Resident Evil: Dead Aim

"New Style, Old Feel, Great Game"

Introduction:

This game astounded me. I must admit, I only expected a slightly better version of Resident Evil: Gun Survivor. I was in for some surprise when I first turned on my PS2 for this game. I only knew that head shots were apart of the game and that you did not have to ride the rail like in games such as Time Crisis. What I mean by "ride the rail" is not having control of where you are taken within the game. But this game gets rid of that system and makes a new innovative system that combines first person shooting and third person. When you are walking around it is third person, and when you are firing your gun, its first person. The transition is seamless between the two modes of sight, and both graphically equal in every way because of it. Anyway enough babbling on about random things, lets get down to the niddy griddy.

Replay Ability: 8/10

This game is worth replaying for only about two reasons. One of which is the fun factor. This is the major reason of the two. The second reason is for secrets that can be unlocked. A third and only conditional reason would be if you first played it on easy you will want to replay it on a harder mode, whether it is normal or hard mode. It is my opinion that on your first time through the game you will want to start with easy, so this third reason is applicable. Besides you can only obtain the best rewards on Hard and Normal.

Learning Curve: 4/10

The learning curve took an extra long time for me. That was only because I was stubborn about using the gun for full control. So if you do not show the same stubbornness that I did the learning curve will be shorter than it was for me. But even if you get off to the right start, you still will find yourself struggling to gain full knowledge and confidence of the controls. It took me the better half of the first part of the game to just get comfortable with the guns buttons. Then the other half of the first part of the game to know how to use them properly. This is one of the bad spots for the game, but only because it uses a gun in the controls. Without the gun, you are going to have an even harder time controlling things. Without a gun this game goes down the crapper. Don't let that happen to a game that deserves to get respect, buy a darn gun already. Anyway the curve is worth working on, the game will improve dramatically once you do.

Fun Factor: 10/10

This game is one of the most fun games I have come across since I have begun playing video games. The innovative system that allows characters to switch between first person and third person modes makes the game more involving some how. Almost as if you concentrate when you are in first person mode to allow for perfect gun shots and ready to move on your feet when in third person. Sort of makes some since when you think of it that way. Because of the things that you can do with your enemies combined with the way you play the game, is what makes this game so fun to play. Don't get me wrong, I have never liked first person shooters that much, but this game takes the cake. It is the most fun first person game that I have played, one of the most fun third person games that I have played, and one of the most fun hybrid games that I have played. This game gave me a thrill I have never before experienced. It is not something to miss.

Story: 6/10

The story in this game is moderate, nothing special to marvel at. I will not spoil the games story, but just take my word when I say that it nothing special. There are a few interesting points about the story and it is defiantly original, but again nothing too thought out. But the story is not what makes the game. The fun factor and innovativeness is what makes this game good.

Controls: 7/10

All you have to do is use the gun. If you use the Gun Con II, you will have an easier time with the controls. If you stick to the gun, you will never have a problem, after the learning curve has been adjusted to. The controls are unique to me as well as new. It allows for you to move into the shooting mode without switching controllers. In this way it is better received, and easier to understand and stay concentrated. For this I give the controls a good boost in numbers. It does deserve the rating it is getting. But having said that it is far from perfect, as the rating will also show. But I do believe that using a gun for normal walking in a game, this is as good as it is going to get.

Sound: 9/10

Not much to say here, and that is a good thing. The sound has no problems with it at all. Zombies sound like they should and gun shots sound like they should. The moment that a bullet hits a unholy monsters grimy dry flesh it sounds nearly perfect, with little room for improvement. The only real problem with the sounds is when you hit a wall or window. It is the same sound that is made. This is a problem, due to the fact that they should make completely different sounds, but don't. Other than that, no errors are distinguishable.

Graphics: 8/10

The graphics are of a kind I have not seen. They are a mix between anime and regular CG. So the result of this mix is weird but good. It adds a kind of element to the game, that, as far as I am aware of, has never been seen before. They are good, new, and weird all at the same time. They are not bad at all but not as good as they could have been. I have seen better, but not by much. The zombies are of good looks. They move like they should and act like they should. They even move so as to avoid your shots without falling out of zombie walk patterns. It is an a valiant attempt at making zombies harder to kill, and a successful one if you ask me. The bosses look pretty good and even new, in some cases. And in others a nice familiar look is evident. After all should a tyrant not look like a tyrant? It should if you ask me, so with no change there it is good not bad. You can think of it like respecting the past, and keeping the future in mind. All in all I would say that the graphics are refreshingly new.

Overall: 9/10

This game has some new things added to it that are enough to make this game unique. If you hit the zombies just right they fly back and splatter blood on the wall. Where they land effects the way their body lies. It perfectly matches reality in most cases. The only case that it does not look just right is when you shoot a zombie towards a bath tub and the blood splatters on the bath and on the air above it. So only in this rare case does the graphics work against itself. There is also a touch of the past with Hunters making a return visit. Some other new and other familiar faces make their presence known. They all add up to what is an awesome experience. The games length is not entirely bad either. It will only last you about a weekend with dedicated playing, a week with occasional playing, and a month if you rarely get to play it. Most games last this long anyway, especially a resident evil game at that. So I would say that Resident Evil Dead Aim is just as long as any other resident evil game out there, with the minor exception of Resident Evil Code Veronica. The score is averaged out to be only seven out of ten but I gave it a boost because the fun factor is very important in a game, and because this game scored so high on that level it deserved the extra nudge to eight.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/25/05