I was going to create a new topic, but my friend just informed me that you need to keep this to one topic per game.
So I guess I'll just add my review into here as well.
Zero Plague's Review: Resident Evil (GCN)
Well, this game certainly gets rid of the Nintendo Gamecubes so called, 'Kiddy Label'.
Resident Evil, being one of the scariest games in History has certainly got what most hardcore gamers look for.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Resident Evil is just outstanding.
Its plot/storyline makes you want to get into the game itself and find out all the clues of this rather violent and disturbing event for Raccoon City Residents.
You play as S.T.A.R.S (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad) two Alpha Members: Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine.
There have been recent cannibal attacks in the outskirts of Raccoon Cities forest... The Arclay Forest.
Numerous resident have been mysteriously... eaten.
But that is not the only problems on your mind.
S.T.A.R.S Bravo Team has crash landed in the forest, and Chief Brian Irons of the R.P.D (Raccoon Police Department) sends out Alpha Team to recover the Bravo's.
But hell breaks loose when your team is ambushed by killer dogs, and you are pushed into the mansion... only to find Bravo Team and discover why every human and animal in the mansion is a decaying rotting corpse... not to mention that they are walking around!
This is where you choose your character... which effects your future actions, cut-scenes, endings and layouts of the mansion.
Both characeters have advantages as well as disadvantages.
Chris Redfield is known for his strong build and stamina, as well as his ability to shove grenades in a zombies mouth! Now thats what I call effective.
Fast running, lock-picking, health, puzzles and more is what effects your future game depending on who you choose.
The game is mostly based around puzzles, opening doors and exploring the mansion... only waiting to be ambushed by a herd of flesh-eating killing machines known as B.O.W's (Bio-Organic Weapons).
Repition of this game happens over and over again... being chased by a zombie or evil mutant... but this is the repition that we like to see in a survival horror game.
Another outstanding feature in Gameplay... is the amount of paths and endings you can take.
Over 15 paths and over 5 endings... you will be impressed with what Capcom has done to this loving remake.
GAMEPLAY: 9/10
Graphics
Where can you start on the graphics for this game?
It delivers some of the best textures and polygon counts that gamers have ever seen. The FMV introduction cut-scene to Resident Evil looks as if it was recorded on camera and played out onto screen.
The Interior and Exterior sections of the mansion potray some of the finest detailed surroundings I have ever seen.
From swaying plants and blowing strains of hair... you wont be dissapointed with the graphics that Capcom show off in Resident Evil. But along the line there always has to be a catch... and Resident Evil's catch is the frame rate during an in-game cutscene.
At times, I thought my disc was scratched... but it is then I realised that a few cut-scenes have the poor frame rate.
Nevertheless, Resident Evil potrays some of the best graphics in gaming history.
GRAPHICS: 9.5/10
Controllability
Controlling your character in Resident Evil will most likely give first-time players a hard time.
There is continuos repetion of your character going of control and running into walls with the sensative joystick actions.
Camera Angles also have an action on this, as for sometimes you dont know if your running on an angle or straight.
Auto-Aim works rather well must I say when you are trying to escape from an enemy.
Overall, controlling Resident Evil may give players a fit.
CONTROLLABILITY: 7/10
Music / Sound Effects
Another great factor in Resident Evil is its creepy and eerie music that is played the whole way through the mansion.
Depending on what situation you are in, the music will change immidiately to its surroundings.
The Sound Effects are just perfect in Resident Evil, and depending on what surface you are on, taking each step will create a different noise. From echoing marble rooms to soft footsteps on carpet.
Sudden sounds in this game is usually what would make you jump out of your pants.
Being in a room may be silent... until you hear a groan or slurp from an unseen enemy.
This is what changes your thought on... 'This game isn't to scary'. Once you hear that groan, or that moan... you know something is lurking around the unseen corner... and you know it is coming for you!
But once again, there always has to be a catch. The catch in the Sound Effects is that no matter how close or how far an enemy is... its footsteps will always be the same tone which eliminates the fun of you knowing it is behind you.
SOUND EFFECTS / MUSIC: 9/10
Lighting
Once again, we have another great feature in Resident Evil.
The small detail of a flickering candle or crackling fireplace is what makes this game even scarier. It is as if Capcom thought they were making a movie... placing light effects in areas that make you freak out.
They succeed in the fact that your character is sometimes in the light... but the enemy is out watching you... in the darkness.
The Shadows is also what makes Capcom a whole lot greater of knowing how to scare the crap out of somebody.
Just seeing a shadow passing by on the wall... but not seeing the person making it is a great feature of a survival horror game.
One of the many things that fascinates me in Resident Evil, is the Lightning. It lights up the room for milliseconds, making a monochromatic mansion of complete whitness as soon as the lightning strikes.
LIGHTING: 9/10
Lastability
The Lastability of Resident Evil depends on what kind of player you are.
If you are one of them players that want to find out the twists and turns of the story and uncover all the diaries to fidn out what really happened, then you will need to play through this game at least once in both Characters Stories.
Completing BOTH characters stories and wanting to find everything will usually take you 24 hours the first time...
BUT if you want to unlock absolutely everything and complete EVERY mode, we are looking up to over 50 hours of playing here.
As stupid as it may seem, by collecting almost nothing... you can rush through this game in less then 3 hours.
LASTABILITY: 8.5/10
OVERALL:
This game delivers its sound, graphics, characters, twisting story of infection, betrayal and romance.... and is a MUST-GET for all hardcore horror gamers that want to make their pants turn brown by the time you complete this game.
9.4/10