"Zero ain't always a bad thing!"

Before the mansion incident, before the outbreak in Raccoon City, before all of that occurred, there was a little known incident that nobody knew about. Nobody, that was, untill now. Capcom has just released the prequel to the best selling Resident Evil series, this one titled 'Zero,' which details what exactly happened right before the mansion incident. Although the number 'Zero' may not seem like a typical chapter in a video game series, this isn't your typical Resident Evil game!

Graphics: 10/10
If you've played the Resident Evil remake for GameCube, odds are you'd know what to expect in terms of graphics. You won't be seeing the Nintendo 64 style of graphics that the game would've had if it were released on that system as originally planned. You'll see details like dust swirling up when characters run through rooms that haven't been used for the longest time, monsters that will change shape right before your eyes, and even the simplest things like rain pouring down looks so realistic that you can almost feel your shoes getting soaked as you play! Even simpler things like hairs moving in the wind and zombies with distinguishable costumes are nice touches too.
One thing to be aware of is the fact that Resident Evil is famous for having a great deal of graphic violence, and this game is no exception, so be prepared.

Sounds: 10/10
The voices are spoken with full emotion and sound truly believable, so when you hear them scream in terror, you feel that same terror as well. When you learn to recognize the sounds of various monsters so that you know they're around the corner but you just can't see them, you'll jump in your seat as you realize that it's not the simple zombie you were hoping for. Perfectly composed music fits every situation perfectly, making your heart race in those tense situations, jump in that jumpy occasion, or relax in the relaxing situations (well, how else do you want me to phrase it!)

Controls: 9/10
Resident Evil Zero introduces a new system called 'Partner-Zapping' which basically means, you control two characters at once. You can switch between the two on the fly, or have one take the lead and the other follow, either with the computer controlling or using the C-Stick. However, the computer can sometimes act a little crazy, like stopping to fight enemies when you should just run away, running into walls instead of running around a corner, which means you need the C-Stick to correct it's path. Using the C-Stick and moving your main character at the same time takes a little practice, since while the C-Stick uses analog to determine how fast or slow your partner runs, your main character doesn't have that ability, which makes things a bit complicated with a standard joypad at times. Thankfully, the rest of the controls are classic Resident Evil style, meaning that most veterans can pick it up and play it immediately. Also, when it comes to saving your skin, the computer always seems to be deadeye when you get attacked only to have the monster blasted away by your partner, and it's a great shot when assisting you in clearing a room of monsters.

If you choose to switch between the two characters (which is required at times) it's important to remember that if either character dies, the game is over. Fortunately, both characters have a radio which they can use to send a distress signal in case they come under attack. In that situation, you can run to your partner's rescue, or simply switch to the character who's in danger and fight off the monsters.

Story: 10/10
Before the mansion incident in Resident Evil, there was this little known incident. The S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team was dispatched to investigate a series of unresolved murders in the forest area, only to have their helicopter go down for some unknown reason. It's here that the newcomer, Rebecca Chambers, a field medic, discovers an overturned Military Police truck, and learns that an escaped convict, Billy Coen, is in the area. While searching further, she stumbles upon a parked train, and when she gets on board to investigate, she discovers that something happened, turning everyone into zombies, and she's caught in the middle of it. The only survivor who later becomes an ally is, ironically, the same person she's hunting for, and this eventually leads into a new twist on the classic story line of the Resident Evil series!

Replay: 10/10
Three difficulty levels, each of which is actually what they say to be (easy is easy, etc.) makes it easy for anyone to pick it up and play it, no matter what their skill level is. By playing the game with different characters in the lead at certain times, you can see new twists on events that you had previously experienced in a certain way, giving the game a new experience each time you play. Top it off with an interesting bonus game as well as unlockable secrets, and you've got a game that'll definitely have you coming back for more.

Overall: 10/10
If we get another prequel in the series, will it be called Resident Evil -1? Who knows? At any rate, if you want to see what exactly happened right before the big incident that started the whole series off, or just want to add another survival horror game to your collection, then this zero is definitely your hero!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/17/02, Updated 11/17/02