Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City lacks insight. It lacks good level design, good shooting mechanics or a good cover system. It can be fun to relive some recognizable Resident Evil-moments with a few friends, but for no more than half an hour. After that, you'll crave for a game with a well thought-through design.

Maybe down the track this game will be patched in order to make it play better but I have a better idea; get it right the first time because this reviewer will never download a patch to make a game playable, that's why I bought a console, games should work every time straight out the box. This one does, barely, and that is why sadly I wouldn't bother with it.

A frighteningly flawed action-heavy spin-off that withers in the shadow of its superior alternatives.

Unworthy of the Resident Evil name. Patiently waiting for Resident Evil 6 is a lot more fun than actually playing this piece of crap. Broken shooting mechanics, a terrible cover system, abysmal AI, weak level design… A good idea on paper, an absolute terror for you PlayStation 3.

It's not enough to save Operation Raccoon City though, which ultimately is a title that feels too rushed to warrant any great investment on the part of the player. That it's sold in such high numbers (at time of writing it's number one in Japan) says a lot about the strength of the Resident Evil brand which, if ORC is anything to go by, is in danger of being fatally diluted.

A second-rate shooter that's trying to hide its flaws under traditional Resident Evil paraphernalia, such as zombies, heroes and all the other things. A campaign of the game is pointless and without any content at all. Many of the annoying flaws do make your gameplay even harder and, unfortunately, many of those flaws are even in its multiplayer that might have been different if the authors had taken it as their primary goal.

The chance to see the city from a new perspective is ruined by terrible AI, a wonky cover-system, a distinct lack of memorable moments, and a very short story.

It tries, but gets outclassed by games that have been released years ago. That´s no easy feat to accomplish.

The game just feels sloppy and unfinished. It controls poorly, looks bad, and completely misses the point of the Resident Evil franchise. Honestly, I wouldn't even recommend this game to Resident Evil fans. If you want a better co-op zombie shooter, you should probably just go back to Left 4 Dead.

The problems with the computer AI make the single player a bit of a chore, and while the online co-op action is frantic and fun, it's also chaotic and lacking a bit of flow. There are quite a few glitches in the campaign, including zombies disappearing into scenery, or just disappearing entirely, and the set piece battles are hardly jaw-dropping.

Just. Under no circumstances, though, should you go anywhere near this alone. When tackled with three AI buddies and a prayer, never has the name Biohazard felt more apt.

The terrible AI, the lackluster locations and the complete lack of atmosphere or memorable characters destroy what could have been a brilliant offshoot. In the end, Operation Raccoon City is little more than a poor man's SOCOM, and a destitute man's Resident Evil.

Strictly a game to be played with friends, but even then Operation Racoon City will leave you wondering: why?

Cynical, franchise-exploiting pump that Resi devotees should collectively ignore. [Issue#217, p.73]

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is an unfortunate addition to an otherwise great franchise. With this being the second of three Resident Evil games coming out this year it would probably be best to just skip this one entirely unless you are a diehard fan who wants to see every game in the series. This title had a lot of great potential but falls flat on almost every part of its delivery and while it may not do everything wrong what it does right is hardly enough to save this alternate take on a great franchise.