"Resident Evil 5" isn't quite the masterpiece one would hope for after playing its innovative predecessor, but it is quite entertaining nevertheless. Series vet Chris Redfield returns as a buffed up, badass agent of the BSAA, a government agency that investigates biological outbreaks. As soon as he arrives in Africa, he is hooked up with Sheva Alomar and together they try to uncover the mystery of a Las Plagas viral outbreak.

First off, I've played the game in its entirety and was impressed. It didn't blow me away like RE 4 did, but it's a great action-horror game in its own right. The game bascially adds co-op to the RE 4 formula and it works very well. No, it's not in the same league as the co-op of "Gears of War 2", but it's certainly better than "Army of Two". As you progress, you'll upgrade various firearms and fight all sorts of nasty creatures as well as the typical "zombie". 

Gameplay is mainly the same as RE 4's except you can take cover in certain levels and some "rail" segments are added. The game is a blast to play, but it's only about half the length of RE 4. It's also non-stop action and fans of horror will certainly see the emphasis of action over the scary stuff. Still, the game is a roller-coaster ride that encourages players to get on again the minute it's over due to numerous unlockables.

"Resident Evil 5" is a great addition to the action-horror genre. It may not be as creepy as the GameCube re-make of the original "Resident Evil" or "Dead Space", but fans will be pleased with it. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars out of 4.