Gameplay makes for a truly 'Evil' sequel

By Jeff Dickerson

For the Daily

Chances are you've played one of the previous four "Resident Evil" games for the Playstation or Dreamcast. "Resident Evil: Survivor" is the most horrifying of series, not because of the haunting music or eerie zombies, but because of the god-awful game play. Considering the quality of their earlier efforts, Capcom's latest entry into the franchise comes as a staggering disappointment.

With their fifth game, Capcom chose to revamp (why?) their thriving series. The first thing you'll notice is the first person perspective a la "Doom" and "Quake" rather than a third person view as in the earlier games. Along with the new point of view comes awkward control that will have you constantly running into walls.

Unlike most first person shooters, the control in "Survivor" suffers due to the lack of ability to strafe. Another big change made by the folks at Capcom is unlimited ammo. Part of the appeal to the series was the rationing of ammunition in order to proceed through the story. Another new element to the game is the reappearance of zombies after you've eradicated them. When re-entering a room you'll have to mow down the same zombies you waxed just a minute ago.

As for the aesthetics, the graphics are standard Playstation fare. Don't expect any hi-resolution cut scenes as were gloriously displayed in the other games. The backgrounds lack detail and seem to be thrown together while the zombies themselves have little variations.

The audio suffers from similar problems. Voice acting and "Resident Evil" go hand in hand. Whether it's the campy feel of the original game or the realism of the sequels, the sounds were always right on. Such is not the case in the latest installment. The voices are poor, the music is trite, and the sound effects are uninspiring.

"Resident Evil: Survivor" is a perfect example of an awful game that flies off the shelves simply because of the illustrious name attached to it. The half-assed production leaves for a game that will be soon forgotten. The previous Resident Evil games are some of the finest on the market today, it's a shame the trend did not continue. Go pick up one of the original games and pass over this lackluster title.

Courtesy of Capcom