Resident Evil 2

"Perhaps the best in the PSX series"

The sequel of the original Resident Evil is perhaps the best in the PSX series. With my review of the ported N64 game and my acquireing a PSX, I felt I should review the original version also.

GRAPHICS (8/10)

The pre-rendered backgronds look very clean, a step above the N64 version. But blocky and pixely polygons that plauge most PSX game comes into play when a character gets close to the screen, and much detail is lost from far away. Personely, I perfer the N64 version graphic wise.

The CG movies are very cool. They run alot smoother than those in FF7.

GAMEPLAY and DESIGN (7/10)

*shudder* One thing I hated about Resident Evil on the PSX was the robotic controls, it reminded me of Asteroids. But you get used to it.... Again, the N64 does a much better job in the this department. Turining around is a major pain.

You store Items in boxes, and you can only carry so many at a time. So you have to go back to the boxes when you have to pick something up. It isn't so bad, but it does get annoying. Limited amount of saves is a let down, but you get plenty of them.

SOUND (9/10)

Music and sounds are real creepy. When the music stops though, it gives you chills. (Me while playing the game: Oh, the music stopped...gee, it's real quiet....a little to quiet....ok..I'm walking...I'm walking....a window...something’s gonna jump out at me, I know it *thump thump* OK, here I go.....Ah Ha.....nothing happened! It was all a false alarm....I can't believe I was scared over noth....OH MY GOD!!!!! Great, now I need to change pants....)

Another scary thing about the sounds is the voice acting. Leon must die, die right now.....

STORY (10/10)

Your either Claire Renfield, biker chick, or Leon Kennedy, rookie cop. Claire is looking for her brother, Chris (from RE) and Leon is, well, a rookie cop. They come to Raccoon City only to find it over run by zombies. They travel to the Police Station to survive...

Although a plot involving Zombies might sound lame, it's not. RE2 is just the icing on the cake. I'm not gonna give away any of the plot, but future installments will no doubt expand the story of the evil Umbrella Corp. and their plans to create the ultimate Bio-Weapon.

For a better overall story, play as Claire. It's much better than Leon's. You play as Leon in scenario B anyway.

REPLAY VALUE (8/10)

Once you beat the game, you play it over using the other person. The game if much tougher this time around. Enemies are placed different, puzzles are altered, and stuff you did the first time around effect you now (such as not picking up the sub-machine gun) Theirs also new boss enemies.

Play it enough, and you might get a secret character. (Hint, hint. Wink, wink)

But this game is so short....I heard people say they can beat the game in about 2 hours. Thats just wrong, people.

GRIPES

Really, nothing got me really mad about this game. Sure, the item boxes are a pain, but it all works out. That, and the pixley graphics.

OVERALL (9/10)

I'm giving this the same score as the N64 version, dispite the 64 does a better job in the parts of the game I care about most. Besides, the 64 version is a port, and this game came out first. Pick it up, it should be pretty abng cheap.

A Classic. And remember, turn on the lights when you play.

WHY THE N64 VERSION IS BETTER THAN THE PSX VERSION, AND VISE VERSA.

Play Control: The Nintendo does a better job. Feels alot more natural
Sound: Playstation just has better sound quality for voices.
Graphics: Save for the blurry movies, with the Expansion Pak, the N64 has better graphics. ( I like to laugh at PSX’s blocky polygons, it’s fun)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/17/01, Updated 11/09/02