Resident Evil 2

"Today I shall review the first Resident Evil that I ever played."

Resident Evil 2 was in fact the first Resident Evil game that I played. It's fantastic. I still remember the first time I started up my game, and was thrown into the street with a bunch of zombies coming towards me. At this point, I was hooked. I have since bought every Resident Evil game. Still Resident Evil 2 is where it all began for me. A true masterpiece. Now it has been ported to the Gamecube thanks in part to Capcom basically giving Nintendo the Resident Evil franchise.

The gameplay is much different from the original. That game went out to simply put you in a mansion and scare you. Resident Evil 2 instead goes for more hardcore action. It works. Now players can blast everything that moves because of ample ammo and weapons. In fact, much like Resident Evil 4, and in some ways Resident Evil 3, you can basically blast your way threw this game without running out of ammo, unless you simply can't aim your gun. Wait a minute, there is an auto aim function, so even that can't happen. The tank like controls are back, but if you played the original then you can manage. The game is easier than the original, only because of the ammo and weapons. Also the puzzles are back such as looking for keys and emblems.

The story is quite original. Leon Kennedy is on his first day on the job as a police officer. However, Raccoon City has been overrun by zombies thanks to the T-virus. As he enters the city, he runs into Claire Redfield, who is looking for her brother Chris. Chris is one of the heroes from the first game. These two decide to work together to survive and escape.

The graphics are a clear upgrade from the original. Some of the places that you visit have nice detail. None are better than the Cold Freezer in the Umbrella Lab. It's also worth noting that the graphics are slightly sharper now that they are on the Gamecube, but it doesn't make that big of a difference. The sound is useful to hear the enemies coming. Also the background music adds quite a bit of tension in the game.

How about replay value? It's there. There are four different scenarios to play threw. For example, beat the game with Leon A, and unlock Claire's B adventure. Likewise beating Claire A unlocks Leon B. There are also special characters to unlock as well, one of which is called Tofu. Yes, that's right; it's a big piece of tofu.

I advise anyone to buy this game. You'll be hooked. Just one word of advice. Invest in the guide book, you might need it. There is one problem with this game, the $40 price tag. Why did Capcom decide to sell this game for $40? I mean it isn't even a remake. Plus, most Nintendo owners had already played this on the N64. In fact, the only reason I bought it was because I simply hated reconnecting my N64 just to play this game. Still, I gave this game a 10 because I base my reviews on gameplay, not the price tag. Unfortunately, this game has become quite rare on the Gamecube, and is almost impossible to find. Still, it's also available on the PS1, N64, PC, and Dreamcast, so there are numerous ways to play this game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/25/05