Video Game Review: Resident Evil

Resident Evil

GameCube

I've been a huge fan of the Resident Evil series since it debuted back in 1996. Even though the series has undergone a multitude of changes over the years and is basically no longer recognizable from what it once was, I still hold a special place in my heart for that original game.

Not only was the game groundbreaking and a ton of fun to play, but no other game has EVER scared me more than that first Resident Evil. Back in the early 2000s when I heard that they were remaking the game on the Nintendo GameCube, I was excited. New graphics, new locations, new puzzles, new story paths... I thought it was a great idea.

I'm not one of those people that automatically hate anything rebooted or remastered. The original game was epic, but even just 5 or 6 years after its release, it was already beginning to show its age. So I welcomed the remake with open arms. In fact, the remake was one of my deciding factors in buying a Nintendo GameCube to begin with.

I am not at all disappointed with the remake. It was everything I ever hoped for, and more.

The story hasn't changed much. Well, it hasn't changed at all to tell you the truth. There has been a series of bizarre killings on the outskirts of Raccoon City, and the previous team sent in to investigate has vanished. Now, your team has been sent in to get to the bottom of things once and for all. After an ambush attack by a wild pack of dogs, your characters retreat to a mysterious mansion where zombies and other freak creatures run wild.

If you have never played Resident Evil before, or have only played its most recent entries in the series, don't expect the focus of the game to be on action. The gameplay mainly revolves around solving puzzles and advancing the story line, with a little bit of gunplay thrown in here and there for good measure. The main draw of the game for me in its scare factor, however. Never knowing what is around each corner, what the game is going to throw at you next. And this game does a solid job of following in its predecessor's footsteps. I don't believe it is as scary as the original Resident Evil, but that could simply be because I have played the heck out of that game, and this series in general, too many times to count.

You get your choice of two characters: Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. I find the game's difficulty pretty similar for each character, but there are a few differences. Jill starts out with a handgun and two extra inventory spots. She also, being the master of unlocking, can pick locks and gain access to areas that Chris can't without a key. So I guess that makes the game a little easier for her. Chris does have a lighter which is a natural part of his inventory, whereas with Jill you have to find a lighter and carry it around with you as needed. If you're a grizzled RE vet like me, though, you won't be able to tell much of a difference. The game also gives you a choice of two difficulty levels. I found this particular version of the game to be a little too easy on the easier setting, and a little too difficult on the harder setting. The balance between the two versions seems a bit off. I guess that is one of the few things I can complain about here.

When you first fire this game up, you can't help but notice its beautiful graphics. Even though this game is 14 years old (way to make feel ancient!) it still holds up when put side by side with today's graphics. The game is not set in a "true" 3D world. The environment is pre-rendered. Each area you explore, you explore from a fixed camera angle. Objects and enemies in the game are three dimensional, but as far as the environement itself, it is not. You can't change the camera angle, zoom in on things, try to walk around rooms and get a better angle on things. None of that. What you see is what you get.

But I am not complaining. The environments are masterfully rendered, and in many cases photo realistic. Lighting effects and animations such as water dripping or bugs flying around really add to the sense of realism in the game. The musical score is great as well, and the voice acting is much improved. This all adds up to an incredibly immersive atmosphere that you can totally lose yourself in.

A lot of people complain about the way you control your character in this game, but it never bothered me. I've heard the control scheme designed as "tank controls." Meaning you turn your character left and right, and use the up and down button to make them move forward and back, like you are controlling a tank. As opposed to just pushing the joystick in the direction you want them to go. As I said, the controls have never bothered me. I actually like the tank controls. But there are quite a few people who simply can't play this game because they hate the control scheme so much. So be warned about that.

Resident Evil is a game that makes you think. Don't expect that you can just go through it with guns blazing and not have to worry about a thing. There is a limited supply of ammunition in the game, and it requires rationing. If you use it all up right away on the first few zombies you see, you will be in a world of hurt the farther into the game you get. Part of the strategy to playing this game succesfully is knowing when to run and when to fight.

The puzzles can be pretty difficult as well. There were a few spots where I was stumped, and that is even with me having already played this game and the original version mutiple times in the past. Nothing is really TOO hard to figure out, but the game is definitely a lot harder than most current games out there that hold your hand the whole way through.

For those who have played the original PlayStation version of Resident Evil, the remake for the GameCube is still worth purchasing. It is the same basic game, but there is so much added content, so many areas changed around that it totally makes it worth your while. You will find some puzzles and some areas that are completely different and original to this version of the game.

For example, the outside area of the game is much bigger. There are several new outside locations such as a graveyard and a shack in the woods. The shark area in the guardhouse is completely revamped and unrecognizable from the original game. There are added puzzles, added boss fights. Your battle against the giant snake is much different this time around. And what you find locked up in the coffin that's chained to the ceiling in the cemetery is one of my favorite additions to the game. I won't spoil it for you if you haven't already played the game. And there is a certain creeping, moaning new character wrapped in chains that you encounter when you are least expecting it. I found his addition to be the scariest thing about this game.

There are also a few small tweaks to the gameplay. You can now carry defensive weapons, which means if you are grabbed by a zombie you can hit them with these weapons before they bite you and cause you any damage. Basic controls are the same, although you do have auto aim and the quick whirl feature which weren't present in the original version of the game. Often in the game you must zoom in on items in your inventory that you pick up. Certain items are puzzles in and of themselves that you must solve before you can move on to the next stage in the game. One welcome addition, and something that scared the crap out of me the first time I played this, is the fact that unless you destroy a zombie's head, he can come back to life and attack you at any given moment - even if you leave the room and come back again. The game gives you cans of gasoline that you can lug around with you to burn left over zombie caracasses. But this fuel supply is limited, and takes up precious inventory space. But I like the little added dimension it adds to the game.

Overall however, not a whole lot has changed as far as game play from the original version of the game. Don't expect heavier weapons, either, as your arsenal is pretty much exactly the same this time around.

This is definitely worth the buy, even if you own the original PlayStation version of the game. There is so much different here, so much added content. The graphics alone are almost worth the price of admission. I mean, the game looks really good. Really good. Even stacked up against the heavyweights of today, this game still holds its own. I know there there is a recently released HD version of this game for the newer generation systems, but I haven't played it yet. I may someday, but this copy of the game is good enough for me.

It's not only one of the best installments in the Resident Evil series out there, it is also one of the best GameCube titles of all time. Unless you don't really care for the RE series, or the survival horror genre in general, this game is a must have for any serious gamer's collections. It was an instant classic upon its release, and it is still incredibly fun and playable today. It may not be as scary as the original version for the PS1, but it is still well worth your time.

Overall:

A