Desperate Escape fills in an untold gap in the Resident Evil 5 story, starting by replaying Jill Valentine’s conversation with Sheva and Chris following their first encounter with Wesker. Released from the villain’s spell, Jill urges her former partner and his new BSAA team-mate to go on without her. Jill blacks out, to be awoken by Josh Stone, a secondary player in Resident Evil 5 but now starring character of Desperate Escape. Together, they set out to escape from the Tricell facility.
Someone left the gate open.
If you have a craving for gunplay and enjoy paced-paced action, Desperate Escape is a treat. Players may also be thankful to learn there isn’t a single puzzle this time around. The focus is on making headshots and juggling ammunition reserves, as you fight past infected, chainsaw-wielding fanatics and executioners. Jill and Josh are funnelled through an industrial complex reminiscent of Resident Evil 5’s middle levels, with turrets and barrels going off all around. If you enjoyed Resident Evil 5 enough to play though it more than once, the action in Desperate Escape is every bit as exciting as it was before. Players will find it hard to blink as they fight off waves of Majini, with lining up your laser on the heads of enemies never getting old.
Like Resident Evil 5 and the last add-on, Desperate Escape can be played solo or in co-op. The chapter is really made to be played cooperatively, but playing through on your own isn’t so bad. The computer-controlled team-mate still isn’t as resilient as they could be, but they do a competent job of fending off enemies and reviving you should you get into trouble. Desperate Escape clocks in at approximately an hour, longer if you are playing alone. Players will definitely want to go through again to snag all the new Achievements and Trophies, and if you have got the stomach for it, playing on the highest difficulty is a worthy challenge.
Desperate Escape has all the fantastic production values that were seen in Resident Evil 5. You could be forgiven for thing you were played a chapter from the original game because it looks, sounds and is built so well. The only issue on the presentation side – as was before – is the screen tearing, which is especially evident in cut scenes. It doesn’t do enough to affect your enjoyment though, with the final cinematic bringing the story to a superb climactic ending.
Resident Evil Fighter.
Desperate Escape adds another two characters to Mercenaries Union, a reincarnation of Resident Evil 5’s deadly Mercenaries mode. The first of the two is Rebecca Chambers from Resident Evil 0. Next is Josh Stone, who you will have become acquainted with in the Desperate Escape story mode. Lost in Nightmares’ two new characters, Barry Burton and Excella Gionne, add something because of their new and varied load-outs. The same cannot be said this time around, as unless you have a penchant for playing in the skins of the new characters, they are simply the same setups from the original Mercenaries mode, albeit with a visual makeover.
Whereas Lost in Nightmares was a tongue-in-cheek homage to the Resident Evil titles of yesteryear, Desperate Escape is essentially another hour of the Resident Evil 5 campaign. That is, however, far from a bad thing. The Mercenaries additions are disappointing, but the story mode is an enthralling addition to the Resident Evil canon. Anyone with a fond memory of their Resident Evil 5 playthrough will enjoy Desperate Escape, and for 400 Microsoft Points or AU$8.45, you really can’t go wrong.
Worth buying? Yes
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Downloadable content ratings system
We've given a 'buy' rating of 'Yes', 'Maybe', or 'No'.
Yes means that the content is either great value or brings some substantial additions to the game, or possibly both.
Maybe means that the content may be fun while it lasts, but may either be too short or not enough to fully justify the price tag.
No means that we don't recommend downloading this insubstantial content.
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