Resident Evil Code: Veronica

"Survival horror at it's best."

Having been a huge fan of the previous RE games, I approached this title with great anticipation, and was weary of the final product due to Capcom's numerous delays. All my fears were laid to rest the moment Biohazard Code:Veronica started spinning in my Dreamcast.

Graphics 10/10: Truly a landmark achievement in 3D visuals. Never have I seen such detail in character expression and background artwork. When I saw RE1, I was thoroughly impressed at the pre-rendered atmosphere. Even more so with RE2 and 3. But after seeing Code Veronica, there is simply no competition. The only game that even comes close is Sega's own Shen Mue. There's nothing more to say except, ''Wow.''

Sound 8/10: The music is of high quality and proves to be just as good, if not better than that of past RE's. I would even go so far as to recommend a purchase of the sound track, pending its release. There is however, a somewhat annoying problem with the zombie audio effects in general. It seems that when multiple zombies are on screen, (which is more often than not) there is a significant breakdown in the sound quality. This being characterized by small hiccups and some snap-crackle-pop-ish noises. Although it doesn't happen all the time, it does occur often enough to be a problem. Otherwise, the sound is top notch.

Control 9/10: No major differences between this and the previous RE games as far as control goes. Like it or not, it's basically the same old tricky setup it's been for the last 5 years. I do want to mention that there is one small addition. When holding a weapon in each hand, you can aim towards multiple targets thus, being able to blast those zombies quicker than ever.

Gameplay 10/10: This game is everything you loved from the series and more. It spans over 2 disks, making it the longest one yet. Claire and Chris are both playable alternately throughout, and their involvement with each other is flawlessly interlocked in what is, in my opinion, Capcom's best Resident Evil storyline to date. The scares, thrills, chills, shrieks, and screams are all there, delivering one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences ever.

Final Thoughts: If you haven't checked this one out, do so as soon as possible. A worthy import and a great game overall, Biohazard Code:Veronica is survival horror at it's best.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/03/00, Updated 03/03/00