Resident Evil 2 for Dreamcast proves that reruns aren't just for TV
Written: Aug 01 '01 (Updated Aug 04 '01)
Product Rating:
Pros: Gameplay, story, graphics are all good... if you haven't played the PS version
Cons: See review
The Bottom Line: If you haven't played the PS version, this is a worthy purchase, especially for 20 bucks. Expect zombies, weapons, and puzzles galore from this game.
gerper's Full Review: Resident Evil 2 for Dreamcast
Being a big fan of survival horror games, once Resident Evil 2 was ported to the Dreamcast, I was pretty excited about it and immediately bought it, as I really enjoyed the same title on the Playstation. I had heard that the graphics were amazing and gameplay was strong as was the fun factor. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed when I found that the game was exactly that of the Playstation version. And don’t even get me started about the graphics, as they were not much better than that of the Playstation version.
Still, while I did play the game, and did enjoy going through Raccoon City, killing zombies and solving puzzles, I must confess that I felt that my purchase was a bit wasted. Sure, the game was feature priced at $19.99 (as most games that are ported from the Playstation to the Dreamcast), but since I had already played the Playstation version, there really wasn’t much new here. In fact, I used the same hint book that was made Playstation for this Dreamcast game.
Gameplay - It’s the same old same old, just a different console. You play the role of STARS members Jill Valentine or Leon Kennedy, who are smack dab in the middle of Raccoon City, where zombies are running amuck. Adding to the chaos is the fact that the Umbrella corporation has sent members in to “help” the situation, which later turns into a big mess for our heroes.
As either character, you go through Raccoon City, solving puzzles, interacting with members of the STARS force, dodging zombies or shooting them, if you so desire. The pace of the game is fairly constant, as there is always some sort of task to perform or puzzle to solve to get to the next part of the game.
Graphics - As I mentioned, I was a bit disappointed with the graphics of the game, especially after playing Resident Evil: Code Veronica (which, I should mentioned was made specifically for the Dreamcast, whereas this was not). However, graphics had been improved from the Playstation version, with pre-rendered backgrounds being clearer as well as the character features and overall detail being improved.
Sound - Like the gameplay, the sound is basically the same in this game also. The “quiet soothing music” in the save rooms is still there, and the music picks when there is some sort of a chase or an encounter with zombies. The sound really works well in the game, and definitely fits whatever area you are in.
Control - Nothing new here, if you played previous Resident Evil games, you will have no problems, as the control pattern is the same as previous games. However, those new to the game may experience some frustration with the “backwards” controls, and should expect this feeling to last for about an hour.
Replay value - There are two levels, with “easy” supplying tons of ammo, guns, and items. Of course, “hard” will be give you a gun and you are then on your own to find weapons, ammo throughout the game. Still, either level definitely offers challenging puzzles and adventure for any Resident Evil fan. Expect to spend many hours on this, as there are numerous puzzles to solve and many things to find as you make your way around Raccoon City.
Overall thoughts - I am really divided as to what rating to give this game. Basically, if you haven’t played the Playstation version and enjoy survival horror games, I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy this game. However, if you have already played the Playstation game, this is really the same old same old, just on a new system.
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