Resident Evil Code: Veronica X

"Resident Evil never looked so good."

I've never played the Dreamcast version of this game and this is my first PS2 game. Let me just say that I was really impressed with the graphics, sound and story of the game.

Graphics : 10/10
The graphics are simply gorgeous. The first second I started playing the game, when I was in the cell with Claire, I couldn't believe my eyes. The last RE game I'd played, Resident Evil 3 : Nemesis, had good graphics but they can't really compare now.

Sound : 10/10
Really awesome music and great sound effects. I liked hearing the zombies moaning outside the prison complex, the water dripping in some of the sewers. The attention to detail to the sound effects in this game is simply astounding. I loved several of the game's music tracks, including some of the ''tense'' moments.

Gameplay : 8/10
Apart from replayability, this area of the game is what really brings the overall value down. Although not hard to control for veterans of the genre, there were several missing enhancements that I would have liked to have been there, like the dodge feature that was in Resident Evil 3. The camera, although always improving, still tends to cause some problems when trying to see around a corner to see if there are zombies there. One last point : The control in the Battle Game mode is quite simply awful.

Replayability : 6/10
The worst area in the game. I thought for sure there would be alternate endings, depending on how well you performed in the game or what events transpired. As far as I know, about the only place in the game where the story changes when you play is quite inconsequential. When you complete the game, the only feature that is unlocked is the Battle Game. Although somewhat fun, it's the only feature you can unlock. There are some things you can unlock in the Battle Game mode but as far as I know, there isn't anything that can be unlocked in the main game. I've finished the game once, got a D rating and I don't even feel compelled to start again.

Rent/Buy :
For fans of the Resident Evil series, this is a must buy. However, to finish this game, you'll need to rent it more than once. I bought it and I wasn't disappointed.

Overall : 8/10
As I said, if only the game had slightly better gameplay and more replayability, this game would get a perfect score. The graphics, music and story are quite amazing.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/13/01, Updated 10/13/01