This will only be the second ‘Speculation Investigation’ I’ve ever done, but already I’m coming across as something of a zombie fanboy. I don’t care though, chuck in viral marketing and high octane trailers and I’m something of a sucker for whatever you’re advertising. I spit in the face of teaser snippets, I want content I can sink my teeth into, and last nights’ reveal of Resident Evil 6 certainly did not disappoint. Here’s my diary of dumb observation and hyped speculation experienced in the 3 minute trailer.
If you’re yet to see the trailer, or would love to read my somewhat obvious commentary whilst watching said trailer, click the faithful ‘Play’ button and gouge on a rather climactic 3 minutes.
0.10: Is that a slight build up of moustache you have their Leon? Ashamedly, this is the first thing I noticed, as although Resi 4 stands out as one of my all time favourite games, I did find Leon something of an annoying pretty boy in comparison to his rookie days in the force. Hopefully he’s grown up a bit now…anyway, moving on from grooming…HE HAS A GUN!
0.38: You know you’re in a time of national crisis when you’re forced to blow the presidents’ head off, and is certainly going to strain the relations between his daughter you rescued several years beforehand. Still, although I know I’ll be facing a life threatening pandemic for 8 or so hours, I didn’t think things would go to buggery quite so quickly in this way.
0.44: A pulsating purple number 6 clarifies that I don’t have to proof read the headline.
0.57: ‘Tall Oaks’ you say? Well…it doesn’t sound anything like Raccoon City, but those overhead shots of the town are certainly looking rather familiar.
0.59: Leon strolls down a dark subway tunnel, with the shadows of meandering infected scrabbling around. C’mon, that’s not scary, we all know they’re hunkering for some Leon kebab!
1.07: Hmmmm, still looks like Leon moisturises…
1.09: 70,000 zombies, eh? Any chance we can go at them Left 4 Dead style? Perhaps not…
1.14: “Yeah, this is Raccoon City all over again”. Thank you Leon for confirming my past musings…but surely we’re not going to see the pathetic bumbling…
1.17-1.22: Ah, jumping zombie! Clambering zombie! Projectile zombie! Fat zombie! They appear pale as the moon, yet march forth like a beautiful swan song to fans mumbling bitterly on forums, so it looks like Capcom have listened. Clearly this newly found athleticism from the meat munchers means they have some new tricks up their sleeves.
1.30: Oh….hello China. Following the signs mercilessly graffitied on the ‘No Hope Left’ site, this shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise, but the opening segments threw me slightly of course as well. With political members downed and multiple countries succumbing to another undead virus, this could be the first game where the crap truly does hit the fan. While isolated and cut off from everyone in other titles leaves should leave you at unease, it doesn’t exactly touch on just how much of a crisis you’ll be in if this ever manages to leave the town you’re ridding of citizens. One of the most worrying and threatening things about viruses is how quickly they can spread and thrive anywhere. If this trailer exhilarates anything, it’s the undeniable feeling of worldwide dread.
1.32: That gruff voice and now seemingly trademark deep brooding monologue before action can only mean one thing; Chris Redfield.
1.45: Wow, in the space of 20 seconds, it’s like we’ve jumped in a DeLorean. Whilst memories from almost a decade ago flared my mind earlier, now more recent RE5 times are taking advantage of reminiscence. That’s by no means a bad thing, I love what Resi has become, it just seems those Leon segments are going to pay homage to those who want some classic zombie hunting back in their diet, and I can totally roll with both.
1.58: Wh…what? Who the hell is this guy Bruce Leeing the undead like there is no tomorrow? We’ll call him Bruce from here on in, but his cocky attitude is somewhat beginning to grate already. All this gameplay from multiple characters however gets me rather joyous for some reason. Perhaps it’s the realisation that if Christ and Leon finally meet rather than make fleeting comments about one another, it could lead to the rotting massacre of the century. Get this Bruce bloke involved and you’ll probably get a 1000 times undead damage bonus in the next Marvel Vs. Capcom.
2.02: Ah, never mind, Nemesis is on their tail….or rather his cousin. As much as I love Dr Salvador slowly yet efficiently creeping up roaring chainsaw in tow, I do miss those days where a tank like lump of rotting flesh would suddenly burst through and give chase. Take all my guns, Capcom, I’d like to run for my life once again.
2.16: OH NO, Bruce is down! Oh, wait…his partner is delivering him a shot in the chest…but that doesn’t look quite as well directed as other segments. It’s almost as if it could be gameplay. Almost as if it’s the same animation you’re co-op partner used in RE5 to revive yo…oh no. I retract that forum comment. Here’s hoping that if we’re forced to fight alongside others that teamwork will be a hell of a lot more gratifying than walking through zombies lumbering a cretin stocked up in both exceptionally valuable supplies and a vicious ADHD disorder.
2.23: Ah, Nemesis Jr. has massive spindly mechanical needles, just another reason to run like hell. Actually, isn’t that Rick from Splatterhouse? Major crossover spoiler? Perhaps not.
2.26: Ok, so this Bruce guy is going to be somewhat important in the plot, we’ll just have to wait for another trailer to find out how. Ho hum.
2.35: Chris is once again having a hissy fit. Clearly we’ll have to wait for another character building trailer to find out what his beef is. Hopefully she’s a worthy successor to Wesker, the only anti-social antagonist I’ve ever managed to appreciate the maniacal ramblings of. In other news, the prettier graphics engine is making these deaths of non-important characters rather gruesome.
2.43: Snowy backdrops suggest Chris is in the same area Bruce has been. Raccoon City reunion inevitable.
2.46: CRAP! Long armed spindly tentacle grabby thing rendering cover useless! One of my biggest disappointments of Resi 5 was, whilst landing you in a completely different location, the Majini were near enough copied
and pasted from the Las Plagas. I genuinely freaked and didn’t know what to do when I saw my first infected Spaniard’s head explode, replaced by a massive tentacle scythe in 4. Hopefully 6 will feature a few new beasts to crush my survival instincts and leave me weeping.
2.55: HAND MONTAGE!!!
2.57: EXPLOSION MONTAGE!!!
2.58: MONTAGE MONTAGE!!!
3.08: A very familiar voice announces Resident Evil 6…and strangely reminds me of the Merchant in Resi 4. C’mon Capcom, you know you want to bring him back. He could clearly have a black market spread worldwide. Give him a backstory, make him a playable character in the inevitable Mercenaries mode, just bring him back in some way!
It doesn’t look like it’ll be reinventing the formula that’s worked so well for it in recent years, but it does look like it’ll be receiving a Chuck Norris powered kick up the arse. My only hopes are that the characters can shift the dramatic focus of themselves (I’m looking at you Chris), and draw attention to the sheer panic of pandemic. The viral website produced such a creepy aura, and if that very same niggling terror is captured as well as all these action sequences are, then we’ll certainly have a Resi title worthy of snatching back that ‘Survival Horror’ crown.