Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

(Capcom for Xbox 360)
By Mike Delano

When you’re in the zone in Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, taking control of elite Umbrella Corporation operatives tasked with completing objectives amidst the chaos of the zombie outbreak (the missions take place during the events of Resident Evil 2 and 3), it’s pretty great. Bumping into iconic RE characters like Leon, Claire, and Nemesis, and seeing formerly static and empty locations like the police station bursting with zombie hordes and Lickers scurrying along the walls is a thrilling experience. Too often, though, the feeling that everything is coming together as intended is a fleeting one. Some of the climactic boss battles fall flat, becoming protracted wars of attrition against an enormous health bar rather than a strategic, dynamic encounter. And while joining up with three friends to take on missions is easily the best option when available, if you’re forced to play with computer-controlled companions, you’ll find that the sketchy AI regularly hinders the experience with boneheaded decisions. Devotees of RE lore looking for an action-oriented, fan service-laden burst of fun for the weekend should give it a try, but newcomers accustomed to the high bar of quality set by other third-person shooters of recent years should enter at their own risk.
(www.capcom.com)