Resident Evil

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!