Gaz Whyte @RE2Master
Reviews
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PlayStation)
Something of a disappointment, but nevertheless addictive
The Good
RE3 continues to create the same atmos-fear generated by its predecessors. The first time you play the game, you will feel totally on edge by the time you get to the Train. Zombies burst in from windows and out of abandoned cars. Crows smash through crashed bus windows. Many-armed creatures that I never bothered to learn the names of drop from the ceiling and race to embrace you in their death grip. RE3 also sees the return of the Hunters of the first game, leaping great lengths to swipe your head off. The variety of mutated creatures gives a challenge to even the experienced Resi player.
The arsenal has also been up-dated - as have the methods for upgrading weapons. Instead of merely being given add-ons for your weapons, you now have to assemble them from parts dropped by the Nemesis everytime you defeat him. Prizes include two parts for the Desert Eagle handgun, two parts for the M37 shotgun, and infinite ammo (extremely handy). The arsenal now includes your near-useless knife, a Berata pistol, an M35 shotgun, a grenade launcher with four different kinds of ammo (Grenade, Acid, Flame, Freeze), a Magnum, and a fully automatic machine gun. Towards the end stages of the game, it is also possible to add a rocket launcher to your inventory. Also, instead of being handed over infinite weapons upon completion of the game, the lifespan is increased somewhat by the unlockable sub-game, in which you may play as any of the three mercenaries and must get from the Train to the warehouse saveroom, saving as many civilians as possible and killing all varieties of monster in order to earn extra seconds to complete the subgame. Cash is earned each time you play, and the prizes can be used the next time you play by the main game: Infinite Machine Gun, Gattling Gun, or Rocket Launcher, or Infinite ammo.
Another plus point of RE3 is the ability to create ammo using the Reloading Tool and various gunpowders. This is an extension of the mixing system used in Dino Crisis, and adds another dimension to the game.
Finally, there are more high-resolution FMVs in RE3, adding a cinematic characteristic that makes the game more beautiful. In my opinion anyway.
The Bad
Now for the bad. Although the atmosphere is still fantastic, essentially there is nothing new in this game. The storyline differs little from the previous titles, and the epynonomous character, the Nemesis, is little more than a rehash of the Tyrant-103 of RE2.
Where the game differs is also its downfall. RE3 uses "Live Selection", wherein you must make a decision in a set amount of time, or something worse than either option will happen to you. There are several of these, and whilst replaying the game, you may be disappointed to discover that choosing different options does not change the gameplay much.
Finally, the difficulty settings are irritating. Choose from Hard or Easy - seems fair enough, doesn't it? Only, in the Easy version, you are given infinite ink ribbon, a fully-loaded machine gun with two extra cartridges, 250 bullets for the Bereta, the Shotgun + 56 shells, the Magnum with 18 bullets, and a full pack-of-three First Aid Sprays. Forgive me for being an action junkie, but where the hell did the action and fun go?! On the other hand, the Hard difficulty is devilishly difficult, and I felt that this didn't allow someone playing it for the first time to have a decent overview of the game.
The Bottom Line
Die-hard Resi fans WILL be disappointed, but if you are new to the series, it may be the best game to start on.
By Gaz Whyte on March 10, 2004