Relive the horror, again that is.
By Ben Salter
If you have never played the original Resident Evil stop what you’re doing and grab a copy on one of the many platforms right now, we’ll wait. Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil is a remake of the GameCube Resident Evil which in turn was a remake of the PS1 original, that has also been ported to the N64, Sega Saturn, PC and Nintendo DS. It’s fair to say this game gets around. The problem Capcom are going to run into sooner or later is that fact the veteran Resident Evil fans will have already played through the original game a number of times. With yet another re-release is there really any reason to play through it all again?
Quite frankly no. Nintendo have been more than successful with their re-released GameCube classics as part of the New Play Control range. New controls, along with widescreen and surround sound support made them worthwhile purchases for newcomers and loyal fans for half the price of a new Wii game. Capcom followed suit (or started the trend to be more exact) with their Wii release of Resident Evil 4. The Wii version was everything it was on the GameCube and then some thanks to some of the best controls seen on the system when the game launched in 2007. Unfortunately they have not followed their own lead with the re-release of Resident Evil. It is almost an exact port of the game we saw on the GameCube in 2002. While that’s by no means a bad thing it stinks of a quick cash-in on an old favourite. There is no support for widescreen; the Wii controls are no different to those on the GameCube and we’re stuck with stereo sound. If you already own the GameCube release there is absolutely no point in reinvesting in the Wii release.
The infamous cutscene began it all back in 1996, featuring a cast of B-grade actors (maybe we’re being a little nice to them there) that set the tone for what is about to become one of the scariest games ever. That cinematic is back, but in its graphic form, to explain the whole situation. Arriving by chopper you, playing as either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, land to find the remains of STARS Bravo team before being attacked by a pack of undead dogs. After a quick escape you find yourself trapped inside a giant mansion, full of flesh-eating zombies. Each character has a slight different story and path to take, as well as different perks. Chris is stronger and can take more damage, but can only hold six items. Jill is weaker but can hold up to eight items and has a slightly easier route. Either way, if you love it the first time through you’ll feel compelled to do it all again as the opposite character.
Resident Evil is a rare title that is both hard and genuinely scary. No matter how ‘manly’ you are this is one game you do not want to be playing late at night alone when a storm is a’brewin’. Unlike Resident Evil 5 (or even RE4) it is a true survival-horror title, and the one that is remembered as bringing the genre to fame. Your character has very limited, underpowered, weapons and health is a luxury. The game also has a strong focus on puzzle solving, something that seems to have gone out of fashion this generation (besides maybe Metroid & Mario). You’ll find yourself searching every last inch of the narrow rooms and hallways looking for clues and important objects. In a way it’s almost like the PC classic Myst. It’s tempting to pull out the real life notepad to jot down important findings and locations. The more you play the more you start finding yourself wanting to explore everything that the mansion has to offer.
Unfortunately the Wii controls are almost non existent. Motion and the IR pointer are not used at all, so you may as well pull out the GameCube controller (or version of the game completely). You can play with the Nunchuck + Wii Remote, Wii Remote on its side, GCN Controller or Classic Controller. Besides being able to play with the GCN control scheme mapped to any of the face buttons on these controllers it is exactly the same as the GCN remake we saw 7 years ago. Furthermore, the ‘tank’ controls from the 1996 version are still here. On one hand they add to the atmosphere and make it a scary game to play. On the other they are extremely outdated and have one of the biggest learning curves you’ll face in any game. For those unfamiliar, when pressing left or right on the control stick the character will stop and slowly turn (like a tank) often being attacked in the process. While they were important in making the game so scary after 13 years and countless remakes it is time for Capcom to improve the way the game is played.
The camera angles are, once again, part of what makes Resident Evil so scary, but they do so at the expense of control and fluent gameplay. The game uses fixed cameras from a range of different angles, almost as if you are watching the events through a group of security cameras. It adds to the sense of fright and makes walking down an empty corridor a dramatic experience. Unfortunately these are a key factor in making the controls extremely difficult to learn. As you are walking along the camera suddenly changes to a completely different view that disorientates your movement and often leads to your untimely death if it happens mid-battle. For example, one moment you’re pressing forwards running down stars and watching from behind, and the next the camera is at the bottom watching your character from that front, who is now running backwards or into a wall. Sometimes you can’t even see the enemy you know is there due to a bad camera angle. Once again this adds to the suspense and with time you’ll get used to this, but it is a huge learning curve.
If you jumped on-board during the Resident Evil 4 era you’ll be in for a massive shock when you boot up the original titles (or any before RE4). Think again if you thought RE4 was scary. Think again if you thought Resident Evil 5 had slow controls. One of the biggest changes, that really feels like a downgrade going back to, is the save system. In order to save you must find an ink ribbon and then a typewriter to use it with. Both of these are relatively rare and the former uses up a precious spot in your inventory. There’s nothing worse than finally finding a typewriter only to discover you have no ink making it completely useless. There are long stretches of gameplay before you’ll have another opportunity to save again. There’s very limited ammo, health is a special treat and there’s plenty of enemies that die, only to rise again even stronger. If you’re used to modern run and gun games with heaps of health to spare, checkpoints and the ability to save whenever you want Resident Evil Archives will really test you.
Visually it looked fantastic on the GameCube, and holds up well today. The Resident Evil series is known for its stunning visuals and this has stood the (7 year) test of time relatively well. In saying that playing with massive black bars on the side of the screen due to nothing more than 4:3 support is disappointing to say the least. I realise the game was made using 2D rendered backgrounds, and that would have made changing the ratio extremely difficult. But in 2009 any port that does not offer widescreen support comes across as lazy.
Resident Evil would have been nowhere near as scary if it wasn’t for its freaky soundtrack. The background music is loud and exactly what you would expect from a zombie infested mansion. It sounds better than ever and is truly one of the best horror soundtracks you will ever hear in a game. The voice acting isn’t too bad either. It is a lot better than the original cast used in the PS1 version, but the script still comes off as a little cheesy from time to time.
The Final Verdict
Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil is a hard title to write a score next to. It is the king of survival-horror and has some of the best puzzles ever made. If I were rating the gameplay of the original GCN remake alone it would easily score around the 9/10 mark. However, taking the fact that it is a remake (of a remake) into a consideration one can’t help but feel a little disappointed that Capcom didn’t enhance it at all like they did with Resident Evil 4. There are no Wii Controls and no widescreen. These are the only reasons someone who owns the game would bother with it again. If you own the GCN remake, or even the PS1 original, don’t bother buying it again. If never did and are set up to play GameCube games have a look for a cheaper GCN copy. If not for $50 if you’re up for a hard game, with a huge learning curve, that is genuinely scary it is worth a look.
Gameplay
8.5/10
One of the best survival-horror games ever, and one of few that is genuinely scary. The puzzles are great but the ‘tank’ controls are starting to feel dated now. They add to the fright, but they are a chore to master. 13 years on it’s time to try and improve them. Lack of any Wii controls is very disappointing.
Graphics
6.5/10
The pre-rendered environments looks great, and better than the cinematics in some areas. Unfortunately it loses big points for being presented in 4:3, who in this day and age isn’t gaming in widescreen?
Sound
9.0/10
Classic. Without the soundtrack Resident Evil wouldn’t have been anywhere near as scary.
Value
7.0/10
Hardcore fans will want to play through with both Jill and Chris. It takes about 8-10 hours to complete for each character, but much more on harder difficulties.
Overall
7.0/10