Resident Evil Outbreak File #2

"When Evil Spreads Online"

The new Resident Evil has gone back to the old style of play but is that really a bad thing? The way it has been put together is marvelous and while Resident Evil 4 marked a new design it still is good to go back to the old styles at times. With the first game being so innovated the second game only improves on it.

Graphics 10/10: With beautiful scenery (the Zoo especially), characters who look very well done and zombies who look almost always different the graphics really shine. The CG videos especially look nice and some of the creatures look so real you worry that they just might be.

Gameplay 10/10: A very nice combination of horror and action makes this game fun to replay. You have 5 scenarios ranging from 30 minutes to two hours your first time through, two minigames where killing enemies and surviving bosses are your objective and all of the items to find will keep you amused with the game for awhile. And if you have the Online feature you'll discover new levels of enjoyment as you try to survive together.

Controls 9/10: Very well done controls which have stayed pretty much the same as Outbreak 1 except for the map and ad lib buttons but those are minor. The controls are quite responsive and the only issue is that the analog can be annoying at times but still bearable.

Sounds and Music 9/10: Very well done sound effects throughout the game. You shoot a gun and it sounds like it should, monsters sound realistic and unrealistic when needed and the thumping of doors really is distinctive giving it a creepy feeling. The sound was almost all the same as the original but the boss music did go with the setting so it was still fine. The biggest trouble with the Sound wasn't the effects but the voices. The voices have been changed from the first one some for the better others for worse. The NPC now have their own voices but some are really annoying.

Story 9/10: Good storyline that is different between levels and doesn't require you to have played a past game unless you want to understand the T-Virus more. The people in the levels really give the story for that level an extra something (Marvin for example). The thing that a lot of people will find annoying though is it doesn't explain if this stuff all happened to them or just certain parts or how they went from the Subway Station to the Forest.

Replay 10/10: Lots of replay here. You can play online, offline, minigames, 8 different characters and 260 SP items are bound to give you replay to the entire game for quite some time.

Overall 9/10: It's a great game with minor flaws.

Rent or Buy? Definitely buy it. It's well worth the money.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/02/05