Resident Evil
[Gamecube]

Resident Evil is easily one of my favorite games of all time. Even if I hated the game with a passion, I would still be drug in to it's immersive story. Who isn't captivated by the thought of some kind of secret laboratory or a faction bent on biological world domination? I know I am. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the dream that there is something out there that is so bizarre and insane as the concept of RE.

A lot has changed in the game itself. It still lives and breathes like the original, but my first attempt at playing felt like a whole new experience. The controlling is awkward at times. I had problems running and evading because walls and stair cases got in my way (yeah I know, shut up!). Running and shooting began to feel under control about 2 hours in to it which is when I really got involved in the story. I still wish the option was available to skip the opening door scenes, as well as the riding elevator scenes but hey, at least we're no longer stuck pressing a button to go up stairs which led to an inthralling scene time and time again...

One thing that still hasn't quite settled with me is the addition of new rooms and areas. I like the game being longer and having more exploration, but to me it just felt like a lot more back tracking for a lot less entertainment. I was expecting to go in and know exactly where to go and what to do. I was so horribly wrong though. It's a completely different scenario this time around. Sure, the puzzles are still there, but the pieces come together quite differently than I remember.

The graphics are amazing...what more can I say? Never before have I been so creeped out to enter a room just because a shadow fell a certain way on the wall, or a reflection in a mirror gave me chills.

Simply stunning. The sound is as eerie as it's always been with creatures spewing out awful moans and screams and the always delightful Moonlight Sonata. The voice acting is updated and has been cheesified to perfection.
As far as playing it again goes...It will be played many more times over the forthcoming years. It's a game that will remain in my library. Resident Evil may not be as much of a fright to me as it use to be, (the stains in my underpants are from playing outside) but it sure as hell hasn't lost it's staying power.

Experience 9
Control 7
Graphics 10
Sound 9
Overall 9

---Frayed