Resident Evil 6 Demo Infects Consoles Sept. 18

The Resident Evil franchise has changed over the years, evolving from a slow, methodical, clunky survival-horror game into a fast-paced, action-packed, run-and-gun affair. Some have embraced these changes while other have cursed them. No matter which side of the fence you rest on, however, you should at least give Resident Evil 6 a chance before dismissing it outright. And with a playable demo heading to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on Sept. 18, you can do exactly that.

Over the years, Resident Evil abandoned its slow, plodding tank controls and a sense of helplessness for a more slick interface and enough weaponry to empower the most trigger happy of players. Capcom struck a solid balance with Resident Evil 4, mixing the old with the new and coming out with a concoction that stayed true to the series' roots while giving players enough gunplay and control to stay invested. For many, however, the series took a steep dive with Resident Evil 5, forsaking series staples and any sense of fear for a dumb-as-bricks AI partner and gameplay that was more action oriented, but with controls that fit that setting poorly.

Now Resident Evil 6 is fast approaching, leaving fans of the series questioning what Capcom might have in store for them this time around. Thankfully, they're being kind enough to provide a demo so we can all see for ourselves.

The demo will feature content from all three main storylines in the game, and it can be played solo or with an online partner. Leon S. Kennedy and Helena Harper will be exploring Ivy University while the mysterious Jake takes to the streets of Lanshiang. Finally, musclebound Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans enter the urban warzone of Edonia.

You can take a small chunk of each of those campaigns for a spin on Sept. 18 and, if the game wins you over, pick up the full package on Oct. 2.