Resident Evil

aka: Biohazard, RE
Moby ID: 1195

[ All ] [ PlayStation ] [ SEGA Saturn ] [ Windows ]

Critic Reviews add missing review

Average score: 78% (based on 20 ratings)

Player Reviews

Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 62 ratings with 3 reviews)

Beware of mansions in the hills.

The Good
This is a chilling game. There are some definatly scary moments in this game. Remember when the lurker first sneaks up on you? Wow that freaked me out. Why here and not other games? Well this game has got that elusive element of atmosphere.

The plot is you are a member of S.T.A.R.S. an elite rescue team sent to investigate some strange goings on in small remote town. Things go bad and you end up trapped in an apparently empty mansion. As you explore the game you will unravel the mystery of the Umbrella Corp's experiments. While the story is pretty standard zombie movie stuff, it was presented well and was quite intriguing. The mansion is huge and interestingly designed so you will keep playing late at night just so you can find that next key.

I also loved the music and sound effects for the game. While the sounds were not the greatest ever, they worked for the game. I really enjoyed the music. The music in the kitchen made me totally paranoid!

The Bad
The acting is hilariously bad! In a way it enhances it as a computer version of the countless zombie movies that inspired the game.

As mentioned in another review, the second half is weak, previously safe areas now have enemies in them and since the combat is functional but not great, all the fighting is tiresome at that point.

While the game is a nice mix of adventuring gaming with real time combat. The puzzles are not that challenging. Console gamers aren't use to these type of games so they were probably a lot more challenged by it. But any old time computer adventure gamer will find the puzzles fairly obvious.

The Bottom Line
While I love the series, I have to admit that this was orginally done better in the first Alone in the Dark, which is game fans of this should check out.

Windows · by woods01 (129) · 2001

Almost the first, and STILL one of the best...

The Good
Not the first third-person survival horror game -- Alone In The Dark beat it to the screen by a few years -- but certainly the best known, most successful, and most POWERFUL example of the genre. I've been playing this game for the better part of ten years, and it STILL has the power to scare the bejabbers out of me. A textbook example of what a scary entertainment experience (movie, videogame, or otherwise) should incorporate. Also made a point of incorporating multiple endings, based on YOUR actions along the way... a neat way of pumping up that replay value...

The Bad
There's not much NOT to like, if you're a fan of third-person action games and/or survival horror. The graphics are a bit dated by today's standards, and since it's a Playstation port, there are some minor control issues -- it plays best with a gamepad.

The Bottom Line
Third-person action shooter; the archtypical romp through a haunted house. You take the role of Chris or Jill, two members of a police team assigned to investigate a string of murders near an old mansion on the outskirts of town. Once there, things go horribly wrong, trapping you in a bizarre mansion laden with traps, zombies, and hideous horrors from hell. ...all of which is leavened by a PLOT, actually, which leads you deeper and deeper into the situation, trying to learn more as you try to survive and finally escape... and STILL one of the most compelling games I've ever played. Three thumbs up!

Windows · by Dr.Bedlam (55) · 2002

The King of Survival Horror

The Good
In spite of its flaws, Resident Evil remains one of those classic games. This port from the PS1, captures the essence of the original game. First off, Resident Evil is scary. Not so much in the second half, but the first half will have you creeping around corners. Great use of audio means that you faintly hear the shuffling of the undead mixed with their moans.

Resident Evil effectively uses camera angles too, I don't believe I ever found myself trapped. The design of the house and labs was terrific and the puzzles were pretty straight-forward.

Finally, I loved how the story was revealed by finding journal entries and multimedia presentations.

The Bad
1. Voice acting/dialogue. What were they thinking? Acting isn't bad, it's terrible. "Master of unpicking," "Jill sandwich." "Oh Barry."

  1. The Second Half. The second half of the game is boring and repetitous, which is why you never hear anyone talk about it. Zombies, yes; dogs in the hallway, yes; gremlins, no.

    The Bottom Line
    Great survival horror game with B-movie plot and actors. If George Romero and Roger Corman had cybersex, the offspring would be this game. This port seems to be the "Director's Cut." Pixelated blood might not be for the squeamish.

Windows · by Terrence Bosky (5397) · 2001

Contributors to this Entry

Critic reviews added by Scaryfun, Tim Janssen, Zaibatsu, Jeanne, Patrick Bregger, garkham, Utritum, Apogee IV, Wizo, Havoc Crow.