Resident Evil 2

"A game that's only for die hard fans of Re2"

The game.com version of Resident Evil 2 is definitely a game that's only for die hard RE fans, due to crummy controls and a lack of real fun.

GAMEPLAY 4/10
One thing that's fun for people who've played Re2 on N64 and PSX is seeing what the different rooms look like in comparison to the other versions of the game, but other than that, it's hard to have fun with because the controls blow and there's really nothing to do but shoot zombies. The few puzzles consist of pushing something somewhere, and if you push it in the wrong direction, then the item will suddenly appear where it should be anyway.
Also, you can't play as Claire Redfield, only as Leon Kennedy, which will turn off some gamers(mostly women).
On a less important note, my brother won't play the game because there's no Magnum. I'm sure Capcom did this because gamers won't stand for a Magnum that doesn't decap zombies. I think that they wanted to keep the rating down, so Capcom dumped the .45 altogether. Still, it makes the game feel empty.

GRAPHICS 7/10
The game's best feature, the graphics are surpisingly clear and sharp for a handheld. The zombies look almost as gross as they did in the in Re2 for PSX, and Leon looks like Leon. The backrounds could have used a little work, but still, not too shabby.

SOUND/MUSIC 3/10
There is no music in the game, and good music is a must for any RE game. The sound is used sparingly, but the zombie moans and shufflings are pretty cool. The gunshots are alright, but they just don't sound right. Leon's footsteps sometimes get annoying, and his death scream sounds more like a fish gurgling then a cry of pain, and makes ME want to cry in pain.

CONTROLS 2/10
I have heard of games with worse controls then these, but by god, I haven't seen them! It's very hard to move, and when you are walking/running you have to stop to change direction. You can only run horizontally, not vertically, and when you're in caution or danger, you can't run at ALL!
Leon also seems to hop from place to place, and avoiding zombies is nearly impossible.

STORYLINE 2/10
You are Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie cop who arrives in Racoon City, eager to start his new job. But when he gets there, he realizes that all the townspeople have turned into flesh eating zombies. Your mission is to find out what happened, but, surpisingly, you never do. You can get a clue as to what occured by reading the twelve different files that you start the game with, but the famous Resident Evil 2 storyline ain't in this game, people!

REPLAY VALUE 3/10
Since the game.com saves your best time, you may want to play a couple of times to get a higher score. There are no secrets, and the game is so frustrating that, after you've played a few times, you may never play it again.

Overall 4/10
If you love Resident Evil then this might be worth it to buy(especially if you see it on sale), but otherwise, save your money for RE1 on gameboy color.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 02/15/00, Updated 02/15/00