Resident Evil 5: Lost in Nightmares Review

February 19, 2010 - In what’s becoming a growing trend, many games are now releasing “deleted scenes” or extra chapters after release to pull you back to playing the game again, Resident Evil 5 is the latest game to receive this treatment.

This latest addition, Lost in Nightmares, sees Chris teamed up with partner Jill to investigate the Spencer estate, the location of the original resident Evil. It’s clear from the off that this DLC is 50% moving the story from the main game forward and 50% fan service. Fans finally get to retread those famous opening moments in glorious high definition.

This is the main pull of the DLC, playing through the new chapter with a friend is a treat as both of you fondly reminisce about the first game. Locations such as the dining room where Barry Burton famously discovers a patch of blood that he hopes isn’t Chris’ are included and although certain parts of the mansion have changed, there is still a feeling of video game history here.

Nothing has really changed in terms of mechanics and controls so picking up and diving in is simple enough, unfortunately while the controls haven’t changed, neither has the screen tearing, which is as horrible as before.

As with the idea, the design is split in two halves, with the first half dishing out cranks and crests allowing fans to have their moment and the second half becomes a trawl through underground locales setting traps and avoiding certain death from hidden terrors.

It would be a disservice to willing players of this great DLC to talk in depth about the plot and set up of the levels, as this would spoil the many highlights contained within the chapter.

The chapter itself is simple and enjoyable, whilst it only lasts around an hour there’s plenty of chance to replay it. There are plenty of jumps and scares along the way and you’ll yelp in fear and laugh in joy as bodies fall and make you or your co-op jump out of their skin. Replaying the mission will obviously lose some of that effect, but there are some great changes that will keep you going.

Changing the difficulty from Normal to Veteran will see more enemies coming after you and ammo levels drop, there will also be a few more scares as enemies appear where they’ve never been before.

Sadly, there is only one new enemy and although he is terrifying and very well designed, fighting the same thing over and over allows some of the charm to vanish. This gruesome baddie is also, the only enemy in the chapter too which is disheartening.

It’s not just the campaign included though; fans of the game’s mercenaries mode will be pleased to with yet more fan service, as the legend Barry Burton becomes a playable character alongside buxom vixen, Excella Gionne.

These may only small additions that they provide plenty of fun as we see Excella dispatch of majini with a swift kick to the family jewels or Barry unleashing the Burton Boot move to kick our brainwashed foes aside.

For a mere 400 points or $4.99, fans of the most recent game and indeed the history of the franchise will be over the moon with the content. There are plenty of achievements to keep you coming back and the nostalgia will keep you smiling throughout.

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