Resident Evil 2

"This terrifying PSX classic can still manage to scare the pants off you on the GCN!"

When someone asks me ''have you played Resident Evil?'', the first of all the RE titles that comes to mind is Resident Evil 2. This game is the best Resident Evil game available, bar none. Full of surprises, shocks, gore and police zombies, it certainly knows how to literally scare the pants off you. However, that was back in the day of PSX and N64, where no next-gen consoles were available, and 32 bit was the best!

So how does it fare up in today's day and age, where PSX and N64 look like an Atari compared to the standard of games we are seeing today? And surprisingly it's not all that bad, despite being made 5 odd years ago!

But let me give you the rundown. The game takes place in Raccoon City, several days after the story of the original Resident Evil. Like the first game, there are two characters to choose from; Leon and Claire. Leon is a rookie cop who is coming to Raccoon City to be part of their police force; and it's his first day too! Claire is looking for her brother Chris, who is a member of the S.T.A.R.S Squad also situated at the Raccoon City Police Department. But unfortunately for the both of them, things aren't going to be all peaches and cream...

The two character's stories coincide with one another, as you help each other discover the horrific madness that is occurring in this derelict town. Each character has a Scenario A and Scenario B, and a character's scenario B can only be unlocked if you finish the other character's scenario A. Depending on who you start the game with (either Leon or Claire) will also depend on the storyline you receive, as each character takes different routes through the various locations throughout the game.

The enemies in Resident Evil 2 are truly morbid and horrific, be warned that you will encounter some of the most disturbing, twisted creatures ever seen in video game history. Enemies vary from the slow and (practically) harmless Zombie to the fast, swift and lethal Licker. Game bosses are also terrifying and nightmarish.

But where there are deadly foes then there must be deadly weaponry to fend them all off with! The arsenal at your disposal is mouth-watering, ranging from your trusty hunting knife to an anti-tank rocket launcher. Each character also has their own unique weapons; Leon has access to a shotgun and Claire has access to a grenade launcher and crossbow!

Graphics 4/10. This is definitely the games bad point, as the graphics weren't updated in any way, shape or form from that of the PSX version, thus making them blocky, occasionally unclear and barely passable.

Sound 7/10. The sound in Resident Evil 2 is fairly effective. The distant howl of an undead creature is always unsettling. However sometimes the zombie moans (particularly the female zombies) sound very humorous and make you laugh instead of make you scared.

Control 9/10. Resident Evil 2 makes perfect use of the very accessible Game Cube controller. It is very easy to get used to the controls, and for those that have played this on the PSX will be right at home as the controls are practically the same. However if you didn't like the controls in the PSX version, there are 3 different controller configurations to choose from, so you can find what works best for you.

Story 8/10. The best Resident tale out of the whole series. The storyline captivates you and holds your interest for the duration of the game, although very very far fetched in some scenes (I know it's a game but still).

Horror Meter 7/10. There are several scenes where the unexpected will occur that will leave you whimpering behind the sofa like a 2 year old girl, but other times you will be walking aimlessly around searching for that darn key, which can and does drastically drain the horror factor and also decreases the...

Fun Factor 7/10. Blasting police zombies with a shotgun is always a blast (geddit? Blast... hehe I'll leave now...) but believe it or not it can get repetitive. Also searching for the crucial part of the puzzle for hour upon hour can be a real drainer. But on the whole, if you're a fan of the Survival Horror Genre you'll really enjoy it.

Overall 7/10. A great game to add to the collection if you're a big fan of the series, but as it doesn't improve over the original Resident Evil 2 in anyway it seems pointless buying it for $40 US when you can buy the PSX version for a meager $15.

My final thoughts. This game is excellent, don't get me wrong, but not for $40. If perhaps they had done what they did to the Resident Evil Remake, it would certainly be a different story. Resident Evil 2 lacks atmosphere. It is no where as scary as the Resident Evil Remake as the atmosphere is very poor. It needs the Game Cube treatment, Updated graphics and better sound, to be in the same league as Resident Evil Remake. But if you can handle the very below par graphics and the average sound which result in a less scary atmosphere, then it's definitely worth a look. If you have the PSX version, then just be happy with that, but if you don't, then I'd suggest you try before you buy. If you can pick it up for $15 US or below, then definitely pick it up!

As the warning title says; This game contains scenes of explicit violence and gore. Not for the faint of heart.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/09/03, Updated 11/09/04