I know the HD remake for the GameCube did kind of blow this out of the water, but I do like the original version better because I have a fond nostalgia for it, I love those low-res graphics, the way your character handles like a three-wheeled shopping trolley, even all of that legendary cheesy dialogue, everything just gives it a great vibe that's fun and scary as hell at the same time and I still feel the same way to this day! I remember how this was one of those early titles of the Playstation that really championed it, and even though there were pseudo-survival horror games before it like Clocktower, it was definitely Resident Evil that truly ignited the genre. The live-action stuff is so unbelievably corny and laughable but that thankfully didn't reflect the real value and meat of the game, although of course it is dotted with many priceless snippets of hilariously awkward character interactions that very much make it all feel like you're playing an interactive horror B-movie, and that's a quality that I quite enjoy about this game. Compared to when things changed and it became all about the quick-time events and high octane action, I much prefer this comparatively simple approach, where you're just trapped in a good old-fashioned giant spooky mansion that you have to backtrack through and solve its many puzzles as zombies and nightmarish monsters await behind every turn and every new door unlocked... It was such an intimidating and for me as a young first time player, such a frightening game to even try to play, and it certainly wasn't one that held your hand at all, there wasn't any indication of what to do or where to go next, you just had to do a lot of exploring and gradually learn your way through trial and error, as well as learn how to conserve your precious ammo, your saves and your painfully limited inventory slots! I was captivated by the labyrinth of increasingly creepy cramped hallways and rooms, and the awesome music was so genuinely chilling. It was the rich atmospherics and magnetic dinghy visuals that made you want to explore the dark depths of that mansion and uncover its secrets. Something feels distinctly up with the place even before you encounter the first zombie, which is such an iconic gaming moment that truly sets the tone and is damn horrific, in which your character sees a grey figure feasting on the corpse of one of your fallen comrades, and the creature slowly turns to reveal a lifeless stare, decayed skin and bloodstained lips. So in closing I'd say that this is a game that is often an adventure of hilarious cheese as much as it is one of suspense and terror and is still overall a great gem of the 32 but gaming era. A solid 8 Jill sandwiches out of 10! X
Review of Resident Evil
