Obviously, gamers that have played the PlayStation version of this game will find little new that warrants purchase of the Dreamcast version. I can't fault them for that reasoning; besides the upgraded visuals and added options, the game is exactly the same. RE3: Nemesis takes place right after the events in the original Resident Evil where you control Jill Valentine. Having immediately resigned from the S.T.A.R.S. team, Jill must escape Racoon City, as more zombies and mutated creatures ransack the city into a nightmarish world of terror that will eventually create the setting for Resident Evil 2. Yes, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is more of a side story that takes place between Resident Evil 1 and 2 (crazy Capcom timelines).
So, escaping from the city filled with zombies seems like a no-brainer, eh? Well, there's one slightly monstrous problem. Throughout the game, you'll be hunted by a giant creature known as Nemesis (hence, the title of the game). Imagine "Mr.X" from Resident Evil 2 or a mutated Pro Bowl linebacker and you've basically got the idea. Not only powerful, the Nemesis is very cunning and has all sorts of nasty attacks up his... er... skin. It is this Nemesis that gives this game a kind of "teen horror" feel a la Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street, so it'll be a definite treat for first time RE3 players to enjoy this Dreamcast version.
As mentioned above, the power of the Dreamcast gives RE3: Nemesis a decent visual facelift. Granted, we're not talking about anything that'll blow your mind away, but the character models are cleaner and the pre-rendered backgrounds look better for the most part. There are certain backgrounds that haven't been improved and sometimes even look a bit worse than the PlayStation version's -- simply because of the higher resolution and sharper graphics. This is especially true with blood and/or fire effects but they don't really affect the overall enjoyment of the game.
For the Dreamcast version, you're given a few extra options. The one that I enjoy most (because I'm shallow like that) is the eight available costumes you can select at the beginning of the game. Among my favorites is the cat suit (woof) and an exact replica of Regina's outfit from Dino Crisis. The other major option is the availability of the mini-game, Mercenary Mode, right off the bat. Select from three mercenaries as you try to reach the extraction point in two minutes. Of course, zombies and other nasties will stand in your way, and thankfully, killing them will give you extra time. And yes, that big balooka of a Nemesis will also make a few appearances.
Despite having played through the PlayStation version, I still thoroughly enjoyed Resident Evil 3: Nemesis on the Dreamcast. The slightly newer look, added options, and all the classic RE gameplay are enough for me to recommend this game to expert RE players -- and those that have never played the PS version should really give this game a shot. Now, the only problem is, what will you have Jill Valentine wear?
--Anthony "The Real Hunk" Chau, IGNDC