to the mix; specifically, jump-out-of-your-seat terror. The Nemesis will show up repeatedly and unexpectedly throughout the game, and unlike the other creatures you face, it will follow you through every door and up every staircase, until you choose to face him. To put this simply, all these years later I can still remember how much Nemesis scared the shit out of me. Are you ready to be scared?

Metal Gear Solid

You’ve heard about those nifty action/stealth games called Metal Gear, right? Well, this is the game that started it all. Metal Gear Solid isn’t the first game in the Metal Gear series, but was the first of them to be infused with the cinematic style and stealth gameplay the series has become famous for since.

Like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid was a console-defining game. At the time, nobody had seen anything like it, and its legacy is still palpable today. If you haven’t played this game, you should. 'Nuff said.


So, there you have it: my list of must-have PlayStation 1 classics. Make sure to download at least one of these classics if you can once the PlayStation Store is back up. And if you have any personal PS1 favorites that get you all teary-eyed, don’t be greedy: share your opinions in the comments below.

Labels: 2011, Bloody Roar, Castlevania, Classic Consoles, Columns, Crash Bandicoot, Final Fantasy, Joey Núñez, Metal Gear Solid, PlayStation, PS1, PSone, RePlay, Resident Evil, Sony

It's that time of year again, when obligatory lists must be wheeled out and paraded in front of an audience, poked at with sticks and forced to do tricks for the laughing crowd, whilst salty tears streak down the list's face as it realises it could have been so much more, it could have done something with its life, and so forth. The Game Developer's Conference is always a happy time of year, and 2011 is very special due to Gamer's Guide to Life.com's list of games likely to be revealed. We've thunk real hard about these ones, to try and bring you the most realistically viable eight games that could see the light of day.

Assassin's Creed III

Well, this is a given. Ubisoft have confirmed that the final part of the trilogy will hit stores in 'fiscal 2011', but the developer also have Splinter Cell 6 in the wings, being developed by Jade Raymond and company. How do you balance two heavyweights like that? For our money, Desmond will swoop in late 2011, with Sam going back to basics in 2012. A good start to the decade for stealth, then.

Far Cry 3

It's been three years since games took to the plains of Africa and found nothing bit bitter disappointment. Don't let ridiculously high review scores fool you; Far Cry 2 was ham-fisted, broken and unfinished, despite the wonderful graphics. Antarctica has been suggested as a new setting, while others claim the series is staying in Africa (because you can't get enough of that sweet, sweet malaria), but expect a headline-grabbing feature to blind you with beauty - last time it was realistic flames, so maybe for the third outing it's... really awesome water?

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

PC gamers, rejoice! Fans of the Soviet era, rejoice! People who like mutants, rejoice! Finally, after three whole spin-offs, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is getting a proper sequel, and this time Dualshocks and Gamepads are invited to the party. GSC Game World announced the title last year, but all's been quiet on the Eastern Front. What are they hiding? Well, after seeing the graphical prowess of Metro 2033, worked on by various ex-GSC employees, expect Chernobyl to look lovely. Albeit in that post-apocalyptic way. Think terrifying mutants; think atmosphere and new locations like the monstrous 'Russian Woodpecker'. The announcement could get shouted down in the busy booths of E3, so GDC is the perfect time to unleash the first gameplay.

Brothers in Arms: Savage Seven

Ousted by GAME last year, it's about time the ace Hell's Highway got a follow up. For those who want their killing a little more refined, Brothers in Arms not only has gameplay that's half-FPS and half-puzzle, but a superb story reminiscent of Band of Brothers. The 'Savage Seven' has prompted a lot of speculation, but the seven roads coming together in Bastogne is the best guess so far. It was also hinted in Hell's Highway (by a ghost, no less) that the series is headed for a snowy setting. Just so long as we're popping Nazis, then we're happy.

a Rainbow Six reboot

The Rainbow Six series burned brightly and then fizzled out in Vegas (twice), with its raffish charm the only thing working in its favour. Expect a Medal of Honor-style reboot, complete with gritty realism involving shady terrorists and a greater focus on online co-op, all in a near-future dystopia of corruption and crime. Ubisoft have a strong line-up anyway, so it might be shelved for E3 or even Spike, but no doubt they're itching to get the hype-train rolling. Down a hill. Full of hostages you must rescue.

Burnout 8

Criterion have been oddly quiet for a studio the makes games about really loud cars, so they must have something up their sleeves. With Shift 2: Unleashed gearing up for release, and Gran Turismo 5 an almost distant memory, it's the perfect time for Burnout to reclaim its crown and sit on the throne of racers that have it all: looks, speed and destructive power. Don't expect a gritty reboot - just lightning fast vehicles, beautiful visuals and the ability to T-bone anything stupid enough to get in your way.

Resident Evil 6

After that quick trip to Africa produced mixed results (bit of a theme, no?), Resisdent Evil needs to go back to basics; namely, shooting the faces off badass zombies. Go back to the dead of night, stop being so racist, and just let me shoot things that bleed! A European, urban setting seems right on the books, and Capcom have a thing for bringing back old characters, especially if they're emo (oh, hey, Leon), and with the Wii versions turning out to be a success, expect Move and Kinect compatibility.

The Chronicles Of Riddick 3

Have you noticed how stealth is pretty much dead? Some games ask you to stay in the shadows, but it's only until you burst out and gun everyone down. Riddick not only provided valuable work for Vin Diesel (the man has a family to feed), but was also incredibly empowering: stalking an unlucky soul in the hallowed corridors of Butchers Bay or Dark Athena before jumping out, slicing his throat and retreating back into darkness was uniquely moreish, and despite the lack of a film to go with, gamers would snap it up regardless.

GDC 11 starts tomorrow, so get ready for reveals galore. Follow our Twitter for more delicious content from our Michelin-star writers.

Labels: 2011, Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed III, Brothers in Arms, Burnout, Chris, Chris Hawke, Far Cry 3, GDC, GDC 2011, Rainbow Six, Resident Evil, STALKER, The Chronicles of Riddick

Femme Fatale. It’s French for 'deadly woman'. According to Wikipedia - also known as The Bible of the internet - a femme fatale is a "dangerous and seductive woman", who often leads men into "compromising, dangerous and deadly situations". To me, a femme fatale is a chick who kicks ass, and if you know anything about me you know I love a kickass chick.

Lucky for me as a gamer, those nerdy game developers seem to love feisty ladies just as much as I do, and I’m guessing some of you geeks can appreciate the allure of a tough-as-nails female as well. Given the rampant interest on the subject, and in no way motivated by an inappropriate obsession with these gaming gals, I have taken it upon myself to put together a little list of my favorite femmes fatales of gaming. A powerful protagonist can and will completely change your experience with a game, so take a look at this list and check these ladies and their games out, and remember: most of them could beat you senseless.

Samus Aran, Metroid

Anyone who played Metroid back in the day will remember the exact moment when you realised Samus Aran, the futuristic bounty hunter in the suit that would give Iron Man a run for his money, wasn’t a cool dude. Nope, he wasn’t actually a he at all. He was a she, and she was tougher than any man could ever hope to be.

For the two of you out there who are unaware of Metroid, here’s the 411: Samus Aran walks around in some manly looking (yet strangely flattering) body armor, is armed to the teeth with futuristic laser guns, bombs and all manner of snazzy gadgets, and can basically walk onto a planet, take out every ugly alien on it, blow the goddamn rock up and head back home in time for lunch. She’s badass and don’t you doubt it. Oh, and one more thing: as of late, Samus has taken to wearing more fitted outfits. She’s pretty hot under that manly armor.

Samus made her latest outing in Metroid: Other M, infused with 25% more badass mojo, courtesy of Team Ninja. Some fans have frowned upon how the developers choose to flesh out Samus’ back-story and make her out to be somewhat of a fragile little girl. I’ll leave you guys to judge whether Other M has a higher 'win' or 'fail' quota, as long as you don’t for a second doubt just how awesome Samus is.

Not. One. Second.

Jill Valentine, Resident Evil

Not only is she a femme fatale, she is also the infamous 'master of unlocking'. The original Resident Evil girl, many have tried to win over Jill Valentine's title but, in my humble opinion, no other digital girl has succeeded.

Jill Valentine blew out her first zombie brain - and won over the hearts of gamers everywhere - back in 1996, in the first Resident Evil. She turned out to be more than just 'the girl character' of the game, thanks to some clever design choices by Capcom. Instead of just inserting a character with breasts, meant for one Mr. Chris Redfield, into an adventure, Capcom gave Ms. Valentine her own distinct storyline and adventure. Somehow, despite atrocious dialogue and voice acting, Capcom managed to create not only a long-lasting series but also characters that would withstand the test of time.

Jill went on to star in what I still consider to be the scariest game in the series, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (available now for download from the PlayStation Store), and made a semi-triumphant return in Resident Evil 5, proving to us all that she was still the girl that a zombie wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley.

Look for her to appear sometime soon in the upcoming 3DS game Resident Evil: Revelations. Just the thought of Jill Valentine blowing out zombie brains in an awesome 3D handheld format makes me get all giddy. You should go ahead and get excited too.

Fun fact: Jill was simply not content with kicking zombie booty, and made the jump to fighting games in 2002 in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, a role she is set to reprise this year in the game's sequel.

Jill Valentine is, simply put, all that and then some.

Lightning, Final Fantasy XIII

If the last two girls on the list could be considered old-school, then Lightning, of Final Fantasy fame, is about as 'new-school' as you can get. Making her first appearance in last year’s Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning showed up with a definite bang. Benefiting from all the power the PS3 and the 360 have to offer, the visuals of Final Fantasy XIII and the lovely Lightning are awe-inspiring, and to see this girl in motion is a thing of beauty. Trust me, you don’t forget the first time you see Lightning turn her gun into a sword with nothing but a flick of her wrist. Yeah, that’s right, her gun is also a sword. Awesome.

Speaking of weaponry, you should know that Lightning has more than enough talent to sweep the floor with any of the male Final Fantasy protagonists that came before her. With military training under her belt, Lightning could just as easily dropkick you as light you on fire courtesy of some nifty magic. I should probably also mention that she has the ability to invoke the power of Odin in one of the series' trademark 'summons'.

Yeah, I mean Odin as in King of the Norse Gods. Again, awesome.

Anything but a damsel in distress, Lightning is a woman on a mission, driven and focussed; say what you will of the linear nature of Final Fantasy XIII, but Lightning had business to care of, and no town full of NPC’s was going to get in her way. If you, like me, can’t get enough of this gun-blade toting woman, fear not: Lightning is poised to make a comeback in two upcoming Square Enix games, Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Dissidia: Duodecim.

Bayonetta, Bayonetta

A group of Angels swoop down from the heavens, wielding celestial weapons and intent on putting an end to you. Who are you? A curvaceous, cheeky, and absolutely deadly witch. As you lunge forward with your samurai sword you quickly go from slicing the angels up into feathery bits to shooting them up with your dual guns, swiftly interchanging punches with deadly shots. You finish off your enemies with a couple of well placed bullets. These bullets, however, aren’t fired from the guns in your hands, oh no; these are shots from the guns attached to the heels of your fabulous boots.

Oh, Bayonetta: you are one crazy chick.

I’ve played quite a few action games in my day and have witnessed all kinds of ludicrous things that insane game developers the world over have cooked up in their twisted little heads. After four Devil May Cry games, a couple of Ninja Gaidens, and a few God of Wars, I’d thought that I couldn’t be completely floored anymore. Yet Bayonetta went ahead and proved me wrong...

...in the best possible way.

Sure we’re talking about an extremely solid action game, with tight controls, great visuals and incredible art direction, but what really pulls the whole package together is Bayonetta herself. Overtly sexual, riddled with clichés and an all-round badass, Bayonetta is a character who gamers, such as me, will not soon forget. If you haven’t given this game a try, please do, immediately. Personally, I can only hope that we haven’t seen the last of this pole-dancing witch.

Yes, I said pole dancing. No, it wasn’t a typo.

Chun Li, Street Fighter

The number one, undisputed fighting game vixen is without a doubt Chun Li of Street Fighter fame. The tiny little Chinese girl, with the pretty blue dress and the lighting fast legs, changed the landscape of fighting games for the better back in 1991, with her appearance as a playable character in Street Fighter II – The World Warrior. Chun-Li was the first ever playable female character in a fighting game. The first ever. If you’re wondering, now is a good time to be impressed.

Chun-Li literally invaded a man’s world, and kicked serious butt while doing it. This nimble lady let little gaming boys the world over know that it was alright to pick the girl, especially if you beat the other guys to the ground while doing it. Again, we have Capcom to thank for this one. Instead of making a flimsy, cardboard cutout pretty girl who wanted to see the world and throw some kicks, they make a Chun-Li an undercover cop with a dead dad and revenge on her mind. Armed with quick hits and Princess Leia hair, a legend was born.

Chun-Li continues to be a popular character today, and has been featured prominently in most of Capcom’s Street Fighter games, as well as in most of the spin off franchises Capcom has cooked up, most prominently the Capcom vs. games. You can find Chun-Li spin-bird-kicking her way into Marvel vs. Capcom 3 right now.

Aya Brea, Parasite Eve

I’m guessing a few of you are saying "Aya who?" right about now. Fear not, all shall be revealed.

Aya Brea was just your regular, run-of-the-mill NYPD detective, minding her own business, trying to live the good life and catch an opera at Carnegie Hall when BAM, the prima donna of the opera gets all glowy eyed and makes everyone in the room catch on fire. Spontaneous combustion is not as fun as it sounds. Of course, our heroine didn’t catch a bad case of "I’m on fire!" like everyone else; instead, she got some nifty superpowers out of it all.

And, lo, a hero is born! Aya Brea proceeded to fight said Prima Donna and the mutant creatures she created in her wake, with New York City hanging in the balance, all the while looking all kinds of foxy in her leather jacket and blue jeans. Not quite an action game, and not quite an RPG, Parasite Eve was something else. In addition to the very cool abilities Aya developed in the course of the game she also had access to all kinds of weaponry, which you could upgrade in all sorts of ways. Think Resident Evil with magic that isn’t magic but superpowers... got it?

The interesting game mechanics plus pretty blonde lead made a hit of Parasite Eve on the PlayStation back in 1998. A sequel was released in 2000, and despite being packed with more lady-killing-creatures action, we haven’t heard of Aya since.

Luckily for us fans, Ms. Brea is just about ready for her comeback. A third game in the series, aptly titled The Third Birthday, is set to mutate the mitochondria of a PSP near you this March. After over ten years, I think that deserves a great big HUZZAH!

YRP, Final Fantasy X-2

I get it. Many hated Final Fantasy X-2. The roster was reduced to three playable characters, all of whom were girls. The tone of the game was much camper and upbeat, and the story - as a direct continuation of Final Fantasy X - left some wanting more. I, on the other hand, absolutely loved this game, in no small part due to its three female leads: Yuna, Rikku and Paine.

Fans of Final Fantasy X were more than familiar with Rikku and Yuna, however no one was expecting the massive makeover given to Yuna, who went from a princess-like summoner to a gun slinging acrobat straight out of Charlie’s Angels. And then, there was Paine. A sombre, cold and all-business warrior, the only way to describe her is badass, in an extreme sense. The game made a switch back to the job system, a classic Final Fantasy battle system by means of which you can change a characters job (thief, gunner, black mage, white mage, etc.) in order to gain access to the abilities corresponding to each job. The special thing about FFX-2 is that you could switch jobs mid-battle, leading to some very flashy over the top wardrobe change animations and some even flashier strategy.

I played this game to death, and wholeheartedly recommend it to any RPG enthusiasts willing to give it a chance. Hopefully these ladies will win you over as they did me.

Rubi Malone, WET

WET was a game which, to me, was filled with promise. Poised to be a great, stylish and clever action game, the end result just wasn’t running on all cylinders and ultimately didn’t deliver. However, if there was one aspect of the game I truly liked it was the character created to star in it: Rubi Malone.

This is a list of tough ladies, correct? Well, Ms. Malone packs dual pistols, uzis and shotguns; can run on walls like nobody’s business; and there’s also that useful Samurai sword she just loves to carry around. She is a bad-mouthed, dangerous mercenary for hire, and I love her for it.

WET was just oozing with style, trying its hardest to be the game Quentin Tarantino would love to make and play. If we’re lucky the recently announced sequel will be a bit more Tarantino and a bit less B-movie.

Trish, Devil May Cry Series

Granted, in constructing my list I’ve taken a few liberties with the term 'femme fatale', but if ever there was one, Trish of the Devil May Cry series is definitely it. Covered in sexy leather and leathery sex appeal? Check. Using her cunning to lure our hero into danger? Check. Powerful enough to take us all to hell and back, and not break a sweat? Check check check.

Trish made her debut in the first Devil May Cry on the PlayStation 2 way back in 2001. Created by the evil demon Mundus to look just like Dante’s mother, and imbued with enough strength and power to take our hybrid demon/human hero on, Trish was central to the story, as she served as the bait, foe and eventual ally of Dante. At the end of the first game Dante finds himself with a new partner, and we find ourselves with a new femme fatale to love.

Sadly Trish has found herself with a downplayed role in the series, and we craving fanboys have always been left wanting more of this blonde bombshell. Playable as a secret character in the disappointing Devil May Cry 2, and making scant appearances in Devil May Cry 4, it's left to be seen what Trish’s fate will be in the reboot of the series, known simply as DMC.

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider Series

It’s no secret: I love Lara Croft with a passion. Dig deep enough around the site and you’ll find my ode to both Lara and her franchise around here somewhere. And honestly, what’s not to love? There’s the lovely British accent, the acrobatic prowess and handy dual-wielded guns, the archeological knowledge. She isn't too difficult on the eyes either.

Lara Croft has been a staple of the videogame industry since she made her debut in the 1996 Tomb Raider. In an era when 2D gaming was still king, Tomb Raider not only took part in the 3D gaming revolution, but also changed the landscape of female characters in gaming. Lara Croft, just like most of the other women on this list, is tough, unapologetic and very kickass, whilst at the same time maintaining her femininity and charm.

With the recent Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, the folks at Crystal Dynamics proved to us all that Lara Croft was a compelling character even when you take a Tomb Raider game and turn it on its head. I harbour a deep hope that they’ll be able to pull that off again with the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot/prequel.



So there you have it, boys and girls; my top ten gaming femmes fatales. I’m sure that I’ve left hundreds of amazing characters off the list, but these ladies just float my boat and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Sound off in the comments section and let us know who your favourite femmes fatales are.

Labels: 2011, Bayonetta, Columns, Devil May Cry, Dissidia Final Fantasy, DMC, Final Fantasy, Joey Núñez, Metroid, Parasite Eve, RePlay, Resident Evil, Street Fighter, The Third Birthday, Tomb Raider, Wet

Before we get into this I think it’s important to lay down some facts.

Fact 1: I am a hardcore Resident Evil Fan. I’ve been on the zombie bandwagon since day one, when Jill Valentine was known as the Master of Unlocking, and super cheesy intros were the way to go.

Fact 2: Even though we’ve already established my RE fanboy status, and even though Resident Evil 5 has been out for months and months, I must confess to you, dear readers, that I just played RE 5 for the first time last night. Yes, yes, I know, I should be deeply ashamed and forever shunned from the RE fanboy message boards, no longer permitted to muse and speculate for hours on end on the warped and convoluted mess that is Resident Evil’s plot. Not that I would actually do that.

Not anymore anyway.

Capcom recently announced the Gold Edition of the game (featuring some DLC, shiny new characters and extra missions) and I am guessing that a few of you out there, hyped up by the promise of awesomeness that is brought along with this "Gold" version of the game, might probably get their first taste of this game soon too, and it is precisely you Resident Evil 5 virgins out there that might, perhaps, benefit from my little rant.

Having stated the above facts I can now let you in on why I feel the need to write about a game I’ve been playing for less than 24 hours. It’s quite simple actually - I would like to ask you all if you know what Capcom did to the real Resident Evil; because if you ask me, this ain’t it folks.

Now don’t get me wrong, from what I can tell Resident Evil 5 seems to be a pretty awesome game. The shooting is tight, the visuals are amazing, and the addition of co-op mixes the gameplay up quite a bit, opening up a pretty wide door for what I think can be a real strategic way of playing the game (I’m already wondering which one of my friends I can convince to act as Sheva-Bait so I can set up my rooftop headshots). This game is quick, the gun fights are intense, and the life or death situations I’ve been put through early on in the game let me know that RE 5 won’t really qualify as a disappointment. I mean it's Chris Redfield for pete's sake! How can it disappoint?

However, and this is a pretty big however, as awesome as this game seems to be, something just doesn’t feel right.

I think back to Resident Evil 1 and 2, and the only strategy to speak of back then was, well, surviving. You spent half of the game scared out of your pants and the other half violently reacting to your fear - I know I’m not the only one who wasted a full magazine of ammo on a smartass zombie who thought it was cool to pop out around corners. Right? Speaking of which... where are the zombies? I mean I was all for a break from the zombies, and I certainly dug the Ganados of Resident Evil 4 - seeing a huge parasite break its way out of a person’s head and lunge itself toward you does have its undeniable charms, after all - but still, zombies are zombies, and you can’t really beat that. Sure, having these rabid townies run after me in glorious HD does sound scarier on paper than having a couple of zombies drunkenly stumble towards you, but there’s a certain special kind of frustration and terror that sets in when, regardless of how slow and weak your enemy seemed to be in those early RE games, you found yourself backed up into a corner with nowhere left to turn. Simply put, you were overpowered, and not because the enemy was faster, or even necessarily stronger, it was just the way the game was built.

Now, you could argue that the way those games “were built” was based on archaic controls and unmanageable camera angles, and it’s undeniable that both of these elements seemed to partner up with those wacky zombies come chow time, more often than not ending up in you dead and your controller half way across the room. I’m pretty sure that no gamer wants to see those traits of the franchise make a comeback, but still, innovation doesn’t have to equal losing a games charm, does it?

Already I can’t help but worry about the future of the franchise. I mean take Uncharted for example, its an astounding game, and I love the way Nathan Drake moves in his environment. The freedom I feel when playing through the Uncharted games is the stuff of legend, but that doesn’t mean that I want Chris Redfield moving that way. Resident Evil isn’t about feeling free and jumping this way and that. Quite the opposite, actually, it’s about feeling trapped; trapped in a big ol' mansion full of zombies, to be more precise.

I know this all qualifies as a little more than a rant, particularly when you take into consideration the fact that I haven’t actually seen all this game has to offer. But I can’t shake the feeling that even though I’m in for a great action game, it just won’t come close to the Resident Evil Experience I know and love.

What do you think, readers? Are there any old-school RE gamers out there who have ploughed through RE 5, and who are just dying to tell me how wrong I am? Feel free to do so in the comments section.

Joey

Labels: Columns, Joey Núñez, RePlay, Resident Evil