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" Also available on: Xbox 360 Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Genre: Horror/shooter Almost a year to the day that it was unleashed on the world, Capcom&amp;#039;s Resident Evil 5 gets a Gold Edition package, including all post-release DLC and a few extra bits and pieces. The fifth major instalment in the acclaimed and massively popular Resident Evil series shifted proceedings to Africa as BSAA beefcake Chris Redfield attempted to investigate the trade in bio-organic weapons with the help of new sidekick Sheva Alomar. The Gold Edition doesn&amp;#039;t fix any of the game&amp;#039;s niggling issues, such as moronic AI and restrictive control systems, but it does offer two fun additional chapters, plus the enjoyable Mercenaries mode and competitive multiplayer. For anyone who hasn&amp;#039;t played the DLC or even the main game yet, the Gold Edition is a worthy purchase. Beside the complete RE5 campaign, the Gold Edition also features two additional chapters, along with the refreshed Mercenaries Reunion mode, the online Versus multiplayer and four new character costumes. We judged the single player/co-operative main campaign as a solid if not spectacular extension to the acclaimed Resident Evil 4, which boasted high quality visuals and well-designed action sequences. Due to some rather moronic co-operative AI, the game is much better played with another person, while the stop-to-shoot gameplay will be outdated and irritating to some. RE5 does fail to reach the dizzying heights of RE4, but it still delivers a long, worthy and well-produced experience.  However, the most interesting aspect of the Gold Edition is the chance to compare Resident Evil game design of old and new. The two extra chapters showcase the franchise&amp;#039;s change from sparse yet hugely tense levels (Lost In Nightmares) to overflowing, cinematic action (Desperate Escape). Lost In Nightmares covers the events preceding Jill Valentine&amp;#039;s fall from a mansion window with Albert Wesker, which played such an important part in RE5&amp;#039;s backstory. Played alone with a computer-controlled partner, or via local or online co-op (with the latter always preferable due to AI issues), the chapter starts with Chris and Jill travelling to the estate of Umbrella corporation founder Orwell E. Spencer to track down the host and the illusive Wesker. Lasting around an hour, the chapter eschews RE5&amp;#039;s endless waves of enemies and bucketloads of bullets to inject a more slower-paced tension which actually packs much more of a punch. As Jill and Chris explore the mansion solving puzzles to gain access to the lower dungeons, sinister noises echo out, raising the sense of foreboding. The production values are top notch, from the lush yet creepy mansion to the rat-infested dankness of the underground sections. When the enemies do arrive, they are few in number but much more powerful. With limited ammo, there is a real sense of fear as the lumbering, axe-wielding mutants advance slowly yet menacingly in tight corridors, taking a real pounding before they keel over. The chapter also offers some really triumphant game design which requires the player to think fast rather than brainlessly pump the trigger. Without wishing to give too much away, there is a sequence where the player loses pretty much all of their weapons and so must use their wits and a series of traps to evade the powerful foes. The chapter succeeds by using the old adage that less is more, and creating a palpable sense of fear and trepidation does not necessarily require massive explosions or an army of the undead. There is a sense that Lost In Nightmares could show a way forward for the Resident Evil series as imbuing a feeling of genuine fear and tension is surely what the franchise is all about. In sharp contrast, Desperate Escape represents the new wave of Resident Evil games, packing all the guns and endless enemies of a big budget action title. To discuss the chapter&amp;#039;s premise requires talking about a few RE5 spoilers, so if you haven&amp;#039;t played the main game please fast forward a few paragraphs. The chapter picks up with Jill Valentine just after she has been set free from Wesker&amp;#039;s control by Chris and Sheva. After telling Chris to go after his nemesis, Jill sets about escaping the African Tricell stronghold with the help of BSAA West Africa captain Josh Stone. What follows is a journey through various industrial areas to reach a helicopter evacuation point. Jill also stops along the way to inform Chris over the com-link about Wesker&amp;#039;s weakness and how to ultimately defeat him. Guns and ammo are pretty plentiful in the chapter, but there is also an endless stream of the Majinji enemies to tackle, along with many of RE5&amp;#039;s bigger threats, such as the chainsaw maniac, axe-wielding executioner and mammoth Gatling-gun foe. The action is ridiculously fast paced and there are very few moments of downtime, which can get a little irritating at points. There is one large open area where the player is being bombarded by grenade launchers and assaulted by Manjini and heavier foes, which is challenging bordering on frustrating. Irritations are especially evident while playing alone as the AI-controlled partner is pretty much useless and often requires careful babysitting. Jill has some great moves, though, such as brutal double knee drop for prone enemies, and the chapter largely delivers a thrilling hour of action. The Gold Edition also includes the Mercenaries Reunion mode, which is ostensibly the same core experience as previously available, but still a real blast to play through. Players score points for kills on a variety of different maps while running against a timer. There are new characters on offer, including Excella Gionna, the glamorous chief executive of the Tricell Corporation, and STARS Alpha Team member Barry Burton from the original Resident Evil. Once players achieve an &amp;#039;A&amp;#039; ranking on all maps, they will unlock a range of other characters, such as Josh Stone and Resident Evil 0&amp;#039;s Rebecca Chambers, along with some curious costumes for Chris and Sheva, such as fairytale Sheva and heavy metal Chris. Versus multiplayer features two main modes, which are essentially slight tweaks on the Mercenaries formula. Survivor&amp;#039;s Rule is pretty much standard deathmatch, with players scoring points for the amount of damage dealt to rival players, while Slayer&amp;#039;s Rule rewards players or teams for getting kill combos of Manjini enemies. Considering the often chaotic and action-packed aspects of multiplayer contests, the Versus mode will either delight or appal gamers in relation to how they view Resident Evil&amp;#039;s stop-to-shoot gameplay. Anyone bred on fast moving run-and-gun action may view RE5&amp;#039;s multiplayer as a strange backwards step, but fans of the series will find a lot of merit in the unusual challenge that it presents.  In closing, Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition brings together some good content into a strong overall package. Anyone who has played RE5 but not its downloadable content will find merit in buying the special edition as its additional chapters, versus mode and Mercenaries Reunion will provide enough added value for the purchase to make sense. The same is even truer for anyone who has not yet played the game. Lost In Nightmares is a real triumph of sparse, tense game design and Desperate Escape has it merits as an action-packed hour of fun. The Gold Edition does not fix the niggling issues about RE5 but it&amp;#039;s still a good value and enjoyable way to experience the &amp;quot;fear you can&amp;#039;t forget&amp;quot;.  &amp;gt; What do you think of the game? Share your views "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a208391/resident-evil-5-gold-edition-ps3/>