"Let the Horror Continue"

Let the Horror Continue

Peering around the corner at the decaying corpse against the wall, you realize this is no ordinary mission. Hearing a creaking noise, you swing around, only to see an open window with a curtain blowing in the wind. The train was speeding along the track. You must stop it. Your partner, a fugitive, is your only chance at survival. Turning quickly at the sound of breaking glass, you see a mutant dog, infected with some sort of disease, charging toward you at a frightful speed. You can’t get a shot off from your handgun quick enough. It leaps, knocking you back in your chair. Your hands are sweaty, and you soon realize that you’re only sitting in your living room playing Resident Evil Ø.
Resident Evil Ø is the next generation of survival horror videogame. The prequel to the long-running Resident Evil series from Capcom, Resident Evil Ø will you have on the edge of your seat from the opening movie. With stunning graphics, cutting edge sound, detailed storylines, and long-lasting replay value, Resident Evil Ø is the next step in videogame technology. As you fight against time to stop the Umbrella Corporation from releasing the dreadful “t-virus,” you’ll encounter complex puzzles, terrifying beasts, and extraordinary characters. You’ll explore through an infected train, a massive training facility, a biochemical laboratory, and a horrifying factory. As Officer Rebecca Chambers and partner ex-Lieutenant Billy Coen, you’ll cooperate to unravel the mystery behind the Umbrella Corporation. Rookie officer Rebecca is very smart, but also delicate. Billy, an ex-lieutenant accused of murder of twenty-three people, is strong and an excellent marksman. Combining their skills is the only way to escape alive.

Story 10/10

The story begins in June of 1998, when the special forces Bravo team is sent to investigate a series of murders in the Raccoon City area. Due to engine failure, their helicopter is forced to make an emergency landing in the forest. The bumpy landing fortunately yielded no dead. They search the surrounding area, where Rebecca discovers an overturned police truck, the crew dead. Rebecca finds a clipboard on the ground by the truck. On it was information about the prisoner the truck was transporting for execution, Billy Coen. Assuming that he had murdered the crew and escaped, the Bravo team separates and begins to search for Coen for arrest. Rebecca, armed only with a small pistol and a flashlight, explores the woods. She comes across a seemingly abandoned train and steps inside. This is where your adventure begins.
You’ll first assume control of Rebecca, searching the train. Immediately, man-eating zombies surround you. As you fight your way through the train, you meet up with Coen. After much arguing, Rebecca agrees to cooperate with him. When Billy saves Rebecca’s life soon after, it becomes apparent this alliance is strong. You must work with Billy to solve spine-chilling puzzles and to kill murderous beasts.

Features 9/10

A new feature to the Resident Evil series, partner swapping, will force you to utilize each character’s skills to succeed. With a touch of a button you can take control of either character, exchange supplies or ammo, and give orders. Orders include not shooting or to attack. You can choose to venture alone or regroup as well. Another new feature allows you to place items on the ground anywhere you choose. Using the map, you can locate where you placed an object in order to retrieve it. This new method of keeping track of items replaces the “item box” of previous games. Resident Evil Ø holds true to its predecessors while still remaining fresh with new ideas, puzzles, enemies, and features.

Graphics 10/10

The graphics of Resident Evil Ø are simply amazing. From curtains blowing in the wind to the flickering of a flame in the darkness, the details will astonish you. Cut-scenes and movies throughout the game cause appear to have been filmed with a camera. Capcom reached a new standard of graphics with this game. Capcom also maintained the previous graphic style of the Resident Evil games by using pre-rendered backgrounds on which to place the characters. This aspect of the games occasionally is flawed when you can see the character clearly not touching the floor or item. Even so, the mistakes of previous games in this area are improved.

Replay-ability 8/10

Resident Evil Ø is not one of those games you’ll beat once and put away. Resident Evil Ø is full of unlockable features that will have you playing for hours after your first completion. Various unlockable items include extra costumes, a mini-game, more powerful weapons, and infinite ammo. After playing through the game, depending on the difficulty chosen, you will receive a rating. This rating determines what you will unlock. Ratings are based on how long it took you to beat the game and which difficulty you chose. This system is challenging enough to have you attempt the highest goal several times, but not so hard as to seem unbeatable.

Overall 9/10

Overall, I feel that Resident Evil Ø is a game that every Gamecube owner should consider. With unparalleled graphics, a complex story, a challenging array of beasts and puzzles, it surpasses a new level of gaming. Being a new Resident Evil fan, I fell in love with the series with the remake of the first Resident Evil for Gamecube. This game exceeded my expectations after the original. Resident Evil Ø is a must buy for all fans of the series, and at least deserves to be rented by those new to it. So put this game in your system, turn it on, and let the horror continue.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/28/03, Updated 01/28/03