It seems our seven and a half hour completion time has upset many people, prompting some to step forward and label it false. Proof to the contrary, along with out latest podcast featuring plenty of Resident Evil 5 discussion, can be found inside...
As previously stated our first completion time, minus cut-scenes, was seven hours, thirty-six minutes and one second. For reference purposes, the total length of all the game's cut-scenes clocks in at 80 minutes. The time shown in these screens is slightly quicker because we've since replayed one chapter to retake a couple of corrupted screenshots, although our original time's proof is printed in issue 76, onsale now.
This time was achieved in single player and on the normal difficulty. This was not a speed-run, nor were we pressured for time, and was not, as suggested, merely the time to complete the first three chapters of preview code. We do not review games from preview code, and although other magazines reviewed a three act preview build we received the finished game for our exclusive review (see picture 1).
Our total game time, three-and-a-bit completions strong plus 'other' factors, currently stands at over 25 hours. That would not be possible if we were hurried at all. As an aside, we fully expect the time to have been quicker had we played through with a second player first time out.
The quicker time - the amateur time - was achieved when we replayed the game to search for the blue medallions (we found 23/30 on that run-through but have since secured the rest), and so involved lots of searching nooks and crannies. Again, this was not a speed-run. Note that the time for the final chapter (details of where these locations are have been blurred for obvious reasons) is much quicker because we were able to sidestep the design flaw which tripped us up first time around.
We wish to stress that you cannot see all there is to see in Resident Evil 5 in under ten hours - something which the review makes very clear. There are plenty of extras to unlock and reasons to keep playing. But the fact remains that the first run-through of the campaign is brief; especially when compared to 4's.
We can only suggest that those citing 20+ hour completion times need to brush up on their gaming skills. :-)
Great podcast shame abot how short Resi 5 is . Any chance you could put up a rss xml link up for the podcast so people can suscribe to it in Zencast etc..
Great podcast shame abot how short Resi 5 is . Any chance you could put up a rss xml link up for the podcast so people can suscribe to it in Zencast etc..
Another great podcast, nice and long and im looking forward to hearing Mike talk about Empire total war, thats easily my most anticipated game of the year
I must admit you guys speak words of wisdom. I was watching Playr today and they did actually mention that the controls worked particularly well - though the gameplay really didn't show many signs of strategy. Then, horrifically, they admitted they hated RTS's but loved this. So perhaps it is accessible for, I can only assume, someone who isn't experienced as much with the genre though I feel they've shoved most of the other standout's of the genre aside. Is this justice. I feel not.
I was watching Playr today and they did actually mention that the controls worked particularly well - though the gameplay really didn't show many signs of strategy.
Good lord. Total War is ALL strategy.
It's not about building ten thousand little men and flooding them onto the enemy base with a bunch of tanks and helicopters; it's about positioning, timing, the right tools for the job, and using the terrain to your advantage.
It's arguable even the most idiotic game involves some element of strategic thought, of course, but I'm not going to get into nerd-centric debates about what constitutes tactical and strategic thought in videogames.
Total War is a strategy game which emphasises planning and tactics over click-heavy execution. It's a game where you can lead a small army of hundreds to victory against thousands by using the terrain well.
See that bloke in that movie, 300? Wearing only his underpants? Battering thousands with three hundred men? That's me playing Total War that is.
I was watching Playr today and they did actually mention that the controls worked particularly well - though the gameplay really didn't show many signs of strategy.
Good lord. Total War is ALL strategy.
It's not about building ten thousand little men and flooding them onto the enemy base with a bunch of tanks and helicopters; it's about positioning, timing, the right tools for the job, and using the terrain to your advantage.
It's arguable even the most idiotic game involves some element of strategic thought, of course, but I'm not going to get into nerd-centric debates about what constitutes tactical and strategic thought in videogames.
Total War is a strategy game which emphasises planning and tactics over click-heavy execution. It's a game where you can lead a small army of hundreds to victory against thousands by using the terrain well.
See that bloke in that movie, 300? Wearing only his underpants? Battering thousands with three hundred men? That's me playing Total War that is.
Underpants.
Yes.
I was referring to the discussion you made in the podcast about Halo Wars - probably should have elaborated that. Well there's 5 minutes of your life you'll never get back...
Amen Mike Total war is easily my favourite strategy series after the first Homeworld (The rest of them never came close to the glory that was the first one).
Several other sources, OPM, OXM and Gamepro have stated 15-20 hours. They are the legit ones here. And I seriously doubt they suck as the author implies.
Actually, the fact that he felt the need to say they sucked validated my opinion of the review in general. So the people at the OPM magazine can't play games? Um, yeah. The author's review seemed biased, rushed and no, those screens of "proof" don't cut it. Not when people who have played the game say it took them 8 hours to complete the first three chapters.
And regarding the screens, photoshop is a wonderful tool isn't it?
Funny how you and another UK mag OPM both claim to be first on the RE5 reviews. OOPS.
You're not being fair to the game when you fanboys do this crap. People believe you because they don't want to research themselves. Your reviews aren't counted as official. The only one official so far is the US Playstation magazine and they clocked the game at 18 hours.
I'll believe them over some disgruntled wannabe writer any day.
Get back to us when you play the game in a couple of weeks, Maiafay.
I was referring to the discussion you made in the podcast about Halo Wars - probably should have elaborated that. Well there's 5 minutes of your life you'll never get back...
Gotcha; your post followed one about Empire so I made the logical conclusion.
Halo Wars' controls definitely work well, but it's more down to the stripped-down mechanics than the genius control scheme. You never really need to handle any high-level strategy so you never need precise control over multiple groups of units.
Mike Lives, sweetie, why did Capcom give an unofficial mag (meaning you're not included in the review tally) the full game? Oh, and why are those last screens so gosh darn blurred?
Interesting. If I were you folks, I would come clean before the game release. But yeah, I'll check back.
Mike Lives, sweetie, why did Capcom give an unofficial mag (meaning you're not included in the review tally) the full game? Oh, and why are those last screens so gosh darn blurred?
Interesting. If I were you folks, I would come clean before the game release. But yeah, I'll check back.
As a fanboy backlash, I've seen better. One mag had the first 360 review, the other the first PS3 one, perchance ?
Mike Lives, sweetie, why did Capcom give an unofficial mag (meaning you're not included in the review tally) the full game? Oh, and why are those last screens so gosh darn blurred?
Interesting. If I were you folks, I would come clean before the game release. But yeah, I'll check back.
As a fanboy backlash, I've seen better. One mag had the first 360 review, the other the first PS3 one, perchance ?
Dont try to reason its like talking to a brick wall made of particualy stubborn bricks with really obstinate concrete in between
Where are you based Randy? Just wondering why you need to use ebay...
Oh I live in Windsor but it's further out in the country. Smiths sell the mag in the town but I usually only have time to get there at the weekend and I'd prefer not to since parking is a nightmare. Using eBay is just more convenient for me.
I have a bit of a dilemma though, since Resi 5 isn't going to be a purchase for me, I'm going after Street Fighter IV. Though Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD remix (ultimate name ever) is on the store for 1200, plus Braid is down to 800, which I've always been meaning to play so I could get both for considerably less than SFIV. Is it worth getting Street Fighter IV instead or does the HD remix still hold up strong?
If you want to play HD Remix, you need to play it before IV. Once you're into IV, there's no going back. IV is just too much better for you to want to dabble with another very similar game.
It seems our seven and a half hour completion time has upset many people, prompting some to step forward and label it false.
Well, let's face it, Resi 4 could've been completed in 2.5 hours; First time players took around 20 hours, but probably only because of the puzzles/exploration, and maybe an initially too high a difficulty setting. In fact, I thought Resi 4 started to drag as soon as you got out of the village. Quite a few encounters would have been just as exciting if you didn't have to deal with 200 Ganados - 50 would’ve been fine. When I reached the island I just wanted the game to end already. So, overall for Resi 5, I think roughly 10 hours is plenty for a straight forward action game. There generally isn't enough variety to hold my interest for a much longer period.
I'm with you there Chris. I got to the part with the Regenerator's and I put it down for three months, ultimately making the end a careless experience. People say that the game is packed with variation but from everything I squeezed from it, most of my encounters were the same as the last with a different surrounding. Then playing through Ada's missions just got me depressed about the whole thing so it found a home on eBay instead. Good boss battles though.
Its not like anyone expected the game to be as long as Fallout. Right?! Its an shooter/adventure. I trust these people on their claim- they seem more independent than OXM.
I think if Maiafay thinks the completion time to be false he should give a decent arguement instead of attcking Mike's writing skill. Mike's a fab writer and he's a hoot on the podcasts to boot so leave him alone.
Also just bought street fighter IV and it is better than HD remix...much better. Thanks for all the coverage of it guys!!
first of all i want to say how much respect i have for this magazine because of its devotion to bringing us the readers the most up to date top quality gaming news out there. Along with THE best gaming podcast there is,ANYWHERE. Now ive been reading alot of upset comments about matthew pellets completion time for resident evil 5,now unless the people who are making these remarks about the time being a result of a speedrun done in order for a review deadline have never played resident evil before,then quiet frankly they dont know wtf there talking about.Resident evil 4 was a 20 hour game but when i first picked it up my first playthrough resulted in a 12:32:05 completion time,so basically since resident evil 5 has been perhaps shortend to do away with all the parts that dragged in re4<the castle>anyone who thinks a 7:00 completion time is a speedrun is talking s***.if you take into account the adition of a co-op partner then the experience could last considerably less on a first play through with a freind,potentially clocking in at 4 to maybey 5 hours possibly less given there skill. now i have been a resident evil fan from day one of the series life and can say that when i finally get my hands on the game my completion time and anybody else who is a veteran of the series will be around the same time,so stop complaining already!sorry for the lengthy comment guys...
i was looking at the screen shots you posted matt,but i have a good enough eye to realise that the final room on chapter 6-3 is either a plane in a hanger with the self destruct sequence activated hence the lighting,or on the other hand it bears a ridiculousley similar resembelance to the final boss area on resi 2,the colour of the room and the potential tanks on the side give me that idea,anyone else notice this? and may i also add the ten page review was treat to read thank you very much for that matt and xbw.
well i didnt specify a he or a she when in my post,as for the 8 hours to complete 3 chapters,well they must like stareing at textures and walking instead of running because anybody who has played the demo will be able to tell that if you CAN play resident evil sections like public assembly and shanty town can be cleared in a matter of minutes,so if you say that for example each section may take around the same time give or take a boss battle or a puzzel,and considering that the games 6.3 chapters long then it all adds up to a plausible game completion time of 7 hours if you do the math that is....moron. And the author of the review,that being matt never said that would be everybodys completion time just that of someone who knows the series.
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