16-Nov-2003 The original Dino Crisis put a new spin on an old genre, throwing a load of prehistoric predators into the survival horror mix. The result? A scary reptilian gore-fest that was enjoyable to play. Now the third instalment's here and it features a new and, er, interesting twist: dinosaurs... in space!
You might think this sounds stupider than dipping yourself in barbeque sauce and going for a stroll in a T-Rex pen. But the cutscenes are so spectacular, and the environments so well designed, that you'll soon be ready to forgive the dodgy plot and set about exploring the abandoned hulk of star ship Ozymandius.
Camera Trouble Unfortunately, you might not want to explore for very long, thanks to an in-game camera that's about as much good as a wax umbrella in a meteorite shower. One moment your character is zooming merrily towards a door, the next he's heading straight towards the screen, the controls reversed causing you to lose all sense of direction. While you're just walking around, this is mildly annoying. When you're faced with six cold-blooded carnivores who haven't had any tea, it makes you want to throw your joypad to the raptors.
It's a real shame, since all the gameplay elements that made the first games so popular are here, along with some cool new add-ons (see Join The Jet Set boxout). Sadly, the dodgy camera makes for frustrating gaming and ruins any survival horror-style atmosphere DC3 might have had. As far as walking with dinosaurs goes, you'd have more fun on a country ramble with Status Quo.
Worth taking a look at, especially if you're a fan of the earlier games. You might want to rent a copy first, though, just to make sure you can put up with the camera from Hell.
One of DC3's saving graces is the jet propulsion pack you get to use. In some areas it's essential for navigating zero-G environments, but most of the time you'll find it handy for zipping about the place like some kind of deadly, futuristic man-moth.
Out of the frying pan, into the… and there’s no time to take off again. Ouch!
Uh-oh. You don’t seem to be able to see where you’re landing. Could be trouble…
Jump clear of enemies and hover your way to safety. That’s more like it…
You can use the jet pack to put on a quick burst of speed. Hey, this thing’s got lift!
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