Resident Evil

"Bio Hazard, the Japanese Resident Evil. Any better?"

Everyone Knows what Resident Evil is. Its a huge franchise, and an excellent game series. If you don't, how on Earth did you get on this website about Video Games?

Resident Evil has been released under another name in Japan, Bio Hazard. Released back in 1996 on the PlayStation, and then on the Sega Saturn and PC some time after that. 3 sequels, 1 remake and a few spinoffs later, the series just gets stronger and stronger. The main series will be sticking to the GameCube for now, with one online game due on the PlayStation 2. Each version has made it in tact to the USA and UK, accept one, the original. There are quite a few changes between Resident Evil and Bio Hazard. Apart from the obvious text language change (the voices are in English in all versions), there were many scenes cut from the Japanese version.

As a huge Resident Evil fan, I had to see what these extra scenes were, and if they were any good.

After finding a copy of Bio Hazard, and playing it, the changes are only evident at the start of the game. Two FMV scenes were cut, the FMV intro, and the death of Kenneth at the beginning.

They are as follows:

FMV intro: Close up shots of a rotting head replace the newspaper pictures at the start. The hand holding the gun which Joseph picks up actually comes completely into view, with no arm connected. Blood splatters into the screen when Joseph first gets attacked, followed by Joseph firing his Shotgun in several directions. Close up shots of the Cerberus Dogs show bullets smashing into their skulls, screaming while blood splurts out at all angles. Joseph's arm gets bitten off, in clear view, along with a Dog viciously munching on Joseph's neck while he is franticly trying to pull it off. Camera pans across Joseph's wrecked body. More close up shots of the Dogs as they receive bullets from the fired STARS guns.

Kenneth FMV: A small clip showing Kenneth's head fall to the floor, revealing a half eaten skull.

Those are the only differences from the USA and UK releases, but in my view are excellent and well worth viewing if you are a Resident Evil fan.

Resident Evil is an excellent game, and with this uncut intro, more complete and shocking. This intro is far better than the GameCube intro, 100% recommended!

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