Resident Evil 6
By Marc Saltzman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Survival horror series falters with switch to fast action.

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Resident Evil 6
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What’s It About?
It has been a decade since the Raccoon City outbreak and in order to curb a resurgence bioterrorism activity, the President of the United States decided to reveal the truth behind the cause of these deadly flesh-eating creatures. But you might expect, things don't quite pan out the way they were intended and so Raccoon City survivor Leon S. Kennedy and Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield -- two stars from previous Resident Evil games -- team up to fight a new and even more dangerous threat. Along their deadly (and scary) adventures, they're joined by other characters, all of whom have their own unique skills, personality, and perspective in dealing with this threat to human life.
Is It Any Good?
While RESIDENT EVIL 6 has some redeeming qualities -- a decent story told from multiple perspectives to give it some depth, highly-produced cut-scene sequences and competent voice acting -- the game suffers from trying to be an action-heavy experience instead of a creepy, slower-paced "survival horror" adventure. For one, there's some lack of control with too many "quick-time" events that have you press a button on the controller at the correct time to trigger an event. Second, many of the fast-paced elements are sloppily executed so that the result is a quick death. Finally, the game suffers from poor pacing, bland set pieces, and a lack of replayability. It's not a complete disaster, but this disc should be a weekend rental at best.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Capcom's Resident Evil franchise has run out of steam. While the movies are enjoying critical and commercial success, how have the games fared over the past few years? Has turning it into a faster-paced action game ruined what made this franchise so popular? Or does Capcom need to evolve to stay relevant?
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Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
- Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, Social Studies: government
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, applying information, decision-making, Collaboration: teamwork, Self-Direction: set objectives, time management
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Capcom
- Release date: October 2, 2012
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Last updated: August 26, 2016
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