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Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

common sense media says

Controversial horror game has sparked racial debate.

parents & educators say
  • 38% say violence is an issue
  • 32% say language is an issue
See all 79 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this zombie killing game is most definitely not for kids because it's very violent and gory, and unlike past games in the series, more realistic-looking thanks to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3's graphical horsepower. It's possible to hack and slash or shoot down oncoming enemies using guns and melee weapons, such as a sword or chainsaw, all of which results in copious amounts of blood, as well as some dismembering of body parts and decapitation. Limbs can grow back on these mutated people. Some players might find the location of the game in a rural African village to be objectionable because it feeds into damaging stereotypes, where the white hero (accompanied by a light-skinned African American) has to kill predominately black victims infected by the zombie-causing virus. This game has garnered some press attention on this issue.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: You play as Chris Redfield, a white man, who must kill a huge number of black zombies. This situation comes about because the game is set in a fictional poor Western African country that has been infected with deadly zombie-transforming virus. Chris must also kill Arab zombies. Accompanying Chris is his partner, Sheva Alomar, a light-skinned African Amercian woman, who you can eventually control.
Positive role models: While you are trying to control a zombie invasion, you are a tremendously vicious killer.
Ease of play: Not applicable.
Violence: Resident Evil 5 is an extremely violent, gory, and bloody video game in which players must kill infected humans using guns, swords, and chainsaws. Players can decapitate and dismember enemies and red blood sprawls out of body cavities. Because the graphics are high-definition, the game is realistic but keep in mind the enemies are undead "zombies." Some game modes reward the number of kills that you make. This game earns its "Mature" rating.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Players will hear strong language including "f--k," "sh-t," "Damn," "hell" and "bitch."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Resident Evil 5

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about if the controversy surrounding this game is justified. If Capcom had picked another country for the backdrop to this game, would the reaction have been the same? What if the game makers had set the game in America, Asia, or Europe? Is the setting and race of these people all in context or is there a deeper, disturbing societal message, here?

What's the story?

What's the story?

As with past Resident Evil games -- one of the most successful video game franchises in history and one that has spawned many popular Hollywood movies -- the story involves a deadly virus that can infect humans and turn them into a kind of undead zombie out for blood. Ridiculous? Sure. Over the top? You bet. In RESIDENT EVIL 5, players take on the role of Chris Redfield, a hero charged with tracing the virus to a fictional poor nation of Kijuju, in Africa, where the majority of the infected are people who live in these villages. This biological agent is turning these once peaceful people into blood-thirsty savages and it is up to Chris to eliminate all those infected.

Players roam around a detailed world with terrifying enemies and must use brains and brawn to get out of situations alive, while unraveling more of the story. Players are joined by a female agent, Sheva Alomar, to help ward off the creatures and stop the virus at its core. Players start the game as Chris but will eventually control Alomar, as well.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Previous games in this series were campy in a Night of the Living Dead kind of way, but the setting of this game has made some people uncomfortable because Chris is white and most of the African zombies are black. While the setting is consistent with the story, the images of Chris killing the zombies can be disturbing because some of the zombies still look human. For those that can get past the setting, Resident Evil 5 provides a very good and polished adventure -- for mature players who love these kinds of "survival horror" games. It fuses immersive third-person gun-play and melee weapon action with some exploration and puzzle-solving. And it builds on it predecessors' fame with much better graphics, multiple control schemes, an improved inventory system, and the piece de resistance, optional co-op mode for two players to tackle the adventure together (even online).

As with previous Resident Evil titles, this sequel includes an all-new unlockable The Mercenaries mini-game, where players can tackle modified levels from the story mode, with a never-ending stream of fiercer enemies and timed challenges. The African setting controversy notwithstanding, Resident Evil 5 is an well-crafted game, but be sure to take heed to the "Mature" rating.

Online interaction: Coop online play is available, but because of the ability to chat, the language you will hear is unpredictable.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Capcom
Released on: March 13, 2009
Price: 59.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
This review was written by Marc Saltzman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 37 parent & educator reviews:
  • 38% say violence is an issue
  • 32% say language is an issue
  • 30% say there are positive role models
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

reloven
adult
11
 
All the Macho Boy Stuff without the Scary Side Effects!
This game is a exceptional. Though the title may make it seem like it could be too mature for some players, it is actually mild at the most. My son is 12 years old and he plays it often. Because the premise of the game is to kill zombies, I think it is far more acceptable for young adults then other games, such as Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt, etc. At no point does the game center around inflicting violence on other people. Instead, the player must simply hunt and kill zombies to protect human kind. It does have a little bit of gore, but unlike realistic games such as Grand Theft Auto, where you can kill police officers and solicit prostitutes, it focuses solely on finding and exterminating zombies. Acknowledging that zombies aren't real, I think this is the kind of game any parent could purchase without worrying it might turn your child into a violence seeking adolescent. It simply allows kids a little thrill without exposing your child to real life, scary situations. Reality Check: Parents are going to have to let their boys be boys, and often this includes some form of macho-bravery, but it doesn't have to be experienced at the risk of encouraging violence against other people. Hope that helps!
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JCK12
teen, 15 years old
17
 
18+
I thought it was way to violent so i toke it back to get my money back because its a really nasty game not fit for any one under 18. The game is creepy involving chainsaws axes and other murderous weapons. A big problem is when your Chris because in one part he could only kill black, Indian, and Jews which i think is a form of racism. this game is not for any kid.
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dude721
kid, 12 years old
16
 
NO WAY Under 15
I'm in 6th grade, and this game scared the s--t out of me! I couldn't go to sleep for a long time.
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Ragzi
adult
16
 
Great multiplayer but very violent
The game is a great multiplayer game, but definitely not for children or young teens. There is a lot of violence and blood. The entire point of the game is to kill zombies.
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jomo999
adult
15
 
Another excellent title in the series
This game is not really all that controversial. The game is set in Africa, therfore the infected (no longer just zombies) are black this time around. Just like in the RE4 the viallins were white because they came from a rural European village. The central villain in this game is white anyway so what's the problem? This is an excellent action game that, whilst not as scary as its predecessors, brings the thrills to new heights. Play solo or co-operatively online or split-screen and utilise a plethora of weapons to vanquish the infected hordes that stalk you throughout the game. The action is meaty and satisfying, the game mechanics are well designed and easily accesible making for some tense, exciting shooting. The game also includes a little puzzle solving like the previous Resident Evils, huge and fun Boss fights and some great cinematic cut-scenes. The audio-visual presentation is fantastic providing lush graphics and a superbly atmospheric orchestral score make you feel as if you're in a Hollywood action movie. Drawbacks? The game is not quite as groundbreaking as its illustrious predecessor and whilst it improves on the gameplay such as being able to switch weapons without using the menu and an intelligent AI partner, it doesn't clear up some of issues found in all of the Resident evil games: under-developed characters and cheesy dialogue, which is a shame because the hammy lines are delivered by some very capable voice-actors - it would be nice if they had a better script to work with. But even taking these issues into account, RE5 is an enthralling experience and there are plenty of extras once you've completeted the main story. Occasionally cringe-worthy dialogue is a minor complaint for what is easily a 5 star game. Issues - - Extremely violent and gory but no worse than previous games, if you've played RE you know what to expect - Some bad language, mostly mild but f**k is said once - No sex or drug issues - Main protagonists Sheva and Chris are honourable do-gooders and provide great role models
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larry6870
adult
14
 
Awesome game
This is by far one of the funnest games available. The violence might be too graphic for some of the younger players especially due to the better graphics on the xbox 360 and the ps3. The racism issue is blown very out of proportion. In today's day and age anything that shows blacks being shot stabbed etc is an viewed as racism but in this game it is not the case. You are simply playing as your character who so happens to trace the virus to Africa and the inhabitants of Africa are predominantly black, go figure. People act as if the only things you kill in this game are black people but it is not true. Just to add, your partner is from Africa herself! By far a great game but like I stated above be wary of the violence as it is graphic for the younger players.
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gamesetto
adult
14
 
for the idiots who think it's racist :D
ok ok. for the idiots who say this is a racist game. * yourselfs. Each and everyone of you who say it is racist. this is an awesome game. talking about chris(a white man) i think the editor is the racist one talkin about sheva being a light skinned african american where u eventualy get to play as her. in re-4 where leon was in spain killing spanish ppl. is that racist? one of the main characters is an african american. nothing in this game is racist. shut your mouth. you do not deserve to even play resident evil yet review it. Resident evil ftw.
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BlueCastle
kid, 10 years old
14
 
very great game
I got the full game for my birthday it's great just buy it for your 14 years old or mature players
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freeflow246
teen, 17 years old
15
 
Think about it before you buy
This game definitely deserves it's M rating, but doesn't hold a candel to others like Grand Theft Auto. Violence- there are spurts of blood when you or enemies are hit, but there's not a fountain. When a character is killed, a puddle of blood sometimes grows around thier bodies. Your character can be decapitated by a chainsaw, but it's off-screen. Sometimes zombies' heads can be shot off, and the parasite briefly gapes from the open neck wound. Several people are infected with a parasite that overtakes their bodies and covers them in a swarm of worm-like things. People (zombies included) are impaled, crushed and sliced. Every character has a set of physical attacks, which range from a crushing punch to the face, impalemant with a knife, and snapping necks with bare hands. There is one game mode where the player kills as many zombies as he can as quickly as he can. Language- The language is pretty heavy, but better than most R-rated films out there. There is one f-bomb in story mode, and another on the Gold Edition. There are four or five uses of sh*t, the same number of d*mn, a few uses of God as exclamations, and about one use of b*stard. Sex- There aren't any sexual situations. Sheva wears tight, cleavage-revealing clothing, and several of her unlockable costumes are little more than a bikini. One female character wears a dress that cuts to her stomach and lower back. There is one scene where a character uses slight innuendo. Attitude- Obviously the bad guys have pretty a pretty bad attitude for trying to bring about a sort of apocalypse. Chris and Sheva risk their lives to complete their mission, protect/aid fellow agents, and to rescue Chris's friend. At one point Sheva almost backs out, but decides to help Chris stop the plan to infect the entire world with mutating, sometimes fatal parasite. Other concerns- there is controversy over this game and where it takes place, but I don't see why it's racist. They're in a poverty-ridden area of Africa, so most of the population will be black. Sheva is black, so why is there such an uproar over a white man killing black zombies in self-defence?
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Grimms-Dragon
teen, 14 years old
 
It's Awesome, and a little gross.
I love this game, but I don't suggest it for anyone that doesn't like diseased looking people and zombies. The ideas for the zombies are brilliant, but are sure to make a lot of people squirm.
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treqi
parent of 4 year old
16
 
When did zombie fragging start having anything to do with racism?
The Resident Evil storyline has a long history that has spanned the globe detailing a zombie apocalypse and now that they bring it to the Umbrella Corporations offices in Africa it now has "racial undertones?" Lets step back and use some logic. Do a large majority of the people in Africa have darker toned skin? Yes! They do! Do I truly care about the skin color of the zombie I'm killing? No not really. Would I expect a larger number of African zombies to have a darker skin tone? Yes. Would it possibly detract from the storyline if there was a generic smattering of "PC" skin tones? I'd say yes. SO, using our logic and reasoning skills we can clearly see that just because I'm killing a zombie that will otherwise eat my brains does not mean I harbor a dislike for that person, I am just trying to survive.
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nancy brownville
parent of 15 year old
13
 
Whats the big deal?
all your doing is killing zombies you cant kill normal people in the beginning of the game. any exstremely violent things happen off screen. there are goo role models like sheva being a strong self reliant women and chris just trying to save his friend, yes most of your enemies are majini aka the ''zombies'' but you will also fight mutants and expirements like a giant spider like monster. THERE ARE NO CHAINSAWA OR SWORDS i dont know where the review got its information but that is a lie. I let my 11 year old buy but within the first level i told him to turn it off and said he could play it again next year even when he was tweleve i woudnt let him play it i found 13 is a good age to let your kids start playing m games to later and they will be curious and play it at there friends house behind your back . this game is fine for ages 13 and up
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The Person Guy
teen, 15 years old
15
 
RE5
I haven't played this, but it is very stupid of people to think that it's racist for killing black zombies. They're in Africa!!!!!! So it's not bad when you kill white zombies in other RE games?? Quite stupid.
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callofduty5
adult
16
 
RE5
Resident Evil 5 is a survival horror game based in Africa. You will play as Chris Redfield (in solo) or as Sheva Alomar (when playing in online session, xbl, psn). This game is very violent: it contains strong,bloody violence towards zombies, there are gallons of blood and gore. However it's not overly violent (such as Dead Space 2). It has some disturbing moments (zombies mutate and other stuff). I would reccomend this to players 16+ since it's a sci-fi/horror game and not very realistic. It has it's gory moments but it's also very good in storyline.
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Uncharted
kid, 12 years old
4
 
OK
me and my sister played this and it isnt bloody or gory it fun and good for all ages (unless yoou are afaird of zombies most kids are not) but it gets boring
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Gorrilas R Beast
teen, 17 years old
14
 
A really fun game. the person who reviewed this game is flippin' stupid
Are you freaking kidding me? who ever wrote this review is seriously just plain stupid. There are both white and african amercan zombies. Chris Redfield was in the air force, he retired, and now he is in the BSAA. He's not a vicious killer. You also play as Sheva. You don't use swords or chainsaws. There is no use of the word "fu*k".
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bethroxy
teen, 17 years old
13
 
Number one rule of Zombies: They are everywhere. So wouldn't it have been RACIST to leave out Africa? Also, have you noticed the only people complaining about racism in this game have been white people? My point being that in RE 4, we were killing Spanish-european people. How come no racism issue was raised there? Now, in RE5, we're in Africa, hense the African zombies. On a brighter note, the game is amazing and anyone over 13 should give it a go :D
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cerealkiller189
teen, 13 years old
11
 
Unless you are chicken,this is something for everyone.Definitely.
I have the Gold Edition and normal version for my Xbox 360 ( I got the normal in 2009 and the gold in 2010) and I have the Collector's Edition and normal edition for my PS3 both of which I got in 2009.Although I have been playing the game 9-13 hours a day from the time I got it until now i don't get into fights or throw vulgarities every second.Why?I know this sort of stuff is unrealistic and unreal and will never happen in real life.Stop black mouthing this game it's Ok and is not over the top it's just fine although really intense at times but not like what Csm described.Language is envitable in life,and there is no game with no bad language.There are far worse games out there not causing controversy and the people who made a big fuss about this are really fussing over nothing.First these are dead zombies not humans and they don't even look a single bit like humans people are just picking on this for no reason it's not scary at all unless your cowards Children will be children,if you think they can handle it,let them play but the recommended age is 11,or parental supervision for under.if you hide your child from everything ,they're already Tweens and need to have a taste of the real world they will get laughed at at school.
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Christian Baughman
teen, 17 years old
8
 
Resident Evil is Amazing
I love this Game so much. Lots of blood and guts in it but fun too. I mean really fun. I think this game is goood for 8 and up because why, because I let my little sister play it just to see if she got scared but she didn't and she loves the game, and she really loves the movies alot too.
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SSMidnight
kid, 13 years old
12
 
Iffy.
This game is good, but I have not defeated it yet. I have not heard a single f-word or s-word or b-word. But I have heard the d-word. The violence is okay. And about the racist thing, you are in Africa so there are going to be african-american people. But there are some american zombies.
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