It’s not a Resident Evil game without zombies, biologically engineered monsters and creatures of the night. But in the series’ latest instalment Resident Evil Survival Unit, you can now stage your fight against them from a personal stronghold.

Build a base and defend it in real-time battles against everyone and everything that comes a little too close. Here’s a closer look at this distinctively new gameplay in a storied horror universe.

The game begins with you waking up in a mysterious hospital – seems like you’ve been held captive by the evil corporation Umbrella. As you piece together exactly what happened, you’ll need to fight off lurking enemies and solve puzzle-like challenges to get past the locked doors and venture outside.

Once you’re on the streets, you’ll quickly realise that the city is in ruins and overrun by the infected. Find a companion in Claire Redfield, help her search for her missing brother and make your way to the police station. Will you be able to escape the city safely?

One of the highlights of Resident Evil Survival Unit is the exploration battle against a relentless onslaught of creatures, using weapons and skills unique to your characters. The battle only ends when you manage to defeat a set number of enemies.

Each character skill has a cool-down period, so pay attention to the number and strength of your enemies and save those moves for the right moment. As you progress, characters from past Resident Evil games will join you as allies, bringing a sense of nostalgia for fans of the series.

Once you leave the city, you’re free to set up camp at an abandoned mansion. Discover facilities such as the farm, hospital and helipad, then restore them one by one to help your fellow survivors.

But just because you have a temporary haven doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Hordes of the infected will try to penetrate your base constantly, so stay vigilant, set up defenses and fend off attacks to earn rewards.

By forming alliances with other players, you can also rescue survivors outside your base, detected by radar. That’s a glimmer of hope worth fighting for.

©CAPCOM ©Aniplex Inc. ©JOYCITY Corp.