The survival horror genre is extremely favored by publishers and developers as of late. Not everyone can deliver the kind of single-player experience most of us are hoping for. However, when it comes to horror games, Capcom is one of the best in the business. They have the necessary know-how to achieve a scary and immersive ambiance. The Resident Evil franchise is a fine example for this. Resident Evil 4 (PC) was our last venture into the popular horror series and we were more than pleased that Capcom preserved the traditional combat, while offering cool new additions to the gameplay.

I really appreciate female sweat.

What was that you said about my mother?

Resident Evil 5 has been in our crosshairs for a long time and now Capcom is, at last, able to show more of what they've been working on all this time (they've actually announced the game back in 2005). Since the last RE game, things have heated up... severely. By that we mean that the setting is now Africa, where our main characters are facing hordes of infected humans. It's an environment, radically different from those we've seen in previous RE games - different, both aesthetically and pragmatically. The graphics received a major next-gen flavored overall boost. The main characters and enemy models are detailed and superbly animated. The physics are realistic and play an important role throughout the game, especially in terms of environmental interaction. Numerous objects and structures can be damaged or destroyed and, of course, used effectively against foes, which often greatly outnumber our heroes. Yes, "heroes" - plural. You won't be alone in your struggle against those vicious zombies. You will be accompanied by a female character named Sheva (I like that name). This is where co-op play comes in, which, as Capcom explains, is one of the game's main facets.

By the look of it, you're going to need help against those nasty baddies, AI-controlled or otherwise. Players can enjoy the game together, assuming controls of both characters - Sheva and Chris Redfield (the main character). Taking on swarms of enemies is going to be a challenge and your companion may easily get into trouble while you're busy elsewhere. When this happens, an on-screen indicator appears, showing your friend's status and exact location. If you happened to be playing the game on your own, it allows you to switch between characters and play as Sheva, simply by pressing the 'B' button on the 360 controller. It's also possible to swap items with your companion, provided he or she is close enough to make the exchange.

Most gamers are going to appreciate another change incorporated by Capcom. The inventory system was given a major overhaul since the last iteration in the series. The briefcase style item management screen was replaced with an intuitive and most handy 9-slot inventory system, making it a whole lot easier for players to access and use whatever weapons and items they might be carrying.

Remember, you'll be dealing with many mindless zombies and they are obviously depending on numbers, rather than wit. Don't underestimate them though. They can be a great threat and most of them are hard to put down. Luckily our heroes can perform both ranged and melee attacks. If enemies get to close or grab hold of your partner, your character can punch, kick or execute other deadly moves. Now, when we said "mindless" zombies just then, that doesn't actually mean they are incapable of outsmarting you. They resort to diverse attacks and will often outflank you, attack in groups or attempt to bring down your cohort whenever they get a chance. Still, you should be able to prevail... somehow. I dunno... Improvise. According to the developers, there will be a lot of opportunities to do so.

Rest assured, Capcom has, once again, ventured into survival horror territory and they have become exceedingly good at creating the right kind of atmosphere and solid gameplay mechanics to boot. It's scary and challenging. Overall, it's fun. Plus, there are plenty of improvements to streamline things, including the handy quick-swap feature that gives players a chance to switch items and weapons without having to access the inventory screen. There's also a familiar arsenal at your disposal, with machineguns, shotguns, pistols, knives and the like. I was also very impressed with the monster designs, the same way I was in RE 4. Keep up the good work, fellas.

This one is heading towards a March 2009 release and is being prepared for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.