My first real taste of "EVIL"

[JFo]

Sunday afternoon I drove out to the local mall to do some shopping. I had no idea what I wanted to get, just that I wanted to get something. I eventually found myself in the gaming aisle at Target and came across a pretty good deal. They had new copies of Resident Evil for the GameCube on clearance for a mere $15. I thought to myself, "Hey, that's a pretty good deal!" and decided to pick up a copy for myself.

 

Now, you all must understand that this is my first real foray in to the world of RE. I never played any game in the series up until today. I mean, I have seen other people play the games, and I may have tried it out for a few minutes, but I never really played the game. You know, never enough to truly get a feel for what it was like. So, this was a whole new experience for me.

 

So, what do I think of this classic title reborn with the power of the GameCube? I think it's pretty damn good, to be honest. One reason I never wanted to get into the series before was because I never liked the control scheme they cooked up for it. It just never felt natural to me. As per the recommendation in IGN's review, I decided to set the controls to Type C, in which you move the character with the R button instead of pushing up on the control stick or crosspad. I found this method of control to work much better and it greatly improved my enjoyment of the game. Granted, I still find myself walking into walls from time to time, but I can be forgiving of that when everything else works so well.

 

Graphically, the game is a marvel. The full polygon characters blend in with the rendered backgrounds perfectly. I also enjoy the stylistic choices in the design of the game. In addition to the dark atmosphere, everything in the game has a rotting, dead look. Colors are muted and usually drab shades of brown and green. In short it looks very cinematic and real. Too bad there's no progressive scan support. Oh well, it looks fine to me with my non-progressive scan settings on my TV.

 

As for the sound, I can only say that they could have done better. The fact that Capcom didn't even bother to encode the game with Dolby Pro-Logic II was a huge mistake. The sound effects and musical cues themselves are done well, but this game doesn't envelope you the way a game like Eternal Darkness does. I would love to hear the moan of a zombie as it approaches me in the surround channels or the crackle of rolling thunder as it pans from the front to the back. Alas, most every noise remains fixed in the front sound stage.

 

Of course, the graphics and sound only exist to service the gameplay, which has sucked me in. I actually find this to be a nice contrast to constant bouts of F-Zero GX I've been playing as of late. This game definitely moves at a slower pace, which gives me a nice break from the constant rush of riding in Captain Falcon's Blue Falcon racer. However, don't let that fool you into thinking that I don't think the game is intense. It most certainly is. However, the thrill of RE completely differs from that of F-Zero (as you can imagine). The thrill of RE comes from the surprises that pop up... out of closet doors, through windows, and through anything else that can fit a zombie or hell hound. Getting through those surprises without dying and losing all your progress is where the thrill of this game comes from. There?s that, and the fact that you never have enough ammo with which to kill the bad guys. The motto for this series should be (and I quote the great Monty Python), "Run away! Run away!"

 

So, anyway, that's all I have to say about my first night playing through a Resident Evil game. I hope you enjoyed it.

 

Oh, and I?m playing as Jill on Easy my first time through, in case you want to know.

[Starhawk]

Glad to see you're enjoying it, J.Fo. I'm almost envious that you get to experience RE for the first time.

 

As per the recommendation in IGN's review, I decided to set the controls to Type C, in which you move the character with the R button instead of pushing up on the control stick or crosspad. I found this method of control to work much better and it greatly improved my enjoyment of the game.

 

If you like this one, you should try some of the others, especially RE 0. But be warned, because of differences in gameplay, this control method that you prefer is not an option.

[Mark E]

Yeah, RE0 is a cool sequel, but I'll guarantee you'll have a tougher time controlling it without the Type-C control. That should have been made standard control in all the RE titles (I believe the re-releases for the Cube do have Type C control now, in fact.).

 

I also envy you getting to play through for your first time, like StarHawk said, that rocks. I can't wait for RE4 to come out and just turn off the lights and not be seen for days .

[Jordan_E]

RE is the main reason I got the 'Cube. I've followed RE through all the platforms, from PS to PS2 to [sob] Dreamcast to 'Cube. I'm dying for RE4 and the promise of something new. While Silent Hill gave me the creeps, RE is THE title for jumps (dogs, anyone?) and simply blowing the unliving snot out of zombies! Hell, I even played RE Dead Aim awhile ago for a new fix!

[Mark E]

RE does jump-scares pretty well, but it's really not that creepy scary. I mean, it doesn't create the whole palpable dread thing for an extended period for me. Not like, say, Eternal Darkness or System Shock 2 did. Both those games freaked me out just walking around. RE does that sometimes, but typically not.

 

I mean, it gets the blood pumping when you're being overwhelmed with no health items and low ammo, but that's adrenaline scares. To put it another way, I consider RE to be the gaming equivalent of say, Scream or Army of Darkness - you might jump once or twice but you're not consistently freaked.

 

ED, System Shock 2, and Silent Hill (so I'm told, haven't played SH yet) are more ominous dread type things that crank the atmosphere up and don't let it up. Clive Barker's Undying is another good example, I still haven't been able to play it past the opening fifteen minutes with the lights off because it unnerves me that much. They're cinematically equivalent, for me at least, to the Blair Witch Project (look, it scares the crap out of me ok ).

[fishepa]

I haven't played any of the RE games yet. Maybe I should look into it.

[Mark E]

I haven't played any of the RE games yet.

 

At all? Ever? :shock:

 

Go go go go!

 

Well, now with RE1 at low, low prices it's definitely worth the time and effort to find a copy. Be sure to pick up Eternal Darkness while you're out there .

[Starhawk]

Well, now with RE1 at low, low prices it's definitely worth the time and effort to find a copy. Be sure to pick up Eternal Darkness while you're out there .

 

I could not agree more. One of the best things I've seen on IGN lately is their program to buy Eternal Darkness for yourself or a friend now that it is only $19. I think it's my favorite game this generation so far.

 

And I can't wait for RE4. That trailer that was released around E3 was awesome. The game looked very scary. I can't wait to play it. Hell, I can't wait for more screens or movies!

[JohnE]

Originally posted by WarEagle@Aug 27 2003, 10:51 AM

I haven't played any of the RE games yet. Maybe I should look into it.

 

I strongly encourage you to go, go go, get a copy too. Your missing a great game.

[Zathras]

I'm in the same boat - never played it but picked it up for $15 at Target about a week ago.

 

 

I am ashamed to say it hasn't been in the cube yet since I'm actively playing several games at the moment. Wanted to win/get bored with another one before I start playing it so I can give it my (somewhat) undivided attention.

[JohnE]

This may sound corny, but I like playing these kind's of games in the fall/winter months. It kind of helps set the atmosphere I think. Living up here in the Pacific Northwest we can usually count on a long, dark, rainy fall/winter and that just puts me in the mood for games like Resident Evil or Silent Hill.

[JFo]

John;

 

That's a cool idea. I never thought of that. I actually have a rule about playing Resident Evil and Eternal Darkness. I would only play the games at night, once the sun had gone down. Playing those games in a dark room adds so much to the experience. You're right though, a cool autumn night with a big storm and lots of lightning would be even better though!

[JFo]

Last night, I finally beat the game on easy as Jill. In all, it took me fifteen-and-a-half hours to beat. Overall, I'd say I liked it as a whole. Some of the game's intensity died out for me towards the end though, since I had so many green herbs, cans medicine spray, and ammo for all of my weapons that I never was in any real danger of dying (though I did bite the dust a few time in the last few playing sessions).

 

I suppose now the next thing for me to do would be to play through the game as Chris. The thing is I'm not quite sure if I want to play it again so soon after I beat it. Does the game change dramatically when you play as a different character? When answering that question, keep in mind that I'm not talking about the cut scenes or storyline here. I want to know if the actual game comes across slightly different as Chris. Like, are the puzzles a little different and are objects and items placed in new locations? I'm not really interested in playing the same game twice just for the sake of seeing a slightly altered story. I want it to be a gameplay experience that's different enough to merit a second pass through the game.

[adamsappel]

I saw this game for $7.48 at Target today, so I picked it up and returned the $11.25 pre-rented game I'd bought at Blockbuster last week (and for which they gave me back $15). Though I haven't played it, since I hate the controls and I'm a big wussie.

[Mark E]

since I had so many green herbs, cans medicine spray, and ammo for all of my weapons that I never was in any real danger of dying

 

Play your next game on normal or hard. RE should almost never be played on easy once you get used to the controls because it turns into a cakewalk. Seriously, you should see how easy RE0 gets once you do that.

 

The puzzles are different as Chris, yes, in some cases. The majority are the same but there are new areas that Chris goes through (ok, one ) that Jill doesn't. The characters you meet and interact with are different, etc, etc. It might be worth putting off for a month or so, but I do recommend going back and giving it a second run through. Put it on normal or hard this time .

 

Though I haven't played it, since I hate the controls and I'm a big wussie.

 

Even Control-C? I have always liked RE despite the controls, but I have to say that I LOVE the Control-C scheme. Utterly unimpressed when they didn't include it in RE0.

[JFo]

Pharmboy;

 

Did they include the type B control scheme in the other Cube RE games? I ask because if they did, I might be more willing to give them a shot since I could probably adapt to this style pretty quickly. Thanks!

[Angel P]

Play your next game on normal or hard. RE should almost never be played on easy once you get used to the controls because it turns into a cakewalk. The puzzles are different as Chris, yes, in some cases.

Isn't playing as Chris on Easy harder than playing as Jill on Normal? What I mean is, Chris is a harder mode out-of-the-gate since he doesn't start off with a gun plus he carries fewer objects.

 

As soon as i finished the game with Jill (Easy), I went and started with Chris and pretty much got my ass handed to me. I promptly went on to Red Faction 2 from there.

[Mark E]

Did they include the type B control scheme in the other Cube RE games?

 

Jeffrey, do you mean the Type C scheme where you hold the R-button to walk? If so, I know that they didn't include that in RE0 (which was not easy to control, lemme just say ) but to the best of my knowledge it IS in RE2 and RE3 on the cube. Keep in mind I have not played those games yet (on the Cube) so I can't verify. Actually, I just checked GameFAQs, RE2 at least has Control-C so there you go .

 

One of the more disappointing aspects of RE0 was its lack of C-control. RE is not the best game ever for control, but the C-control is beauty compared to the old style, which takes a lot of getting used to.

 

Chris is a harder mode out-of-the-gate since he doesn't start off with a gun plus he carries fewer objects.

 

The fewer objects thing is definitely a bit of a problem, but Chris does not go very long without a weapon at the start (I hardly consider the knife a weapon ). In terms of boss strength and zombie strength, however, I believe the two are equivalent. I've had to do a bit more juggling due to the inventory limits, but that was about it.

[JFo]

No, I meant control type B from Resident Evil for GCN. On that one, you push the A button to walk and A and B together to run.

[Mark E]

Oh :oops:

 

Uh, doesn't look like it. Not for RE2 at least, RE0 I am not sure.

 

My bad . I thought Control B in RE1 was just a couple of the buttons changed, not a different movement system (ie you still had to push the stick forward to walk forward)