Joystiq Review: Resident Evil 5 Versus Mode (DLC)
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 10th 2009 at 1:40PM } 
Versus Mode will be familiar to anyone that has played the bonus Mercenaries Mode included in RE5. The DLC is, essentially, a five dollar repackaging of Mercenaries, allowing players to forgo cooperation for deathmatch-style gameplay. It's a simple twist, and one that doesn't even provide the illusion of effort on Capcom's part. It's clear to us that Versus should (and could) have been part of the original retail package. Yet in spite of this shadiness, it's hard to deny that Versus is a fun mode, and, if you've already exhausted the disc's content, worth the five dollar asking price.
Gallery: Resident Evil 5: Versus Mode
The notion of stop-and-shoot gameplay sounds absurd for online multiplayer. And yet, it's this limitation that makes Versus stand out in a crowded field of multiplayer shooters. It's certainly not for everyone, but those that have mastered the eccentricities of RE4 and RE5 will find the competitive multiplayer a welcome challenge. Let's not forget that while the characters of Resident Evil move like tanks, they are still far more agile than any of the AI-controlled enemies. Sheva, for example, is a deadly target to go up against, if only because of her ability to move quicker than your over-the-shoulder view can follow. This forces players to become truly knowledgeable of their surroundings and take full advantage of the environment and the weapons it hides.
2-vs-2 play works the best. The fun of Resident Evil 5's co-op adventure is only enhanced by having two human enemies hellbent on murdering you. Players will quickly discover that the best strategy is to work in tandem against both the human and Majinji enemies that appear on the map. You'll find yourself frequently going back-to-back, shooting enemies that come streaming around you.
Capcom claims there are two modes of play in Versus, but that's not entirely true. Both Survivor's Rule and Slayer's Rule boil down to nearly the same experience. The only main difference is how the scoring system. Slayer's Rule is an exact copy of Mercenaries, with players (or teams) rewarded for getting kill combos. Survivor's Rule is a more traditional death match affair, with players scored on how much damage they deal to other human enemies. Human players can kill each other in both modes, meaning player-vs-player combat is quite common regardless of which game type you choose. Additionally, Majinji spawn in both modes -- the only difference is you don't get points in Survivor's Rule for taking them out.
Versus Mode is a different kind of multiplayer experience, filled with unbalanced weapons, characters and quirks. Yet, for the Resident Evil veteran, it's precisely these oddities that make for refreshing gameplay that differentiates itself from other online shooters. (I know I've already squeezed more than five bucks of value out this DLC.) If you love Resident Evil 5 (but only if you love it), you'll definitely be satisfied.
Bonus: Don't believe us? Try it for yourself! We're tweeting away one Xbox Live download code ... right now!
2-vs-2 play works the best. The fun of Resident Evil 5's co-op adventure is only enhanced by having two human enemies hellbent on murdering you. Players will quickly discover that the best strategy is to work in tandem against both the human and Majinji enemies that appear on the map. You'll find yourself frequently going back-to-back, shooting enemies that come streaming around you.
Capcom claims there are two modes of play in Versus, but that's not entirely true. Both Survivor's Rule and Slayer's Rule boil down to nearly the same experience. The only main difference is how the scoring system. Slayer's Rule is an exact copy of Mercenaries, with players (or teams) rewarded for getting kill combos. Survivor's Rule is a more traditional death match affair, with players scored on how much damage they deal to other human enemies. Human players can kill each other in both modes, meaning player-vs-player combat is quite common regardless of which game type you choose. Additionally, Majinji spawn in both modes -- the only difference is you don't get points in Survivor's Rule for taking them out.
Versus Mode is a different kind of multiplayer experience, filled with unbalanced weapons, characters and quirks. Yet, for the Resident Evil veteran, it's precisely these oddities that make for refreshing gameplay that differentiates itself from other online shooters. (I know I've already squeezed more than five bucks of value out this DLC.) If you love Resident Evil 5 (but only if you love it), you'll definitely be satisfied.
Bonus: Don't believe us? Try it for yourself! We're tweeting away one Xbox Live download code ... right now!
- Clue #1: Amount of ammo left in Jill's pistol in the first screenshot (at top of post)
- Clue #2: Number of seconds (one digit) left in the match pictured in the second screenshot
- Clue #3: First letter of Resident Evil character Jill's last name
- Clue #4: First letter of Joystiq reviewer Andrew's last name
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jarhead906 @ Apr 10th 2009 1:50PM
The extra ammo/items are kept in her magical invisible item bag that all video game characters have.
Andy @ Apr 10th 2009 1:51PM
Not that it matters (since the code is gone), but shouldn't Clue 1 be 2?
jarhead906 @ Apr 10th 2009 1:46PM
I don't have a 360 so I don't know the number of digits for download codes. I wonder who the lucky bastard is going to be.
jarhead906 @ Apr 10th 2009 1:49PM
Or is Joystiq being sneaky and actually wants us to convert minutes --> seconds?
308 seconds...
ImbecilePete @ Apr 11th 2009 7:51AM
@ jarhead
look at the small 6 next to jills gun icon thingy
Bleu @ Apr 10th 2009 1:49PM
Its not the 5 bucks its the fact that they trying to jip us their loyal fans....I aint buying that shit....oh well I guess no platinum trophy for me.
Tep @ Apr 10th 2009 2:05PM
Ditto! Joystiq can go fuck themselves, DLC like this is why I'm hardly buying games anymore. Know the last game I bought? Bully Scholarship Edition back in November cause it seems like everywhere I turn a game i'm expecting has DLC announced when more than likely it was already planned to be in the game and released later on to make more money ala Tomb Raider Underworld which was pretty fucked up the way they did things.
Duke @ Apr 10th 2009 2:39PM
"Ditto! Joystiq can go fuck themselves"
Yeah, cause it's their fault that this DLC was not including with the game..
LW @ Apr 10th 2009 3:13PM
You apparently don't know that platinum trophies don't require DLC like that to obtain. Just the base game's content.
:p
shadowraya @ Apr 10th 2009 1:51PM
The VS mode is really fun, excluding the "stop-and-shoot"...
whazam1337 @ Apr 11th 2009 10:51PM
It makes you think first before you move your guy/girl also use the 180*, Shoot in the leg of zombies then Box for fast and easy combos, wait for the other players/enemys to stop their animations before you attack them (unless there healing) and your good 2 go!
shadowraya @ Apr 11th 2009 10:59PM
You are right.
Adrian92 @ Apr 10th 2009 1:51PM
GAH! Just missed getting the DLC. Congrats to whoever was able to get to it first...
Jay @ Apr 10th 2009 2:00PM
who won? the code is already used
brentnahmias44 @ Apr 10th 2009 1:56PM
Looks awful... but honestly its on the disc and they are blatantly lying.
Even if the DLC was 10/10 greatest game of all time not worth it to support liars, add capcom to the pirate whenever you can list.
creid @ Apr 10th 2009 2:02PM
Capcom isn't lying just because you want them to be. Since the multiplayer modes take place in environments already on the disk, how big, exactly, do you expect the download to be? Network code doesn't take up hundreds of megabytes.
Eric E @ Apr 10th 2009 2:19PM
yeah i dont necessarily believe its on the original disc. From the review it looks like they added nothing, just re-arranged some stuff.
Plus since they knew it was coming, the game update/patch could have added/setup some necessary features too.
But i still hate RE5 (Shiva mostly) with a passion and haven't gotten past half way or touched it in weeks. Meanwhile i own RE4 on 3 consoles and have beaten all to submission multiple times.
i hate Friendly AI, Yahtzees review was spot on.
Bioshock is the new (Biohazard) Resident Evil! I just started playing that again.
Mike @ Apr 10th 2009 4:25PM
yea, common misconception - as it turns out, the DLC is NOT on the disc
http://checkyourhud.com/psa-calm-down-resident-evil-5-dlc-not-on-the-disc/
However, this DLC is still a rip off - it's a rehash of Mercenaries mode.... except with roughly 50% of the fun removed. Very little effort was made by capcom to tweak the new multiplayer modes - they just slapped something together, and threw it out there. I love RE5, but the Versus pack is not even remotely worth the money. Just play Mercenaries - you'll have a better time.
Levi @ Apr 10th 2009 4:51PM
I know it's an unpopular stance, but the nature of this DLC only goes to point that the files required to set up and handle the game and handle the networking would be as small as it is. The game content, such as players and textures, are of course already on the disc.
Whether this is worth it to the consumers is one thing, but it really is more realistic to say that the 2mb download is plenty of room for the game code required to run the new modes.
Dan @ Apr 10th 2009 2:37PM
how about a PSN code?
Keroro @ Apr 10th 2009 1:56PM
EDIT: Wow, you just managed to earn yourself a one way ticket to never getting a code for certain! Fantastic!
Jay @ Apr 10th 2009 1:59PM
at least they where nice to offer one
NoughtSoClever @ Apr 10th 2009 2:09PM
Translation: "I should win at everything without effort because I am so awesome."
Eric E @ Apr 10th 2009 2:21PM
See this is something you should vote down.
Antagonist @ Apr 10th 2009 2:36PM
They didn't have to give away any codes, let alone enough so that you could have gotten one. You sir are entitled to nothing.
Carlos @ Apr 10th 2009 9:50PM
If you want the DLC so bad, buy it.
Whocares @ Apr 11th 2009 2:50PM
"someone who actually has a life can win." - your reaction suggests you don't have one
Tep @ Apr 10th 2009 1:59PM
The fact a Joystiq editor of all places recommended this shows that we have no place we can trust for honest game news anymore. I miss Dan Shu
baby sea tuna @ Apr 10th 2009 2:02PM
...though apparently not enough to correctly spell his name.
Tep @ Apr 10th 2009 2:07PM
@ baby sea tuna
FFFF
I always get it messed up cause I'm always mixing up his nickname with his last name.
Markez @ Apr 10th 2009 2:30PM
Eh, wut? Why does this post mean there's no place for honest game news anymore? I don't get it.
J @ Apr 10th 2009 2:41PM
"we have no place we can trust for honest game news anymore"
I've had the opposite reaction to this post. He didn't completely give in to the "off w/ their head" crowd and gave an honest review.
Markez @ Apr 10th 2009 3:10PM
Who is voting this guy up for godssakes
Chilly P @ Apr 10th 2009 4:27PM
"Hsu" is pronounced like "Shoe"
...By typing "Shu" you just failed in two ways.
Anyway, the download was like 1.8 MBs and took under 2 seconds to download. I already had over 3200 MS points (my sister gives me those 1600 pt cards as gifts) on there so it didn't bother me all that much. Still, it's clearly something they could have included on the disc, but it's really enjoyable and and they give you an extra 200 Achievements to go for so I'm content. I definitely wish they could've give us some extra characters or something, like Leon or Ada or a version of Jill that isn't BS.
None of it makes up for the fact that this game pales in comparison to RE4, though. Every single one of RE5's boss fights sucked. Wesker even had the courtesy to have 3 sucky, unfun boss fights.
Oh, and what's the point of hating on Joystiq for this article?
Andrew Yoon @ Apr 10th 2009 4:53PM
"It's a simple twist, and one that doesn't even provide the illusion of effort on Capcom's part. It's clear to us that Versus should (and could) have been part of the original retail package."
I think it should be clear from my review that I do think RE5 Versus is a pretty quick cash-in opportunity for Capcom. However, that shouldn't take away from the exact point of a review: is it fun? The answer is yes, regardless of the business practices surrounding the release. Do I think it should've been free? Oh definitely. Do I think it would've added to the RE experience? Most certainly. You don't have to support the DLC -- there are tons of other companies that have offered DLC for free. These factors don't necessarily make a game more or less fun, and I've definitely had more than $5 worth of fun from the DLC so far.
jab_holder @ Apr 10th 2009 2:01PM
lol wow FAIL!
sony boy @ Apr 10th 2009 4:49PM
capcom is trying to be M$ by being greedy. i think this mode should be only 2 bucks.
Havok @ Apr 10th 2009 7:51PM
5 bucks says people still would've raged about it.
baby sea tuna @ Apr 10th 2009 2:01PM
I've still got enough achievements left to try for, and I've probably already waited too long to be competitive, so nah.
Jack Tretton @ Apr 10th 2009 2:02PM
is sooooo aught seven.
Sift @ Apr 10th 2009 2:07PM
Yeah agreed, I find it alot of fun, specially getting to Haymaker Sheva. It's SO satisfying after playing 1P Pro mode :I
I love how everyone is saying "I GIVE UP ON FANBOY THEY SAID THIS IS THING IS FUN." Go fuck yourselves, not even giving it a chance because you want everything free.
Bananarama @ Apr 10th 2009 2:14PM
We don't want it for free, we already paid 60 bucks, having to pay more for something you already purchased is bullshit.
Sift @ Apr 10th 2009 2:18PM
I don't remember them saying it had multiplayer when they were developing it. I remember it being like, a week before launch. When the whole thing was finished. They gave people what they demanded and got called crooks. It's 5 buck DLC, it's not like you HAVE to buy it
Tyler @ Apr 10th 2009 2:33PM
Charging more money for a simple little code that could be done in a matter of hours (one? If a skilled enough coder) is crap.
WHEN more so-called "DLC" like this comes out... I will blame people like you, and this Joystiq review that said it was all O.K.
I know I don't HAVE to buy it. It is the principal of the thing that you cannot seem to grasp.
In general I have no problems with DLC... Reasonably priced for the amount of contend it has, DLC can keep a game alive for much longer than average. But I will say again, this "RE5 DLC" is bull.
InvaderDem @ Apr 10th 2009 2:39PM
I don't see why Joystiq is getting criticism because they say Versus mode is good but I whole-heartedly backup anyone who says this should have been free - because it should have been free. And of course they mention multiplayer right before it's released. If they were honest and said they were including it in the disc, then they wouldn't have been able to charge for it and advertise it as "new" downloadable content.
If this came out three months from the games release, that's one thing. But around 30 days? Not buying it.
Duke @ Apr 10th 2009 3:28PM
"it's not like you HAVE to buy it" That is such a great argument! By that I mean it's probably the lamest argument there is.
You don't have to play a game or eat dinner either - 'have to' isn't the issue. If you want to play the MP without buying it you are out of luck.
PN04 @ Apr 10th 2009 2:15PM
The download of the Versus mode for PSN was literally 351kb. Guess what that means. Resident evil just cost 65 bucks for no reason than Capcom's greed because the download was nothing but a damn unlock code for data you already have. so much for them saying the content was released AFTER the game finished development.
FailedNinja @ Apr 10th 2009 2:32PM
If they added new characters or maps or weapons, I could see charging for this content. As is, everything except the networking code (for 4 instead of 2 players) is already in the game. To me, this isn't a worthwhile buy.
snarfoogle @ Apr 13th 2009 8:55AM
I'd buy it if HUNK was in it. Anyway, I hope Capcom learns a lesson from this backlash, and that lesson is, "Put 50mb of comments in any small DLC, whether it be an unlock code or a tiny amount of network code"
Danjer @ Apr 10th 2009 2:59PM
I won't be buying this... Hopefully they refund everybody's $5, which yes I could afford. I just don't like the idea of this and if it is successful, get ready to see other games using the same tactic. You buy a $60 game and then pay $10 for the multiplayer mode to be unlocked.