A survival horror masterpiece, and one of the best games any horror enthusiast will ever play.
The game retains the same plot as the original. Bravo team is sent in to investigate Racoon forest as there have been claims of ”cannibals”, but quickly looses contact with the rest of the S.T.A.R.S. (special tactics and rescue squad). S.T.A.R.S. alpha team is sent in to investigate, only to find a derelict chopper save for the mutilated body of one of the S.T.A.R.S. members. Upon further investigation they meet with an “unfortunate” situation where they were unexpectedly attacked by mysterious creatures. Upon trying to escape these creatures, they see an old mansion in the distance, and head for it. Enter Spencer mansion, a horrific place where evil lies. Without spoiling as much plot for fist timers to the series, I will let your imagination go on from there.
Resident evil for the Gamecube can be credited with being much more than a simple remake. The game has evolved since its 1996 release. This is resident evil reborn. Over 70% of the original game has been reworked (including puzzles), as well as the obvious graphical upgrades. Few words can describe the graphical presentation of this game, as it is like no other. Not only are the graphics simply breathtaking, they are with out a doubt, some of the best you will ever lay your eyes on.
The presentation of Resident evil is an achievement on its own. The backgrounds are all pre-rendered to perfection. Pre rendering gives an amazing look, and for a survival horror game, looks matter a whole lot. The backgrounds and the characters compliment each other well. The characters are all high polygon models, which give a realistic and unmatched look. As I have previously stated, the graphical quality of this game is unbelievable. All of the characters bodies are down right realistic from the way each hair will move in the wind, and the exceptional texture of clothing. Facial animations are precise and ultra realistic. The zombies themselves are a sight to be seen. Their skin and clothes are amazingly detailed, and add to the creepy, unmatched presentation. Also, I’d like to touch on weapon models. The weapon models are ultra realistic and some of the best for a third-person adventure game. They are highly detailed and will leave you amazed, as will the other amazing and surreal achievements Capcom has done.
The atmosphere of Resident Evil has yet to be matched. Real time lighting and shadows are present. Individual blades of grass have been rendered. Unimaginably realistic textures for fabric objects such as rugs and drapes are present. In game menus are slick from item menus, save menus and options screens. All of these features must be seen to be fully appreciated.
The gore in this game is another of the things I’d like to touch on, as it is one of the strong points of this game. Never before has game perfected blood splatter as this one does. The blood will burst out of the body, and even affect the pre-rendered backgrounds, which is an unbelievable feat.
Amazing graphics are present, but how does the gameplay stack up? To put it simply, there is more good than bad. You play as one of your choice of two characters, Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, each of which have exclusive gameplay elements to them.
The camera angles are awkward at times, but a great atmosphere more than makes up for it. The characters move throughout the environment in a simple and in an easily accessible manner. The controls may seem awkward if this is your first time playing a biohazard game, but to anyone who has played a past title the gameplay will come easily. If this your first time playing this type of game, you will still be able to enjoy it fully. The game has about a 15-25 minute learning curve, so it should easy. The gameplay is made better by an interesting plot, great characters, breathtaking visuals, atmosphere and challenging puzzles. This is not a game for the weak of mind or impatient.
One of the bigger additions to the series is he addition of defense items. Defense items are used to escape confrontation unharmed. Defense items range from daggers and flash-bang grenades for Chris, to daggers and a shock weapon for Jill. These weapons are great additions, but also make the game much easier, even though they are only one time use. You have to options with defense weapons: Automatic or manual use. Automatic use will make it so as soon as you’re attacked, your character will automatically use the equipped defense item. Manual makes it so you must control you defense item use with the L trigger. Notable effects are when using the flash grenade, Chris will shove it down the throat of the enemy. These animations are pulled off extremely well.
Another of the additions to the series would have to be crimson head zombies. Simply killing a zombie will not destroy it. After awhile it will reanimate itself into a crimson head. Crimson heads move extremely fast and are very deadly. This makes for an interesting challenge. The only way to make sure you don’t ever encounter one of these would be to decapitate the zombie, or set its corpse aflame.
Most of the puzzles have been reworked, and the mansion has been made bigger. Cabins and foliaged areas have been added, as well as other wings of the mansion. These additions keep the game fresh for old fans, which is a must have feature for a remake, and is one of the reasons another Gamecube-PS remake, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was unsuccessful in capturing the attention of old fans of the series.
The sound department is solid as well. The blades of grass will brush off your characters legs and emit a realistic sound. Terrain dependant footsteps are present as well as some great voce work. The weapons each have a realistic sound to them. The zombies however, will most commonly make one noise, which gets repetitive after awhile. Overall the sound effects are all that could be asked of a game, and really add to the creepy atmosphere of Resident evil and help complete the survival horror aspect. Crows crowing, dogs barking, enemy footsteps and groans are all frighteningly realistic.
The game has over a dozen endings, and many branching paths. Two playable characters and some unlockable content (costumes and weapons) ensure that Resident Evil will be spending quite some time inside your Gamecube. The game has much replay value because of all the time and effort Capcom put in this game.
For people who have loved Resident evil for a long time, this is the greatest gift Capcom could give us. There are few words to describe what the first time playing a Resident game was like, and isn’t easy to recreate, yet this game has done it. Anyone who has played the original Resident Evil will appreciate this game beyond belief, and anyone who has never played a Resident Evil game will hold the memory of this game forever, as we all did back in 1996. If I said this wasn’t one of the best games ever made, I’d be lying.