Being able to see new footage of Resident Evil 5 was one of our E3 highlights, even though the new trailer didn't really tell us too much about the game. Enter the latest issue of Famitsu, which is home to an interview in which producer Jun Takeuchi shared some of the details we were looking for.

Takeuchi only provided vague hints about the storyline. As many have guessed from the insignia that appears in the footage, Chris is a member of a group called BSAA. According to Takeuchi, something has happened in the desert area that serves as the game's setting, and BSAA has dispatched Chris to investigate.

Once on the scene, Chris encounters a new form of enemy. Takeuchi described the game's enemies as something of human form that has intelligence. However, the foes are neither zombie nor ganado (in reference to the creatures from RE4).

In addition to the new enemy, a certain girl will make an appearance in the game. She's someone whom fans of the series will recognize. In the full version of the E3 trailer (which will be distributed on Xbox Live and PSN later this month), she appears just briefly, but Takeuchi expects her to have a more significant role in the next trailer (no ETA given on that, unfortunately). In the game proper, she will have a big part both in the story and as part of the gameplay.

On the topic of gameplay systems, Takeuchi admitted to the magazine that the hardest part of development so far has been in mixing new elements with part 4's basic gameplay. For the most part, RE5 will be played from a perspective similar to that of part 4, with Chris appearing on the left side of the screen. However, Takeuchi also promised a big surprise addition that he believes is an obvious evolution for the gameplay.

According to Takeuchi, if, after seeing the E3 trailer, you feel RE5 looks like RE4 now, you'll be left with a completely different impression following the next trailer.

Previously, Takeuchi has spoken about the importance of light in the game. In this latest interview, he offered an example of how light will play a role. Say Chris enters a doorless building. The surroundings are bright and the interior is dark, so it takes Chris a few moments to adapt before he can see. The game will replicate this, along with the opposite effect of going into a bright area after being in the dark for an extended period. This is where you can expect to encounter some of the series' trademark fear, this time from the inability to aim or see.

Takeuchi wouldn't provide a solid release date for RE5, but he seemed to come to a general consensus with the interviewer on the year 2008. It will be a long wait, but then again so was the wait for RE4, and that one turned out pretty good.

a certain girl will make an appearance in the game. She's someone whom fans of the series will recognize.

Claire? or maybe Jill

Sounds like HDR to me :|

Yeah very much so. I think they will use it in a more unrealistic way though. When you walk into a room it will probably be too dark to see for a moment so you have that panic of not knowing what is in the room. Same for when you come outside.

And by unrealistic I mean way darker than it would be and way brighter than it would be. More as a game mechanic than a realistic form of lighting.

Yeah very much so. I think they will use it in a more unrealistic way though. When you walk into a room it will probably be too dark to see for a moment so you have that panic of not knowing what is in the room. Same for when you come outside.

And by unrealistic I mean way darker than it would be and way brighter than it would be. More as a game mechanic than a realistic form of lighting.