Post by JPController on Mar 28, 2004 15:11:56 GMT -5
Resident Evil Outbreak
The walking dead has gone online, but is it enough to revitalize the series?
March 26, 2004 - While purists love to cite I*Motion's classic Alone in the Dark series as the father of the survival horror category, it was Capcom's Resident Evil franchise that truly pushed the genre forward. Combining a stylized mix of spooky camera perspectives and a slew of horrid-looking things that go bump in the night, Biohazard (as it's known in Japan) has set new standards in the in the realm of digital terror -- even if its control scheme and lack of progression between sequels has irked some of its more casual fans.
But change is definitely on the horizon as the GameCube's Resident Evil 4 exclusive is assuredly turning some heads. Boasting an abundance of new features, visual upgrades, and most importantly -- better gameplay mechanics, the vastly different sequel from Studio 4 is as evolutionary as it is anticipated. Luckily this kind of change isn't assigned solely to Nintendo's platform either, as Capcom's other premier production house known as Studio 1 (Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry 2) has been hard at work creating a PS2 project of its own. And while Studio 1 has had the foresight to attach several different types of character classes, provide an open-ended approach to solving puzzles, and include a massive amount of hidden unlockables, it's the incredibly popular online component that truly makes Resident Evil Outbreak so appealing.
Of course, the real question from Biohazard diehards is whether or not this jump to the world of online connectivity is enough to propel Resident Evil Outbreak to the same level of respect enjoyed by the original and its sequel. Quite frankly, the answer to that question is no -- but that doesn't mean that the game doesn't have its merits.
Story
Unlike any of the Biohazards before it and due to the fact that it's designed for online play, Resident Evil Outbreak doesn't offer a formal storyline of any kind. Better described as a melange of different perspectives, the plot this time around is all about the T-Virus and how it spread through Raccoon City in the first place. Instead of affixing itself to the point of view of only one or two super-powered characters like Jill or Leon in games past, however, Resident Evil Outbreak unfolds through the eyes of the everyday citizen; or rather, eight different citizens from various walks of life.
The types of characters at your disposal are pretty broad in terms of their backgrounds too, with police officer and Tom Cruise look-alike Kevin Ryman joining fellow tough guy and security guard Mark Wilkins as the game's muscle. Doctor George Hamilton and waitress Cindy Lennox do their duties as the paternal caring sort, while plumber David King and journalist Alyssa Ashcroft chime in with their strong wills and fierce determination. Finally we come to the cowardly subway driver Jim Chapman and the overly intelligent university student Yoko Suzuki. Combined, that's quite an eclectic group of personalities.
Unfortunately it's Outbreak's distinct lack of plot that serves as one of its biggest overall detractors; because as an adventure game, it's the storyline and character development that should be one of its most important priorities. And while players do receive specialized introductions, endings, and interim cut scenes based on the characters they select, they'll rarely do anything more than pace the action. Real background information or compelling scenes of dialogue are about as rare as the Magnum rounds are in the original Resident Evil. Luckily a small handful of these cut scenes are pretty impressive and fun to watch, but the flow events is so slip-shod and devoid of direction that it can creates quite an air of disappointment.
Source-IGn
The walking dead has gone online, but is it enough to revitalize the series?
March 26, 2004 - While purists love to cite I*Motion's classic Alone in the Dark series as the father of the survival horror category, it was Capcom's Resident Evil franchise that truly pushed the genre forward. Combining a stylized mix of spooky camera perspectives and a slew of horrid-looking things that go bump in the night, Biohazard (as it's known in Japan) has set new standards in the in the realm of digital terror -- even if its control scheme and lack of progression between sequels has irked some of its more casual fans.
But change is definitely on the horizon as the GameCube's Resident Evil 4 exclusive is assuredly turning some heads. Boasting an abundance of new features, visual upgrades, and most importantly -- better gameplay mechanics, the vastly different sequel from Studio 4 is as evolutionary as it is anticipated. Luckily this kind of change isn't assigned solely to Nintendo's platform either, as Capcom's other premier production house known as Studio 1 (Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry 2) has been hard at work creating a PS2 project of its own. And while Studio 1 has had the foresight to attach several different types of character classes, provide an open-ended approach to solving puzzles, and include a massive amount of hidden unlockables, it's the incredibly popular online component that truly makes Resident Evil Outbreak so appealing.
Of course, the real question from Biohazard diehards is whether or not this jump to the world of online connectivity is enough to propel Resident Evil Outbreak to the same level of respect enjoyed by the original and its sequel. Quite frankly, the answer to that question is no -- but that doesn't mean that the game doesn't have its merits.
Story
Unlike any of the Biohazards before it and due to the fact that it's designed for online play, Resident Evil Outbreak doesn't offer a formal storyline of any kind. Better described as a melange of different perspectives, the plot this time around is all about the T-Virus and how it spread through Raccoon City in the first place. Instead of affixing itself to the point of view of only one or two super-powered characters like Jill or Leon in games past, however, Resident Evil Outbreak unfolds through the eyes of the everyday citizen; or rather, eight different citizens from various walks of life.
The types of characters at your disposal are pretty broad in terms of their backgrounds too, with police officer and Tom Cruise look-alike Kevin Ryman joining fellow tough guy and security guard Mark Wilkins as the game's muscle. Doctor George Hamilton and waitress Cindy Lennox do their duties as the paternal caring sort, while plumber David King and journalist Alyssa Ashcroft chime in with their strong wills and fierce determination. Finally we come to the cowardly subway driver Jim Chapman and the overly intelligent university student Yoko Suzuki. Combined, that's quite an eclectic group of personalities.
Unfortunately it's Outbreak's distinct lack of plot that serves as one of its biggest overall detractors; because as an adventure game, it's the storyline and character development that should be one of its most important priorities. And while players do receive specialized introductions, endings, and interim cut scenes based on the characters they select, they'll rarely do anything more than pace the action. Real background information or compelling scenes of dialogue are about as rare as the Magnum rounds are in the original Resident Evil. Luckily a small handful of these cut scenes are pretty impressive and fun to watch, but the flow events is so slip-shod and devoid of direction that it can creates quite an air of disappointment.
Source-IGn
