Resident Evil 5 was not satisfied with its boss-rush conclusion we would be forced to endure. It had to throw in A.I. glitches and broken net code to prolong our suffering.

Though in our final write-ups, both Shamus and I reflected generally positively on the experience. On Shamus’ part, his is ultimately more positive though less in-depth due to his lacking history on the franchise. He does, however, include one of his wonderful Stolen Pixels strips and its impeccable comedic writing.

My write-up, on the other hand, was far more in-depth and still captures many of my thoughts on the game. Even looking back and rewatching, there’s a lot of elements to the final fight that leave me confused. “Wait, I remember there were a lot of steps, but… which steps did I need to follow and in what order…?” The boss design is poor in that it requires very specific rail-roading without clear sign-posting.

Still, it’s a fun game, and I’ve even found a new source of joy.

I’ve often lamented the overly serious tone of Resident Evil 5 despite being far more absurd than its predecessor. What makes Resident Evil 4 work so well is Leon’s dismissive attitude and remarks that stand in contrast to the overly serious and haughty villains. It allows the player to enjoy the story more by increasing its levity.

However, Resident Evil 5 has no levity… which I’ve just found frustrating this whole time. In truth, however, if you just let all cares go, it’s probably easier to laugh at Resident Evil 5 than any other entry in the game. Perhaps that’s the real magic of playing it co-op. It’s one thing to experience this alone, but to go back with a friend you’re able to laugh at it together. You, too, can share the RedLetterMedia mirth at the complete stupidity of the game’s story.

Anyway, this was a great series. I’m sad that Shamus and I didn’t get to play anything else, but what a game to complete with him. I’m eternally grateful I got to have this experience. I hope you’ve enjoyed watching along.