Resident Evil (GameCube)

Firstly, the mansion is enormous. It really is a mansion! And unlike the blandness of Zero every room is a work of art. From the architecture to the puzzles to the sinister and dramatic camera angles it all has the sheen of almost uncanny quality. The way free moving items and characters have been overlayed onto the backdrops gives such a sense of immersion that for the majority of the time you almost forget its not 3D. A zombie banging on a pane of glass trying to get to you, the standard issue movable crates and the items hidden seamlessly amongst the scenery all dissuaded me from criticism. The game designers have also taken real steps to break up some of the linearity of previous titles. Where a strong narrative exists free roaming game elements are not really possible, but here we have the next best thing: a genuine sense of unpredictability. In previous titles there is the overriding feeling that once you have cleared an area of monsters you are safe and can relax. In Resident Evil this sensation does not exist. Zombies burst through doors, windows and out of cupboards and there are even more shocks. As a Resident Evil veteran I am well used to passing rotting corpses lying on the floor. As you pass them, sometimes they stir and shamble after you and sometimes not. Imagine my shock the first time I passed a zombie who leapt to his feet and then ran after me roaring and swiping at me with his claws.

Ultimately survival horror games aim to immerse the gamer in what basically amounts to an interactive movie. For this to work effectively there must be a pacing and distribution of set-pieces to make the whole thing read like a film. Once again Resident Evil cannot be faulted on this score. Aggressively side-stepping that old computer game 'thing' of having all of the impressive stuff at the beginning and a load of repetition and mediocrity thereafter Resident Evil is so well constructed its frightening. After the initial events that take place in the mansion the game will lead you out into the smaller residence in the grounds. Here you will be confronted with a more concise set of puzzles which ultimately lead you into one of the most amazingly exciting set-pieces I've ever seen in a computer game. From their an encounter with series nemesis Wesker will lead you back into the mansion to unlock all those other doors you couldn't wait to open on your last visit. Again there is more to see and do. Things have altered slightly in the mansion and there are more challenges awaiting.

Its always difficult to justify giving a game full marks, however in this case I don't see how I could give it anything less. I try to play through every survival horror game that comes out on the main console formats but not since Resident Evil: Code Veronica X have I been so totally immersed and captivated by a game. In short it's a work of genius. Rehashing a title that was so mind-blowing the first time around is always going to be a risky proposal but here it works perfectly. Essentially the story is (thankfully) exactly the same as the first time around but everything is done bigger, bolder, better and in classic Resident Evil style. And so to those responsible for Resident Evil Zero: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

So let's keep this short and simple: This title is a must have for anybody who likes a good scare. Because this game is probably the biggest achievement to that end, for the gamecube. It is just too bad that Capcom didn't bother to remake the other gamecube games as well. A real shame. Resident Evil, first released on the Playstation, has gotten back its silver polish. You owe it to yourself to have it in your collection.

I will start with what is obvious, the graphics are sublime and i have not seen any better, the light casts realistic shadows and the surrounding look so good it is like being there. Cpacom have really done wonders with the graphics, even the character models look great as well as the good old Zombies, Dogs, Hunters and the occaisional Tyrant.

The graphics are brilliant but is let down by a dodgy control system with the fact that you have to turn left with the control stick and then go forward to actually go left, you also need to hold down B to run. But to be fair, you do get used to the control system and after a while you won't even realise how tragic it is. One of the best features of the controls is the new defense items, when your character is grabbed by an enemy you can thurst a knife in thier heads, electricute them or blow their heads up with a greande.

Another new feature is that zombies don't stay dead, after a while of laying of the floor, usually a few hours, they get up to become Crimson Heads. These zombies have claws, are faster and much more resilient, the only way to stop a zombie form becoming a crimson head is to incinertate the body with kerosene or flame shells or get a shot which shatters the head.
This new feature adds a much greater sense of tension as you never quite know when they will get up again...

Resident Evil is a very difficult game to complete with it's likited ammo, save ribbons and health, but it is definatley a must have game as this is at the momment the pinnacle of the series

Like all good Resident Evil games this game includes, Zombies, an array of infected animals, betrayal and a person infecting everyone because they are on the brink of insanity.

In every Resident Evil game the doors open with a seperate clip and this game does not break that tradition. Some people dislike this because it does get annoying if you have to back track but it also adds to the suspense if you have never been in that room before. In fact, furthur on into the game the doors are broken off but the camera views help keep the added suspense of what might be behind that door.

This is definitely a must have for anyone with a Gamecube. The only thing that holds this back from being a 5 star is that the voices are expressed out of text when they are said. Another minor thing is that once you see a video clip, you cant see it again until you play through the game again, unlike Resident Evil 2 where you could watch already seen clips.

This games graphics are the best on any system out and it is a great display of Capcoms finest work. They did an excellent job of revamping the old one off the Playstation 1 and turning it into a masterpiece. Resident Evil can pull you into the game and make you jump, it is surely one of the best horror games ever to be released.

Capcom have kept their integrity and not made push button cheats but made you earn your cheats by completing the game in under a certain time. This is good because it lets you practise your skills and also the time limit you must be under isn't unrealistic and earning the cheats is so much more satisfying than entering a code.
A new idea was brought in, letting Zombies open doors, this idea is excellent and also adds to the intensity. "But wait, I already killed that Zombie"...well if you dont burn it or shoot its head off it will return back to life and then become known as a Crimson Zombie. Crimson Zombies can run, this is great fun and it just makes the game that much more exciting.

It doesn't matter whether you are a Resident Evil veteran or just someone looking for a scare, this game is great and it is guaranteed to always suprise you.

Yes, it looks amazing. The environments are nearly photo-realistic, and the characters and enemies never looked better. Coupled with some haunting sound effects, it's presentation is constantly unsettling. If you like being scared, you'll probably get some kicks out of RE's many shock moments - I know I yelled out on more than one occasion. It's also clever how it tricks you into thinking something's going to happen - for instance, you see a window crack, and expect something horrible to come exploding through... but it doesn't. But it unnerves you no-end. The quality camera-placement throughout makes for some more creepiness, as the action is viewed from behind some leaves, or through a window, by some unknown watcher. It's damn creepy.

Don't listen to people who whine about the controls. Really, they work just fine. Probably the most useful feature is the 180-turn you can pull off by tapping the C-Stick any way - handy for escaping advancing monsters. And full free 3D movement wouldn't work in this game - you'd be running all over the place like some drunk as the camera-angles constantly change... anyone who's played Devil May Cry might know the feeling. As it is, it's sometimes a little clunky, but it works.

The puzzles that make up the biggest part of the game aren't mind-bending, although one or two might have you stumped for a while. What does begin to grate is having to ferry an endless supply of keys from one end of a gigantic mansion to another. Shock moments keep things interesting, but it can get a little tedious from time to time. It's compulsive to keep playing, just to see what lies around the next turn. And although the story isn't too great (I don't suppose it's going to be until the series comes to a close and everything's explained), the cinematics are enjoyable enough and usually give you something else to do other than collect keys.

With two characters to play through and multiple endings, the game has substance for those who look for it. Resident Evil offers a deeply unsettling, but highly enjoyable experience that fans of horror should love. It's so amazingly real, you can't help but feel at least a tinge of fear, even if you're a veteran. As a newbie, I was terrified, but gripped by it's unputdownable nature.