Resident Evil Code: Veronica X

"Another Resident Evil game from Capcom..."

Resident Evil started out in 1996. It was not only the first game that took more than an hour to complete, but also revolutionary. It took survival horror into a whole new direction. It was basically, as some say, a updated graphics version of Alone in the Dark with a whole new level to it. So Capcom has decided to go 3D with this Resident Evil. This Resident Evil game from Capcom is basically a expanded version of the original Dreamcast version. Capcom did release this version of RE Code: Veronica X on Dreamcast as a Complete title in Japan only. The first time I played this game, I was pretty satisfied with the way Capcom has done things with the game.

Story:

The story picks up off from Resident Evil 2, where Claire Redfield was looking for her brother, Chris Redfield(the heroine from the first game). Claire and a rookie cop named Leon Kennedy managed to escape from Raccoon City and go their own separate ways. After the events of Resident Evil 2, Claire sets off to Umbrella's European Headquarters, to search for more clue on what happened to her brother.. However, she has been captured and brought to a isolated island. The island is soon attacked and you must find your way out at all costs. There's, obviously, more story than this, but if you haven't played the game yet, it shouldn't be spoiled here. You must find out yourself. =)

The nightmare starts for Claire Redfield.....

Gameplay:

Ahh, gameplay, the most important factor in a videogame. The gameplay is pretty much the same, with combining items to save inventory space, military arsenal, zombies, and such.. Unlike in Silent Hill, you wont be seeing any locked doors at all. If you can't get access through a door, you can always go back to it sometime later. Most of the doors are accessible, and if it isn't, it doesn't mean the area behind the door isn't explorable.

Also, in the gameplay, are some very good weapons in the game, ranging from pistols to automatic rifles, and even to explosives. Capcom has made the game to where you must use your ammunition wisely. Using the wrong thing at the wrong time can usually mean more trouble ahead. The healing herbs are back from the older Resident Evil games, so you'll know how to get use to them if you've played the original. Also, as like in EVERY Resident Evil game, you don't just play as one character. You'll play at least two. The second character wont be available until the second half of the game. I wish they made a 2-disc version with more gameplay =)

All the items in the game mean something. If a item is no longer useful, the game prompts you if you want to keep it or not. I always discard it, and am not sure what happens if you keep them. Your inventory space is minimal, and you must choose wisely what you must take with you and not. The ones you don't take you should store them in the Item Box. All the Item Boxes are linked to one another, so if you leave a item in one box, you can get it back using another. These are called magical storage bins.

The puzzles are another thing. Some puzzles require you to push objects, find up to 3 items to solve one puzzle, or simply read files for clues on how to solve them. The puzzles are quite simple and anyone can manage to solve them without the use of a strategy guide. They aren't usually well thought out compared to Silent Hill 2, but they usually save time for first time players.

Graphics & Sound:

I'm pretty sure this is the first time Capcom has went 3D with Resident Evil. This means you'll be seeing real-time scenes and 3D backgrounds, rather than the character being placed on top of an image. There are some CG in the game, and it's pretty amazing. The characters are well done, and so are the backgrounds. Claire's ponytail moves when running, and so does her... anyway, the graphics are fantastic. The sound isn't much of anything. Pretty decent voice actors, brilliant music score. But some weapons sound the same, like the modified handgun basically sounds faster than the original handgun. Yes, there are some recycled sounds from the previous games, but this is to keep the Resident Evil flavor and not change it to a different game. Reused sounds isn't much of anything though. I know Capcom can do better than that.

Controls:

Resident Evil has always been with 3D controls, where pressing up will move the character forward. Left and right turns. But nonetheless, the controls are well use to. It pretty much has a basic layout of things, where one button is the run, another to shoot, another to auto-aim and such. Personally, I prefer 2D controls, but I got use to the 3D layout easily. One thing to note is that these are survival horror type controls, and it makes movement more realistic. The 3D control scheme has always been used in every Resident Evil game until now.

Replay:

There are a handful of extras to unlock, but it takes time, and everything should be available within 24 hours. There are extra weapons, extra game mode, and extra characters to play as in a certain game mode only. When you finish this game for the first time, you might want to play it again, for the reason that there are alterable in-game scenes depending on your actions. I personally found the game interesting and decided to play it three to four more times.

I can say the flaws of this game are not much: Some enemies look exactly the same as others but with a change in color and abilities. Capcom is known for this many times, and it just keeps happening. The other flaw is only one kind of control, and some fans would be glad if they gave an option to switch to 2D controls, which makes movement a bit easier. Also, the game can be completed pretty quick. First time I played it took me 10 hours, and the remaining playthroughs keeps getting faster and faster.

I wouldn't want to tell you whether to rent or buy, because reading this review can help, if not much, you to decide. There may be copies laying around in your local retail electronic stores.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/10/04, Updated 07/21/04