No survival-horror series receives as much attention as Resident Evil and for good reason. Having pushed the genre forward countless times in its long and storied history, the franchise is once again experiencing a surge in interest following its most recent and highly praised release. Resident Evil 5 looks to further fuel the fires of popularity with a heightened mix of horror and action, securing the game a position on the forefront of the genre. Going hands-on with the game during our meeting with Capcom cemented our view that it has the potential to be one of the most compelling installments of the series yet.

Playing as former S.T.A.R.S. agent Chris Redfield, Resident Evil 5 takes you into the heart of Africa. With Chris having left the organization and joining forces with a new one referred to as the BPAA, he travels to Africa in search of the progenitor virus' origins. It's been a decade since we last saw Chris, who has now reached his mid-thirties, but that doesn't mean he's any less for the wear. Pistol cocked and senses on alert, Chris is more than capable of surviving the horrors that await. Helping out is an arsenal of new weaponry that complement his standard issue pistol including semi-machine guns, rocket launchers, and other heavy tools.

Chris' biggest help, however, comes from another BPAA agent named Sheva. This African-based operative accompanies Chris on his mission, not to mention paves the way for cooperative play. Both local and online cooperative play via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network will be supported--a first for the series, as well as the survival-horror series as a whole. Playing through the African village of Kinjuju, Chris and Sheva were able to work together to overcome obstacles and beat back zombie hordes. In one sequence, Sheva weaved through alleyways to reach a locked door. Blasting the door with her gun, she was able to open the way for Chris to continue.

It seems clear from our experience playing the game that joining up with a buddy is much more preferable to letting the computer command Sheva. The intelligence is rather dumb, often behaving erratically when fighting enemies and tackling some of the simple puzzles we encountered in the short area we played through. Having cooperative play mitigates the potential negative impact of having a lame AI-controlled character annoying you along the course of the game.

To be certain, the fifth installment ups the ante as far as the action is concerned and it's for the best. Building on the formula established by Resident Evil 4, the game incorporates even more action into its mix of gameplay. Resident Evil 5 is marked by absolutely brutal battles between Chris, Sheva, and the hordes of infected Africans he encounters in his investigation. Where the last installment was intense, its follow up is downright visceral. It's incredibly graphic to the point of being jarring. Watching Chris confront enemies can be painful, their heavy hits realistically triggering a reaction from his body. You can feel every blow, the controller shaking in your hands.