>There was a time when killing zombies was taboo. That time is gone. These days, Killing zombies is an American pastime. Lets all give a hand to Zombieland, The Walking Dead, Resident Evil, Dead Rising and a slew of other movies, TV shows and video games. Instead of chatting about work at social gatherings, we chat about what we’d do should the zombie apocalypse come. At least, that’s what I spent my Fourth of July weekend doing over barbecue. Figuring out everyone’s best post apocalyptic survival skill and then figuring out our plan to escape from New York (because you know that’s where the zombies will strike first and hardest).
In the past decade, Capcom has become one of the leading publishers behind zombie apocalypse video games. The publisher’s famed Resident Evil franchise painted the genre for horror video game design. Now, Capcom is adding a new layer to the Resident Evil mythos with Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.
Instead of the next chapter in the zombie apocalypse saga, Capcom opted to release the hidden chapter. Operation Raccoon City takes place between Resident Evil 2 and 3 and will give gamers the chance to play through and rewrite some of the ResEvil history.
Raccoon City breaks out of the typical gameplay you’d expect from the franchise. Instead of one player roaming the streets with a limited supply of ammo, gamers will have access to a near infinite supply of ammo and the ability to play with up to 4-players in online cooperative play. Gamers will also be fighting on the side of Umbrella as an Umbrella Security Service Agent or USSA. The four player types include “Four Eyes” (a field scientist that can shoot darts and control zombies), Bertha (a medic), Vector (a recon soldier that can become invisible) and Beltway (a demolitions expert that can use heavy arms).
Your goal as a member of the USSA is to hide traces of the infection. The concept may be different, but the gameplay is relatively the same. You kill zombies. And, strangely enough you are still fighting Umbrella. Instead of constantly supporting you, Umbrella will occasionally drop a few reptilian monsters at you. Why? Just in case your fails, Umbrella wants to make sure its collective ass is covered with a back-up plan. These reptilian creatures are extremely vicious. You’ll also have to fight various Spec-Ops teams that have it in for you as well.
Right now, the primary gun I used in the demo was a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun. So far, no other weapon, besides grenades and flashbangs, were available to play with. If a zombie bite infects you, you will become a zombie and attack your teammates. The only thing that can protect you is an Anti-Virus spray that you can pick up throughout the levels.
One notable dynamic is the blood attraction system. If you get injured too much and start to bleed, the zombies will be more attracted to you. So, you will need to find cover and allow yourself to heal. However, the Spec-ops team will use this knowledge against you. Often, the Spec-ops will shoot you so that the zombies attack you instead of them. You can also flip the same dynamic back on the Spec-ops team. This adds a great strategic element to the game. If you find yourself trapped by zombies, your best bet may be to target the Spec-ops team so that the zombies shift their attention to your human enemy. Just remember, the reptiles are going for blood too and a few drops will call back the zombie legions. It’s fast-furious, frantic gameplay as you scream for some multiplayer support from your party.
Long time ResEvil fans will get a chance to visit past locations from RE 2 and 3. Also, they’ll get to face off against Leon S. Kennedy.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City comes to Xbox 360 and PS3 late 2011. This will definitely be one for franchise fans looking for some added multiplayer zombie slaying going into 2012.
