Resident Evil 2

"The best version of the best Resident Evil"

**Keep in mind this review was written in early 2003, having passed up on the ridiculously priced gamecube version.

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Graphics/Sound
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(7/10)
-It's been spruced up a little since the original release on playstation, but the quality isn't as good Code Veronica or even Resident Evil 3. Still I was very satisfied with how the game looks. Like all the games in the series, there are a lot of pre-rendered graphics thrown in. I can't say there are any serious flaws, but don't expect to be blown away by single blades of grass swinging in the breeze, it's just decent.

-Sound quality is great, like all the games you hear footsteps, dripping blood, sounds from basically whatever is in the room, and that eerie music plays whenever you enter a dark room or what not. No complaints here

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Gameplay
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(10/10)
-This is why it is my favorite in the series, there are so many game modes and unlockable features, it's just fantastic. You've got four different scenarios, you can either start out as Claire or Leon, and when you finish you carry over your save and play the second scenario with the other character. The decisions you make in the first scenario affect your second scenario. For example at a certain point you can get a extra item pouch and/or submachine gun. Whatever you leave is what's available to the second scenario. Also near the end there is a door that requires two people to open, and you need to scan your fingerprint in the first scenario, and in the second scenario the other character scans their fingerprint and opens it. Bosses are also different/changed for the second character. There are like a half-dozen difficulty levels in this version of the game, however I only play normal mode, since that's how you unlock the extras.

-In addition to two scenarios per character, you also team up with another person to progress the story and solve certain puzzles. (It's not like RE0 where you control both at the same time though, you switch back and forth automatically)

-In addition to the main game it is chuck full of mini-games. I've only unlocked Ex Battle, and 4th Survivor, there is one more minigame I think, but I'd have to look it up. The Ex. Battle mode is very cool, you basically go through the entire game, in stages, to complete objectives. 4th Survivor you get to be an umbrella swat dude! Awesome minigames.

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Challenge/Replay
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(10/10)
-As far as difficulty level goes it all depends on how you play, ever since I found that inf. ammo cheat I've been unable to keep myself from using it, and since you can still get an A-Rank with it on, that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin. My best completion time was 1:59 but it will probably take 6-8 hours your first time through. Compared to the REmake this game is generally much easier, even on the more difficult 'B' Scenarios.

-I have already played the game four times, and I've just scratched the surface, I could see someone playing through a dozen times easily, and that's not counting the mini-games.

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Bottom Line
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-If you like Resident Evil at all buy this game. I believe I said in the title this was the best version of the best RE...Well as far as being the best version I'd say it's tied with the N64 version, there's an FAQ on all the different version, check it out and see what version is best for you. Buy it! You will not regret it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/03, Updated 03/16/03