Resident Evil 5

Series regular Chris Redfield teams up with new girl Sheva

Not only can enemies use weapons but they can also drive

The new enemies are faster than zombies and cleverer than ganados

Now you've got two people to worry about - yourself and your partner

The first Resident Evil for the new generation of consoles doesn't just improve the quality of the graphics but also the abilities of the enemies. No longer do you face off against slow moving zombies, but instead mutated humans who will anticipate your actions and even set-up barricades to block your exits.

To combat this new menace you not only have a permanent onscreen partner but a wide range of more athletic moves, including dodges and the ability to take cover behind any piece of scenery. The biohazards are evolving yet again - and so is the game itself.

• The next chapter: Continuing the story from Resident Evil 4 and movie Resident Evil: Degeneration, this has topped gamers' most wanted lists since it was announced.
• Evolving threat: Hugely varied gameplay as you battle motorbikes in the bush, race along deadly enemy-filled rivers and combat some of gaming's biggest bosses.
• Super model: Stunning graphics push the next generation consoles to their limits, with hordes of enemies onscreen at once and a larger, more interactive game world than before.
• Afraid of the dark: Realistic lighting system will blind you in bright sunlight or leave you dangerously vulnerable in the dark.
• Two's company: For the first time ever in Resident Evil you can play the entire game with a friend, either on or offline. Or have the computer back you up as new character Sheva.

Some facts are known about the game though, in that it uses the same basic gameplay and controls as Resident Evil 4, as well as some other elements from the very first Resident Evil. The latter isn’t surprising as a different team are working on this new game, many of whom worked on the very first game from back on the PSone.

The trailer shows a desert, possibly Middle Eastern, setting with what appears to be fast moving zombies in pursuit of what may, or may not, be Chris Redfield. What is known is that temperature will play an important role in the game, with characters having to cool down if they get too sweaty – even getting heatstroke or passing out from overheating. The game will also feature online elements for the first time in a core Resident Evil game, although again their exact nature remains a mystery. In fact the only thing that’s known for certain about the game is that with a track record this good it’s almost certainly going to be worth the wait finding out about.

HARRISON DENT

• Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns
• New environments and a diverse assortment of locations
• New enemies bring new challenges - speed and intelligence make adversaries as dangerous singly as they are in groups
• An arsenal of weapons at the players command to keep the evil at bay, including knives, pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles and more
• Lighting effects provide a new level of suspense in both harsh light and deepest shadow
• True high-definition gaming on multiple game platforms, using an advanced version of Capcom's proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the next-gen, million-plus hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising