If it weren’t for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, many people would probably regard Resident Evil 4 as the greatest franchise reinvention in gaming history.

By shedding everything that was ineffectual and cumbersome from previous titles in the series - the silly saving mechanism (the typewriter ribbons haven’t been missed), the tired puzzles, the shuffling foes - Resi 4 re-emerged as something fresh and new, a survival horror classic that many regard as gaming’s finest moment from the last five years.

Critics and consumers cooed over it equally, which is why an awful lot of what made Resident Evil 4 great can already be seen in the Xbox 360- and PlayStation 3-bound Resident Evil 5. Intuitive, over-the-shoulder view? Check. Fast, quick-thinking enemies? Check. Cheeseball, gravelly-voiced hero? Check. Frenzied group attacks? Check, check, check.

All of the above and more are present in the extended version of the E3 trailer that hit the ‘net and Xbox Live today, which you can view by hitting the jump below. Featuring (an absolutely ripped, it must be said) Chris Redfield, it’s a mixture of cut scenes with tantalising snatches of gameplay. Oh, and if you thought the villagers in the last game travelled in numbers, think again - there must be at least twenty charging poor Chris at times in this one, machetes and tools drawn.

More sweaty-palmed, heart-pumping evenings lie ahead. Can’t wait.