GAMES
.: REVIEW
May 2002
by Q.Mulative
RESIDENT
EVIL
I
recently picked up Resident Evil at my local Future Shop (which is
basically Canada's main electronics franchise), and have been playing
it for the past few days. I've been too busy marvelling at the graphics
to be scared, though, or maybe it just that I always die near the
beginning. Blame me to choose the hard mode right off the bat. Oh
well! They gave me a free guide, but the game's puzzles aren't too
hard if you remember to think a bit, as these graphics are good enough
to make you forget your own name!
Basically,
the story is the same as the original Saturn version. Survive the
zombie infested house, while finding out what caused it all to happen.
The first thing you'll notice about this game is the graphical style.
Each character seems to have been built with 2-3 million polygons
each, as their faces are expressive and their clothes actually move
independantly from their skin, unlike most other games where the clothing
is merely texture-mapped on.
Not only
that, but even the pre-rendered backgrounds have special elements
that improve the overall feel, as moving shadows are cast from swinging
chandeliers, and even the characters' shadows and lighting changes
as the light does. Moving reflections on the floor, mirrors showing
zombies around the corner, even the twinkling of objects, and so much
more has been changed and added to the original that it really does
feel like a whole new game.
Next would
probably be the sound. Not oscar winning material, but definitely
on par with most good movies out these days, it conveys the scariness
of the game, while not being overacted. A definite improvement over
the first incarnations. Although you won't be hearing of the infamous
"master of unlocking" line anymore.
The original's play control was kept, and a new one added. The classic
has you moving forward when the stick is pressed forward, and turning
when you press left or right. Back makes you step backwards, and the
character always moves this way, no matter what angle the camera is
at. The new control replaces up with the "R" analog button.
Pressing makes you walk forward, while clicking it all the way in
makes you run. A new feature has been added to both, the ability to
do a 180³ turn by twitching the c-stick. This is very useful
when you want to stab a zombie, then run, then stab, then run, or
when you just suddenly want to hightail it out of there.
Capcom has also added new areas and even areas that were not included
in the original games, like the graveyard and other scenes. With them
are new puzzles and new bosses, even zombies that follow you up stairs
and through doors! *Spoiler*
One in particular, called the nitro zombie, can't be shot, otherwise
it'll explode, destroying you in the process!
*End Spoiler* Without spoiling anything further, let me
just say that even if you played through the first game, expect to
be surprised and confounded by all the new stuff in here!
Final note: This game is for real gamers: Good graphics, a good choice
of controls, a classic Saturn game revived on the Gamecube, but with
more and harder challenges, new gameplay elements like defence weapons
and bigger, scarier zombies, and around TEN different endings dependant
on what you do in the game. This one's a keeper, folks.
IMAGE SOURCES
Screenshots
are from Capcom's
Official Biohazard Product Site.
GBA
Wishlist (Part 2)
