Resident Evil 2

"Possibly one of the best PC translations (and one of the best games) I've ever played."

RE2: Platinum simply dwarfs just about every other game I've played for the PC platform, save Half-Life and the ever-classic Doom. Having played the original PSX version of RE2, I was predisposed to the game and simply wanted to buy any version of it (not yet owning RE2 for either platform). Thus, I picked the PC version. No regrets.

The animation is fluid, the graphics are sharp, and the control (with the aid of an MS Sidewinder pad) is almost perfect. The sound is subpar (I can hear the 8-bit fuzz in the music and voice bits) but still fairly crisp, and the music itself is so effective. For those who have played the PSX Resident Evil 2 (or the first RE, for that matter), don't expect similar quality from RE2: Platinum. It's a mere $30 US retail, but it plays like a dream and takes advantage of your PC's hardware to take a step up from the PSX RE2.

Also included is a new skill level (aptly named 'Hard,' which it is... :), a version with rearranged items, the ability to start with all infinite weapons for practice, a gallery of rough sketches, rendered artwork, movies, 3d models, and a new Extreme Battle mode, which allows you to play as even Chris Redfield from the original Resident Evil.

RE2: Platinum comes on two CDs and requires no installation (but installation is recommended for speed reasons). I highly recommend that you have a nice video card with 3D acceleration; Nvidia cards look nice in RE2 as do 3dfx. Essentially, I recommend this translation to anyone and everyone--whether you've played RE2 or not. You won't regret the purchase.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99