Resident Evil 6 has earned a unique spot among gaming enthusiasts, though not always for the best reasons. Despite low system requirements that promise extended battery life on handheld devices, the game faces a crippling issue. I decided to try it, intrigued by reviews praising its action elements, though critics often lamented it wasn’t true to the Resident Evil spirit.
This summer, my ROG Ally X needed a travel companion for long airport waits and flights, and Resident Evil 6 seemed perfect. It was a steal on Steam for $4.99. The game’s efficient battery usage was appealing: at 1080p resolution, it maintained 40 to 80 frames per second with just 10 watts. Dropping to 8 watts still locked at 30 FPS, offering over three hours of playtime.
However, a persistent bug ruins the experience, reportedly plaguing users since 2015. It causes random switches between keyboard, mouse, and controller, often during intense action sequences. This unpredictability makes aiming nearly impossible, challenging players just when precision is needed most.
Forums suggest disabling Steam input and relying on the game’s native controller setup, but this hasn’t resolved the issue. Some recommend turning off Steam entirely, but it’s not feasible for Steam OS or Bazzite users. Strangely, the bug is independent of gyro controls or unintentional button presses.
Having navigated Leon’s campaign with difficulty, Chris’s action-heavy storyline proves almost unplayable due to the bug.
Beyond technical troubles, the game itself has mixed design elements. The save system is frustrating, often negating progress if you pause for too long. The ammo distribution feels uneven between campaigns, with Leon’s path seemingly abundant and Chris’s scarce. Quick time events and the revised inventory management further detract from the traditional Resident Evil formula. Additionally, the mechanic of reviving characters by chest-beating feels out of place.
Despite these issues, there’s some enjoyment to be found, but the controller bug remains a serious impediment. For those using Bazzite or similar systems, it might perform differently; however, expectations should be tempered.
While Resident Evil 6 offers potential, its full experience is marred by technical glitches that overshadow its action-packed promise.
