An amazing sequel

User Rating: 9.2 | Resident Evil 2 (UK) PS
Compared to the first Resident Evil, this sequel takes another step up and raises the bar when it comes to survival-horror. The game introduces two completely new characters, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Claire is in Racoon City to try and find her brother, while Leon is a new RPD cop just doing a regular patrol through the city. These two individuals meet under the most bizaare of circumstances, the T-virus has no spread far out from the borders of Spencer Mansion. The whole of Racoon City is crawling with zombies and other mutants. Claire and Leon soon learn the truth about how the virus spread so far out into the city. Along the way, you'll meet other survivors and see what their possible connections are to the outbreak through very interesting twists and turns.

Considering the PS1's potential, this game serves up quite the feast graphics-wise. The backgrounds are very well-crafted and simulate almost real-life environments, quite a feat for such an early system. The movie scenes are easily the most enjoyable, the high textures smooth animations are eye-widening and make for quite a show. The enemies themselves are nicely textured (especially the lickers) to show very gritty senew and raged tissue.

As for the gameplay itself, it's easy to understand at first, but hard to master the first time around. You have an inventory of eight spaces to start. Each space can hold one weapon (larger weapons require two spaces), unlimited amounts of ammunition for one gun, a special key or object, and one or a mixture of herbs (health replenishers.) Initially it does seem like a chore to get through the game conserving space, but there's a chest in every few rooms that enable you to store items you might not need at the moment. Any items you put in these chests will appear in any other chest throughout the game. This inventory system proves very convenient for allowing the right number of spaces to carry items and enough chests around to ensure that you won't need to go to far out of your way to conserve or re-collect items.

This is one game in the Resident Evil franchise you absolutely can't skip.