Crispy Gamer Calls Out Resident Evil 5's Racism

[Dr Spaceman]

So far, most of the reviews I've seen for RE5 have been largely positive, and mostly fail to mention the racism allegations that surfaced when the game was announced.

The Crispy Gamer review, however, is almost exclusively about the racist undertones present in the game: http://www.crispygamer.com/gamereviews/2009-03-12/resident-evil-5-xbox-360.aspx

Sure, the reviewer doesn't think the game is much of a leap past RE4, but the large portion of his problems stem from the perceived racism. Having not played the game and seen only a few videos, I can see where he's coming from (I definitely saw infected Africans with spears and spiked shields) but I wonder if those of you who've played the game were as appalled as this reviewer was.

Honestly, those spear-chucking Africans I saw in the Escapist's own review supplement seemed to be something that would even make Joseph Conrad blush. The Crispy reviewer seems to think this comes out of the global cultural ignorance of Japanese game developers. So, what is this game? A genuine step back from Heart of Darkness, a "teachable moment" for the Japanese game companies, or an overblown controversy?

[Please Note: I am only asking questions. I have not played this game, and only have a brief impression based on videos I've seen online. I'm not wearing my crucifixion pants today, so go somewhere else if you intend to flame.]

 

[Meta Like That]

All three?

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Be warned. Your going to get a lot of hate for this post.

And yes, thoughs images of the african zombies with spears and shields did scream ignorant racism.

 

[CrafterMan]

"First things first: I'm a big white dude. Aside from a small amount of Native American blood, I'm as white as white gets. So I'll say this as clearly and as honestly as I possibly can: As a big white dude, I was uncomfortable with the subhuman portrayals of black people in Resident Evil 5. "

What a stupid and irrelevant way to start a review.

I'm not going to read on, it's just wrong.

It's a game set in africa, if there's no africans, i'd be f***ing worried.

-Joe

 

[NoDamnNames]

Honestly, those spear-chucking Africans I saw in the Escapist's own review supplement seemed to be something that would even make Joseph Conrad blush.

So using the same logic would Medieval bow wielding Europeans have been racist if it was set in England?

 

[The Bandit]

I'm sorry. I simply do not see racism in RE5 (I haven't finished beating the game, though I have played through a good part of it).

Africa has black people. If Africa had a zombie outbreak, Africa would have black zombies. You can't deny reality just because you're scared of stepping on a few toes. I think Yahtzee made an excellent point when he said nobody gave a shit about the Spanish zombies in RE4.

What amazes me the most, however, is that virtually every outcry about racism I've seen has been from a white dude. It's pathetic, really, that people are so insecure about this kind of crap. I don't think anyone should take this seriously until the NAACP gets involved.

 

[O277]

Who cares its just a game, a game set in Africa, it annoys me that people still try and find racist undertones in stuff, just drop it already...

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Honestly, those spear-chucking Africans I saw in the Escapist's own review supplement seemed to be something that would even make Joseph Conrad blush.

So using the same logic would Medieval bow wielding Europeans have been racist if it was set in England?

Well...Yeah, if it was set now.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Honestly, those spear-chucking Africans I saw in the Escapist's own review supplement seemed to be something that would even make Joseph Conrad blush.

So using the same logic would Medieval bow wielding Europeans have been racist if it was set in England?

Valid point... if Europeans were ever slurred with the phrase "bow-shooter". They weren't. With the history of racism the way it is, an African with a spear is far different from a European with a bow.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

haha, and we had a 7 page thread where people kept thinking the racism debate would NOT be re-ignited.

The best we can do is IGNORE this, because it's all been done to death.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Honestly, those spear-chucking Africans I saw in the Escapist's own review supplement seemed to be something that would even make Joseph Conrad blush.

So using the same logic would Medieval bow wielding Europeans have been racist if it was set in England?

Indeed, what's racist about depicting something wich is simply...well, real, true. Spear-chucking Africans exist:

(sure they don't wear that stuff every day, but you get the point)

So what's wrong with infected spear-chucking Africans? Are Zulu's and Masai immume to infection for some reason?

 

[squid5580]

"First things first: I'm a big white dude. Aside from a small amount of Native American blood, I'm as white as white gets. So I'll say this as clearly and as honestly as I possibly can: As a big white dude, I was uncomfortable with the subhuman portrayals of black people in Resident Evil 5. "

What a stupid and irrelevant way to start a review.

I'm not going to read on, it's just wrong.

It's a game set in africa, if there's no africans, i'd be f***ing worried.

-Joe

As a big white dude, I was uncomfortable with the subhuman portrayals of black people in Resident Evil 5.

Now watch this

As a big white dude, I was uncomfortable with the subhuman portrayals of white people in Resident Evil 1,2 and 3.

As a big white dude, I was uncomfortable with the subhuman portrayals of Spanish people in Resident Evil 4.

You wanna call one out for using the appropriate race in whatever setting you choose you gotta call it out for all. Sad thing about it is crap like that is what truly makes RE5 racist not the game itself.

 

[CrafterMan]

It's a game set in africa, if there's no africans, i'd be f***ing worried.

Protip: not all Africans are black. I think you mean, "If there weren't any black people, I'd be worried."

Well I don't know what tribal village the game is set in, and I wouldn't say something that crude haha.

 

[GuerrillaClock]

That reviewer is exactly the kind of pretentious self-absorbed moron who perpetuates racism. So, if I don't find this racist, I'm an ignorant bigot? The wording of the first part of that review made me retch.

These people who keep drawing lines between the races in a bid to gain moral brownie points are the real problem.

 

[Rocksa]

It seems more like it's a little indicative of what we are as a society. You can't say that there aren't still african tribes that use the shield and spear, and you can't say that there wouldn't be those in africa who live in even the larger cities who wouldn't still train in them as a point of pride in their warrior heritage. They're there, and it's no different than an Englishman learning to use a longsword, or a Frenchman learning fencing, or a Japanese man learning to use a katana. They're weapons that are their own, they built up huge fighting styles around them, they used the hell out of them. The problem stems from the negative image we associate here. The shield and spear are what we associate with the historic image of the primitive tribesman, and that goes into slavery, and we all end up feeling squeamish. It sucks. Then again maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm talking about. I kind of hope that I am.

 

[DarthHK]

All enemies in all games must be white or developers are insensitive bigots who were beaten up by gangstas in grade school. That's just how it is.

 

[Zac_Dai]

Sounds like someone trying to stir up some lame controversy to get more site traffic.

 

[Mstrswrd]

It's actually funny, because, apparantly, the people who did the voice acting are speaking out against the perceived Racism in the game. Haven't seen the interviews, though. Anyway, no, the game, in my opinion, is not racist. Think about it. In Africa, in any place like the villages (excluding the most advanced African cities), what is the skin color of the majority of the population? If you say anything but black, please, get of the internet. Now, in these villages, has a more traditional clan culture survived? From what I understand, it has, though not entirely intact. It has evolved, but it is still there.

Now, for the burning question. Was RE4 Racist? No more then RE5. RE4 had a bunch of Spanish peasents running at you with farming tools and shouting in Spanish. Who would have thought? Rural Spanish people speak Spanish.

The above is essentially the same as there being black people in Africa.

 

[NoDamnNames]

Honestly, those spear-chucking Africans I saw in the Escapist's own review supplement seemed to be something that would even make Joseph Conrad blush.

So using the same logic would Medieval bow wielding Europeans have been racist if it was set in England?

Well...Yeah, if it was set now.

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't most zombie lore originate from native African tribes in the first place? And are there not several self secluded, uncontacted, as well as undiscovered tribes of Africans still sporting spears and ancient tradition?