21-Aug-2002 A war against zombies and mutants in all the places you'd least want to meet them. The original survival horror is reborn to begin a new reign of terror A war against zombies and mutants in all the places you'd least want to meet them. The original survival horror is reborn to begin a new reign of terror
You meet a hideously disfigured woman in a narrow tunnel with an uncomfortably low ceiling. It seems she has more than one face. Dressed in rags she's hunched over and moaning. Perhaps you ought to help her in some way? Suddenly she lunges and you notice for the first time how her arms are locked in crude wooden stocks, broken chains clanking. She's using them to try to open your skull. In defence you open fire with the biggest gun you have; gore splatters the walls. It's utterly horrific. It's truly great. This is what Resident Evil is all about: ultimate survival horror.
If you're coming to Resident Evil fresh, you won't know what's hit you. But for those of you that survived the PSone original, Capcom has made sure that this remake is packed with enough surprises and changes that you'll still fill your breeches every step of the way.
This GameCube incarnation hurls you into a nightmare world that looks scarier and feels more atmospheric than that of almost any movie. But Resident Evil's shock factor is borne from the introduction of new terrifyingly unpredictable moments staggered throughout the adventure. These have been built in to scare the pants off both newcomers and fans of the original. And on top of all the scares, there are extra areas to explore, new puzzles to solve and creatures to confront. Step into the unknown.
A new type of fear makes itself known the first time you play a Res Evil game, as any aficionado will tell you. We're all used to the idea now, but when the original first came along it was something you couldn't stop talking about: the bit with the dog, the bit where your team mate 'turns', when you realise It's Wesker... an unforgettable experience. It's different to a movie or a book because you need your own wits to survive alongside Chris and Jill.
Fear in Res Evil is not something you have to think about, it's something you can't avoid feeling. You must be lacking in emotional faculties if the atmosphere doesn't get to you and you aren't genuinely shaken. This is largely because Capcom masterfully has you in suspense every time you sit down to play. You're guaranteed a nervous ride from start to finish with a rare game that has you awake at night, hyper from terror-induced adrenalin.
Perhaps just like you, the CVG team was apprehensive about this remake. Were we prepared to play the same game all over again just to admire prettier graphics? Would we feel obliged to congratulate Capcom on a job well done, but feel kind of cheated? We have to admit that on both accounts we were unprepared for the complete overhaul that resulted in this gripping new adventure. The additional content isn't just bolted on - it's integrated into the whole structure of the game, deeply enriching the story.
The classic Res Evil formula of ghouls versus ammo has yet to find an equal, and you'd be truly foolish indded to miss this opportunity to revisit the place where it all started. It's a tough call, but we'd narrowly place GC Res Evil as the best in the series for chilling terror. Just as Aliens is the great action flick but you always go back to Alien for the fear.
It's not often we'll say this, but GC Res Evil is a game worth buying a console to play.
Michael Cooper
// Overview
Verdict
Capcom's killer reworking of the PSone classic oozes atmosphere out of every bleeding orifice. A revamped masterpiece that's everything the original wanted to be, and so much more. The best reason yet for owning a GameCube.
If you're still telling yourself that this is the same old thing regurgitated yet another time, we ask you to open your eyes. The original Res Evil for PlayStation looks no more than a scruffy cartoon alongside the GC update. Perhaps you saw Attack Of The Clones and thought it looked no better than Bob The Builder too?
Back in those days (1996 to be exact) we worshipped Res Evil for its cool looks, but still had to let our imaginations fill in the blanks - similar to the allowances you make when reading a comic book. But even the most fertile mind could not ignore one crucial fact: the in-game action on PSone didn't look geuinely realistic or that convincing.
Now, though, every scene is filled with captivating detail, and the experience is often overwhelming. In fact, it's such a veritable feast for the eyes, you can almost feel them chewing.
It was always difficult to get grossed out by such blocky visuals
Chris finds some bloody zombie leftovers. This is how it should be done
First time round, the dogs were scary. Now they just look crap
The new character animations and interactions are unbelievable on GC
Not exactly the most menacing and imposing room in the mansion...
...But in the GC version you can smell the fear from the very start
Rooms were never this packed with detail in the original adventure
Medical room: games rarely look as good as this. It'll blow your mind
All the areas in the first Resi game were reasonably light...
...However, here you're regularly thrown into petrifying darkness
// ZOMBIE MEAT
Stepping into the Resident Evil mansion is a bit like diving headfirst into a meat grinder. But no one said that battling against an army of flesh-eating freaks and blood-hungry beasts was going to be a breeze. Bowling into hell are the five core members of Raccoon Police Department's S.T.A.R.S division.
The adventure is split into two main campaigns, which see you choosing between whether to take a tougher challenge in the boots of Chris Redfield, or a slightly less hardcore mission as Jill Valentine. Both story lines intertwine and it's imperative to play as both characters in order to experience different set pieces and to tie the whole story together. The supporting cast consists of burly Barry Burton, the sexy Rebecca Chambers and that shifty bloke in the shadows.
JILL VALENTINE
Fit women shouldn't be subjected to the kinds of horrors that go on in the Resident Evil mansion. But Jill's not scared. Collecting a hefty arsenal of heavy firepower along the way, she's rarely caught short of a weapon with which to unleash chaos
CHRIS REDFIELD
Easily the hardest hombre in the house. Armed with only a blade at the beginning, Chris is a gung-ho hero who knows no fear. And he's so tough that he only feels the need to carry a meagre six items, in contrast to Jill's eight
REBECCA CHAMBERS
You briefly get to take control of Rebecca a few hours into playing the game. And although she only comes into play for a short while, you'll see that her contribution to the overall cause is vital
BARRY BURTON
The beardy-weirdy of the bunch, Barry is a weapons expert who mostly comes into contact with the lovely Ms Valentine on her terrifying travels
Sorry if this is all news to you but you know, you've had six years. Wesker is as helpful to the S.T.A.R.S. team as halitosis is to kissing. If he were to walk in our office we'd shoot him on sight. He bad. If you want to know just how rancid to the core this sonuvabitch truly is, you can check out his sneaky-ass scribble online on the Insider section of Capcom Europe's homepage: www.capcom-europe.com.
// DO NOT FEED
None of the mind-mashed creatures in Resident Evil sit back passively and wait for you to hurt 'em. These suckers are hungry for your blood and they're not at all afraid to come and get it. So it's best to learn effective ways for dealing with pesky attackers.
ZOMBIE: Pump a couple of pistol rounds into the chest, edge back up a bit so you're not within their reach, then blast off a few more
KILLER BEES: Save your ammo. Attack is the best form of defence. Simply run through the area where they are, and don't stop
GIANT SPIDER: When they raise their front legs, get out of the way, because they're either about to spit acid or run at you. Dodge, then fire!
GIANT SNAKE: This slithery momma will try to trap you with its enormous coiling body. Don't let it. Don't stop moving and fire at it whenever you get a moment
NEPTUNE: The sharks in the Aqua Ring are some of the most terrifying and ruthless beasts. There's only one way to survive. Run!
CERBERUS: Whip out the shotgun and blast off a couple of cartridges as it runs towards you. Then aim down and shoot, just as it's about to bite your arm
HUNTER: Hunters are the game's most agile enemies. Only attack when you know they're not about to strike. A Magnum bullet will drop them instantly
SNAKES: They're tough to spot, so keep an ear out for their hissing. When you see snakes, just run like hell - if you stop, you'll get bitten
// GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT
Similar to those wretched fools in Hellraiser movies lured by the Chinese puzzle box, so you become tempted by the treasures of Res Evil. Dare to play through the game more than once and uncommonly cool extras are awarded. You need to play through at least twice to experience the story from both Chris and Jill's perspective (and to prove your worth to CVG, of course). Beyond that, completing the game on the tougher difficulty settings and/or within stricter time limits opens up new costumes and even more challenging scenarios for you to savour.
Chris kitted out with an Eminem-stylee ensemble. Chk, chk, waa!
This pistol's so big, there's hardly enough room to fit it in the picture
G.I. Jill: The wonderful Ms Valentine dresses to kill. Mmm
Jill likes them big, hard and shiny. But this is ridiculous. Greedy cow
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