Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

"Live Selection Time: Buy/Rent this game or run away from the zombies."

When the original Resident Evil was ported from the Playstation to the Gamecube, gamers were awed by the amazingly improved graphics, sound, and what have you. Then, the folks at Capcom decided to give gamers a prequel, Resident Evil Zero. It contained the same gorgeous graphics as the original, possibly even better. Then came Resident Evil 2 and 3. Neither had been changed from the original games on the Playstation. After being spoiled with Resident Evil 1 and Zero, people expected another REmake. Instead, what Gamecube was given was a rehash of the exact same game, except priced ridiculously at $40. Many of you reading this are probably thinking that Resident Evil 3: Nemesis will be a waste of your time and money. Right? Wrong. Beneath the outdated graphics lies the beating heart of a classic Resident Evil.

Gameplay: The gameplay in RE3 is more or less the same as the first couple of Resident Evil games. The premise is shooting zombies, crows, and whatnot while avoiding the persistent villain of the game, Nemesis. Along the way, you must solve confusing puzzles, find items that may prove useful, and use those items wisely to avoid death.

The controls are confusing to the Resident Evil newbie, but they become easier as you play. Part of the confusion is thanks to the fixed camera. The camera does not move until you get to a different area. For example, the camera may focus on the front of the room until you run to the back where the camera will then be located in the back. The perspective will then be changed.

You are given a variety of guns, each having different strengths and weaknesses. For example, the gun is quick and doesn’t need to reload as often, but is weak. The shotgun, on the other hand, is stronger, but slower and needs to reload more often. Each gun needs different types of ammo, and some ammunition is easier to find than others. By using the right gun for the right moment, you can save the important ammo for when you will need it.

Two neat features were added to this RE that was not previously added to any RE. One of them is the dodging. With a simple flick of the R button at the right time, you can dodge any enemy’s attack. By finding the right time to attack and dodge, combat with zombies become more interesting.

Another feature is the live selection. Basically, what they do is give you two choices. For example, one of the choices may be to attack a zombie and the other is to run inside the police station. Picking one choice will trigger an event greatly different from the other one, though eventually, both choices lead up to the same spot. There is no wrong choice, but one may lead to a harder predicament than the other. Also, you must choose quickly, because while you are making a choice, an enemy or sudden death is approaching you. If you don’t make a decision in time, you will die instantly. Note: Live selections will actually affect the ending, so choose what you think may be the best scenario in any given situation.

In other words, while the game may be outdated, the fun gameplay is still refreshing for those who have never played RE3. Those who like 3rd person action adventure games, or even just those who want a good scare should definitely check this out.

A final warning to those who are scared easily or offended by gore: This game is indeed scary and contains heavy amounts of blood from those who die. This particular Resident Evil is not too scary in terms of shock factor (i.e. a zombie jumps at you), but it is creepy when you take into context that Nemesis is following you.

Rating: 8/10

Graphics: As I said earlier, the graphics are outdated. You can easily tell by playing that the graphics aren’t pushing Gamecube to the limit. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t good. Yeah, the graphics aren’t as great as RE or RE0, but they are tolerable enough to not make the characters look like stupid blocks with faces.

Rating: 5/10

Story: The story takes place sometime before and after the events of RE2. (Yes, the events of RE2 take place while this game’s events do.) RE3 places the heroine of the first RE, Jill Valentine, against the seemingly immortal Nemesis. Jill is in what she calls her last escape. She knows she must be rescued or else death will await her. The story is pretty good and fits nicely into the RE timeline.

Rating: 8/10

Music/Sound: The music matches the events in the game. For example, the music may become creepy when a room seems too quiet for comfort, and becomes a action tune once you face a boss. The music is great, but what’s really shining is the sound. You can hear your own footsteps walking around on the different floors, zombies moan, and the sound of a constant heartbeat is heard during a live selection. The sound could not be greater.

Rating: 10/10

Replayability: The main game itself will probably take 10-20 hours for the first time player. When you do beat it, you can continue trying to get a better rank by beating it faster and using less items. Additionally, you can play a bonus game after you beat the game which puts you in a rescue situation in an attempt to gain the most money out of the mission. RE3 has high replayability for those who always think they can do better in a game.

Rating: 8/10

Rent or Buy? If you like playing a game until you get the best rank possible, then buy this one. However, if you beat a game and are happy with just beating it, then a rental is recommended. Overall, even if the game is a port of the Playstation original with the same graphics and gameplay, that doesn’t stop it from being fun.

Final Rating: 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/30/03, Updated 06/30/03