Resident Evil 6 — An Underrated Action-Horror Experience
I honestly think Resident Evil 6 gets way more hate than it deserves. Is it different from the classic Resident Evil games? Absolutely. But different doesn't automatically mean bad. Once you stop expecting it to be a traditional survival-horror game and appreciate it for what it actually is, Resident Evil 6 becomes an incredibly fun, ambitious, and entertaining experience.
This is a massive game with four different campaigns, a huge cast of characters, tons of enemies, multiple locations, a wide variety of weapons, and a ridiculous amount of action. There is so much content here that it feels more like several games combined into one giant package.
The Campaigns
One of my favorite things about Resident Evil 6 is the way the story is divided into four campaigns.
Leon Kennedy's campaign is probably the closest to the classic Resident Evil feeling. It has darker environments, zombies, creepy locations, and a stronger horror atmosphere. Leon is also one of the best characters in the series, and seeing him deal with another global bioterrorism disaster is always entertaining.
Chris Redfield's campaign is much more action-focused. It feels like a military action game at times, but I actually really enjoy that style. Chris and his team fight through massive battles, powerful creatures, and some absolutely insane situations. The scale of the campaign is impressive.
Jake Muller's campaign brings something different to the table. Jake is a great addition to the cast, and his relationship with Sherry gives the campaign a lot of personality. His combat abilities also make him feel different from the other characters.
Then there is Ada Wong's campaign, which helps tie everything together and gives more context to the overall story. Ada is always fun to play, and her campaign has some great moments.
The campaigns are different enough that the game rarely feels repetitive. You're constantly changing characters, locations, enemies, and gameplay situations.
The Combat Is Fantastic
The combat is probably my favorite part of Resident Evil 6.
The game gives you a surprising amount of freedom. You can aim and shoot while moving, perform melee attacks, slide, dodge, counter enemies, dive in different directions, and quickly switch between different weapons. Once you learn the movement system, the game feels incredibly fluid.
There is also a lot of satisfaction in getting better at the combat. At first, the controls can feel strange because there are so many movement options, but after spending some time with them, you start realizing how much freedom the game gives you.
The melee system is especially fun. Instead of simply shooting every enemy until they die, you can combine gunfire with melee attacks and movement. Taking down an enemy with a perfectly timed counter or melee attack feels great.
The game also doesn't force you to play every encounter in exactly the same way. You can experiment with different weapons and approaches, which keeps the combat enjoyable throughout the campaigns.
Co-Op Makes It Even Better
If you have a friend to play with, I highly recommend playing Resident Evil 6 in co-op.
This game was practically designed around cooperative chaos.
Playing alongside another person makes the campaigns feel completely different. You can work together during combat, revive each other, combine attacks, and laugh at all the ridiculous situations the game throws at you.
There are so many moments where something completely insane happens on screen that having another player there makes it even more entertaining.
The game doesn't take itself too seriously, and I think that's one of its strengths. You're going to be fighting giant monsters, escaping collapsing buildings, driving vehicles, surviving explosions, and somehow continuing to run around afterward.
It's ridiculous, but it's fun.
And sometimes games don't need to be serious or realistic to be enjoyable.
The Story Is Huge
The story is definitely complicated, but I actually appreciate how ambitious it is.
Resident Evil 6 tries to bring together several characters and storylines into one large narrative. Leon, Chris, Jake, Sherry, Ada, and the various organizations all have their own roles, and the four campaigns show different sides of the same events.
Some parts are dramatic, some parts are emotional, and some parts are completely over-the-top.
But that's what makes the game memorable.
There are plenty of great character interactions throughout the campaigns. Chris and Leon finally sharing the same story is particularly enjoyable because of how important both characters are to the franchise.
Jake and Sherry are also a great combination, and their relationship gives the story some much-needed humor and personality.
Ada, as always, is mysterious and entertaining.
Even when the plot gets ridiculous, I never felt like the game was boring.
Tons of Content
Another thing I really appreciate is just how much content you're getting.
Four campaigns already provide a lot of gameplay, and each campaign has multiple chapters and different locations.
You're not simply running through the same environments with different characters. The game constantly changes things up.
One moment you're exploring a dark city, then you're fighting through a military operation, then you're dealing with giant creatures, and later you're running through completely different environments.
There are also additional modes for players who want even more gameplay after completing the campaigns.
For the price you can usually get the game for on Steam, there is a ridiculous amount of content here.
The Graphics Still Look Good
For a game originally released in 2012, I think Resident Evil 6 still looks surprisingly good.
The character models hold up well, the environments have plenty of detail, and the lighting can look fantastic in darker areas.
The cinematic presentation also helps make the game feel like a huge blockbuster production.
There are some scenes that are genuinely impressive even today, especially when the game starts throwing massive enemies and destruction at you.
The PC version is also a great way to experience the game because you can take advantage of modern hardware and higher resolutions.
It Isn't Classic Resident Evil — And That's Fine
I think this is the biggest thing people need to understand about Resident Evil 6.
If you're expecting another Resident Evil 1 or Resident Evil 2, you're probably going to be disappointed.
This game is much more focused on action.
But personally, I don't think every game in the series has to play exactly the same way.
Resident Evil 6 is its own thing.
It's an action-horror game with survival-horror elements, cinematic set pieces, cooperative gameplay, and some of the most over-the-top moments in the franchise.
Once I accepted that, I started enjoying the game much more.
And honestly, I think that's the best way to approach it.
Don't compare every second of it to the older games. Just play it and enjoy the experience for what it is.
Final Thoughts
Resident Evil 6 is one of those games that I think is much more enjoyable when you play it without worrying about what other people think about it.
It's big, it's ridiculous, it's action-packed, and it has an enormous amount of content.
The combat is fun, the characters are memorable, the campaigns are varied, the co-op is excellent, and there are plenty of memorable moments throughout the game.
It isn't perfect, but I don't need it to be perfect to have a great time with it.
For me, Resident Evil 6 is one of the most entertaining games in the series, especially when played with a friend. It's the kind of game where you can sit down for a few hours, turn your brain off, and just enjoy the chaos.
If you've never played it because you've heard that it's "the bad Resident Evil," I'd honestly recommend giving it a chance.
You might be surprised by how
