Few titles have the honor of saying that they were the "first" to invoke a particular emotion from a gamer. Some, such as Atari's Asteroids, got my adrenaline flowing. Others like Duck Hunt and its snickering dog made me angry, and Castle of Illusion was one of the first games that made me smile with absolute wonder. But the first game to leave me scared $#!%less? Without question, that honor is reserved by many a gamer for none other than Capcom's Resident Evil. I can still remember the first time the dogs broke through the window. The first time I saw that fabled cut scene where the blood-hungry zombie gave me that "come hither" stare. The first time I ran off the balcony away from the crows that I could almost feel nipping at my eyes just as they had my ex-partners. Creepy. It was this mix of mortality and digitally-induced reality that has helped Chris and Co. carve out a permanent place in the hearts and worst nightmares of millions of video game enthusiasts.
The series has certainly come into its own on the PlayStation, and when I first heard that it was on its way to Dreamcast, and that Sega would be handling the technical side of things, part of me was tempted to convince the world that Resident Evil was a series best kept pure to its Sony roots. But much like the idea that Rayman just "wouldn't be the same on the Nintendo 64, much less in 3-D," fate has a funny way of clocking me upside the head.
I kinda felt like a geek who got a swift slap from a beautiful woman due to a bit too much ambition after reading the latest issue of Accelerator. It may have stung my pride a little bit...but eventually, I sat down, stared from across the room, and amidst a slew of dorky little giggles, muttered almost to myself: "She touched me. Awesome."
Yes, my friends, Veronica is that type of game, and if you're that type of survival whore-er, then you're in for that type of experience all over again. But thanks to the power of Dreamcast, this go round is not only a whole hell of a lot more beautiful, but it almost seems a lot more spooky. Imagine that, eh?
I'm sure at first, you'd think that those were just the words of system biased fool, but hear me out. I intend to put into words why this is the best entry into one of the last decade's brightest gaming stars, and if I succeed, you'll at least get a glimpse into why Resident Evil - CODE: Veronica is the type of title every gamer needs to experience.
For those of you who are new to the series, Resident Evil single-handedly re-defined a genre introduced by titles like Alone in the Dark. A genre that, while a bit on the limited side, has made a name for itself via the ability to put its players smack in the middle of a cheesy horror film. With its unsettling imagery and excellent use of timed events, the PlayStation version made my skin crawl. But the Dreamcast's first original effort? Well, this game benefits from some of the most amazing visuals ever seen in a game, rivaling and in many senses surpassing even the great Shenmue. Remember how spooky the original mansion was? Imagine how creepy it is as you walk through to countless creaks and groans, holding a lighter which brilliantly casts colored light on the house's eccentric trappings, not to mention the host of bats it keeps at bay. I was admittedly scared out of my wits at the shock of many of the original's occurrences, but man, much like the difference between someone saying "boo" and a big, flesh-flapping zombie in the middle of a house that's actually haunted trying to eat you...there's a bit of a contrast. The game's outstanding visuals combine with the series' trademark music and audio to create a scene so lively, so frightening, that getting sucked into this nightmare is easier than ever before.
Thankfully, the story is much longer and deeper this go 'round, with a cast of villains and vermin that are sure to add to the game's almost unstoppable attractive prowess, especially in the case of Claire's half of the game, where the story sees a bit more exposure. You'll really get a chance to play the part, and I won't risk ruining anything for you, but let's just say that there are enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Chris' tale is a bit less structured, and as is the case with any tale of closure, the initial scare and shock brought about by your first looks at some areas isn't quite as strong, but there is more than enough to keep you interested...especially with the battle game looming on the horizon.
The thing is, this game is hardly a chore at its worst moments, and at its best ... oh my. In fact, about the only thing I would even bother to harp on with Code Veronica is a problem that has plagued the game since it's birth: the control. They say you either love it or you hate when it comes to the Resident Evil series, but personally, I think that's a load. In my mind, either you love the game enough to put up with its clunky interface, or you don't. The fact is, the control is pointlessly over done, and simplifying it would do this game a world of good in terms of dragging you in to the adventure. As it stands now, I often found myself so busy trying to accommodate the control that I have to think about it, which is kind of defeating the purpose of a game in that I don't want to know I'm playing. I just kept thinking: "but if only I could point in a direction and just go there!" It would make the experience of the game so much more prominent, which in my mind, could not be a bad thing. It's not that I hate the control, but in my mind, it could be improved upon, and I hope Capcom has the courage to move on if they can make it work, as opposed to being content with this, because it isn't exactly the zombie's moan, if ya' know what I mean.
But enough harping. The fact is, the more I got pulled in to the game's amazing theatrics, the less I cared. The things that have always sucked about Resident Evil still bite the big one in Code Veronica. In addition to the wonky control, the item box is still evil. And yes, you still can only hold the load of a 5 year-old with one hand tied behind their back. But by the same token, everything, from the cameras to the incredible level of facial detail in some of the cinemas sets new standards for the genre, and this is easily the most impressive entry into the Resident Evil series to date.
-- Brandon Justice, IGNDC