Resident Evil Outbreak

"Decisions decisions..."

So Biohazard / Resident Evil comes back to PS2. No boring history lessons here though.

Outbreak consists of 5 separate scenarios, each initially unlocked in order. The game takes place in Raccoon city after the outbreak of the G Virus, thanks to one cracked up white-coat called Burkin and a whole load of rats (see Bio 2 / the game opening). The player can pick one of 8 characters, each with their own fairly different abilities, and then try to survive a given scenario. The story for each is not connected; there is no explanation of how the end of one leads to the start of the next, and each can really be viewed as the standalone struggle of a group of individuals to survive a possible situation in this unfolding nightmare. When played offline, you are given 2 computer controlled ''buddies'' who will follow your commands / requests to varying degrees, walk into zombies, use up your ammo / weapons / health items etc. etc. More on this mode later. Online, you can join up to 3 other players in challenging a scenario together.

Outbreak features numerous interesting new gameplay features. For a start, at the outset of each scenario your character is already infected with the virus - a % in the bottom corner of the screen displays how long you have until you join the ranks of undead. Although always slowly rising, being attacked makes this gauge rise faster. Some pills that you may find (or that George can make) can slow its progress for a time. When you run out health, rather than dying instantly (in most cases) you will be reduced to crawling on the ground. The virus % will start to rise faster, and a teammate needs to help you back onto your feet quickly or you will go over to the other side. Offline, 100% infection just means game over; when playing online, you get about 2 minutes as a zombie, shuffling around, clawing at doors and maybe other players, and generally making a nuisance of yourself.

There are many other significant changes. The game no longer pauses when you open the item menu, meaning no safety net when scrambling for a health spray or to change weapons. All gun reloading is now done in real time, one bullet at a time (unless you have a gun magazine). Zombies now follow characters though doors, and also respawn in some areas. You can use poles, brushes and crutches as weapons. When you don't have a weapon equipped, you can perform a tackle move, which is very useful against zombies but likely to get you hurt against anything else.

Each character also has their own abilities. More combat orientated ones, like the Raccoon PD cop Kevin or security guard Mark start out with weapons and have extra combat moves. Less physically robust characters such as the waitress Cindy or student (and ex umbrella employee) Yoko have a case for carrying large numbers of herbs, or can carry 4 extra items. As well as being able to shoulder tackle when unarmed, all characters also have a special move when using a weapon - a kick for Kevin, block for Mark, various kinds of dodges or backsteps for the ladies. The hardnut plumber David throws a spanner.

All the characters are interesting, and the abilities of each can be very useful. It really depends more on your style of play than anything else - some people may think Yoko's 8 items make her a prime choice offline, but if you can effectively use the other characters as ''item space'' then this is not such as issue. Especially on the harder settings, the extra stamina and starting weapons of the combat characters are appealing choices. However, to unlock everything you really have to use all of the characters, so even if you develop a favorite you should use them all in the end.

The graphics are fantastic - although in real-time 3D, in many places a still shot of the game could be one of its pre-rendered siblings. The controls offer both old style Biohazard movement and the more simple Devil May Cry esq. 2D movement scheme. All camera angles are classic Biohazard, although obviously they can now move a little there are no real camera problems (although if using 2D movement compensating for camera changes may take a little getting used to.) Loading times, however, might cause a problem. I have the HDD and playing it through that, there are no real problems - 2/3 seconds between rooms, about the same after cut scenes. However, I have also tried it just from the DVD, and the loading time jumps up a lot. The graphics and thus loading times seem to really have been created with use of the HDD in mind, and without it the game is severely disrupted. I can only imagine the horror of entering a room by mistake, then having to sit through upwards of 10/15 seconds of loading to get back to your previous location. If you are not going to be using the HDD, I strongly recommend you try to give it a go first and see if you can stomach the loading times. You may think it is not an issue now, but on your 20th time through the first scenario, you might feel differently.

Also, although the fairly large number of cut scenes are nice the first time through each scenario, the game basically comes down to playing scenario repeatedly, many times, in order to unlock and then earn enough points to buy all of the secret stuff that can be collected. Under these circumstances, skipping a cut scene as soon as it starts and then having to sit through loading to get back to the game gets old - especially online, when only the person who set up the room can skip them, and sometimes doesn't. Once you know the scenario, you don't need the cut scenes, and an option to turn off at least the more intrusive / less required ones would have been lovely.

When I started playing offline, I often had cause to curse my computer controlled buddies. You can use the right analog stick in combination with the L2 button to say various things during the game - ''come on,'' ''help'' and so on. Sometimes the CPU players will respond, and sometimes they will not. The CPU players handling of the third level boss stands out as a very nasty piece of AI, no matter what advice you shout at them.

So I didn't really give much thought to them, didn't like them very much and generally just let them die, if that was to be their fate. However, as I continued playing, I started to realize a few things. Firstly, if you ask for a CPU players item, they will always give it to you. Also, especially on the later stages, at least one of the CPU players will *always* stick with you. Therefore, you can manage their items, use them as item space, and indeed have them help out in combat (in which they excel, if a little over eager to use up your grenade rounds against normal zombies). What is more *if kept alive, some of the CPU players will solve puzzles for you*. The final level involves collection of 3 major items. If you go off one way, and both CPU players are still alive, one will come with you and the other one will disappear. After collecting your first item, go to a certain location and the 3rd CPU player will be there - *with one of the other items you require*. This saves you 20/30 minutes and a large section of the level, and is truly like playing the game online (if a little forced). So, as I played, I started to grow accustomed to the foibles and stupid things the CPU players do, and started to warm to the advantages of playing with them. So much so that now I have unlocked the ''No Partner'' mode, I almost miss them. You cannot ''horde'' items, as there are no chests or anything to put items into, and especially on Normal difficulty there is plenty of ammo and healing items to go around, especially if you search each room carefully. Once you know each scenario better, you can often fork out weapons and healing to keep them happy and your game will proceed a look smoother. They also make lovely targets to confuse most bosses ^-^

Although most scenarios can be finished very quickly when you know what you are doing (the online times are a little unrealistic compared to offline, as you do still have to do most of the puzzles yourself offline) the first time through pretty much adds up to a regular Bio game, and with massive amount of items to find and unlockables to get your teeth into, characters to use, difficulty settings to beat and so on, well, there is plenty here. The story, such as it is, does manage to add quite a bit to the overall Biohazard mythos, setting up links at the end that may well connect with Bio 4 or beyond. I fear it might get a tad stale offline after a while, but playing online is very good fun and allows you learn a lot more about the levels very quickly from watching what other people do. Lack of real communication online means you really have to use the strengths of your character and hope that the others do as well - it is not worth carrying herbs around if you have a Cindy with you, so long as when you are hurt she will then heals you. The emphasis on speed / not using weapons for high points does mean playing with total strangers can just be a race through the level, but having a chat with the other players first or playing with friends is a blast.

Even if you like Biohazard, you may be a little unsure about this title, but the system changes are all excellent, interesting and fun. Although it is ultimately *another* trip back to Raccoon city (and there seems to be a lot more activity than when we saw the same time period in Bio 2 / 3) it makes a very nice addition to the series, and even just offline I recommend it highly. Just be forewarned if you have no HDD or are not going to play it online that you will not be enjoying the game at its very best.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/07/04