Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Truly classic August 5, 2008
Resident Evil 2 is so good that I recently played through it three times in one sitting (one of the few benefits of unemployment is the abundance of free time). From the opening FMVs and that first awesome section dashing through Raccoon City ("the next thing I knew, the entire city was infested with zombies") through to the Police Headquarters, cavernous sewers and the then-traditional laboratory-set ending, this game exudes quality through and through.
While some were put off by it, the Resident Evil control system was in my mind perfect, and only improved upon in Resident Evil 4 (which much of contemporary gaming owes A LOT to). The soundtrack is incredible, with each and every scene scored with the perfect blend of atmosphere and action, or whichever was necessary. The sound effects are excellent, a huge step up from the somewhat comical zombies or the first game, now moaning discomfortingly rather than hilariously. The graphics are of course hugely dated, but you can't fault the design of the game. Enemy characters shuffle and shamble realistically, speeding up when their prey is within range, clawing along the floor when they've parted way with their legs and taking bullets with more than a mere step back, another leap from the arms-outstretched grey (!) zombies of before. While the backgrounds are pre-rendered in 2D, each is totally eerie, cold and at times genuinely upsetting when it comes to life-like quality. The undead-dominated world of Resident Evil 2 makes for a very oppressive feel indeed.
Also of note is the voice acting, which is for the most part still rubbish, but again a vast improvement over the first. Sadly, the live action scenes are gone too, but it all adds up to make RE2 a much more serious game than its progenitor. Its not often enough games improve this much on their predecessor, and a major complaint of the sequel (Resident Evil 3: Nemesis) was that it ran on the RE2 engine, which to me is no bad thing as it allowed the game to be released mere months after 2.
Finally, and most importantly, the game is scary as hell, from Mr. X smashing through walls to falling through the floor in the library (who didn't jump the first time around?) to the final confrontation with the flaming tyrant, this game mixes the perfect amount of mood with jump scares to keep things fresh. The replay value is high also, with the game being split into two distinct chapters which play out differently depending on which character you choose to begin with, as well as two bonus games which aren't easily unlocked and command you come back for more. Long story short, its one of those rare games that surprises you with much, much more when you thought you'd finished it.
As my opening comment suggests, the game is quite short, easily completed by a veteran like myself in a little over an hour and a half, but for newbies it ought to keep you entertained for long enough to make your purchase worthwhile. Might I recommend you buy the Nintendo Gamecube version, as it plays much smoother than previous versions, allows cutscene-skipping (for those all important second playthroughs) and offers a few other neat bonuses, as well as suiting the GC controller perfectly.
It may not have redefined gaming necessarily, and it's not even the best in the series, but this is a classic well worth investing in, either for first timers or fans nostalgic for the golden years of PSOne. For its combination of story, atmosphere and action, few other games of that era come close.
This is one of the best horror games ever made October 3, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The plot of the game is just like the one of the second RE movie: the zombies and monsters have conquered Racoon City.
The atmosphere at the game is so tight that you are scared when you play it at night when it is dark outside and your're alone in the dark.
The gameplay is not so difficult but beginners should practise a bit before starting the missions.
Enjoy the creepy haunting!
Graphics August 18, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
ok, i have seen some comments people are leaving for this game about the graphics, saying its ps1 graphics... this game was originally released on the ps1 before gamecube, so the company just changed the game from ps1 to gamecube without changing the graphics, if you got a ps1, buy this game, dont buy a gamecube to buy it... my bro said: gamecubes were made for resident evil games, that means they have better graphics, they dont, same graphics. so, dont buy gamecube just to get these games if your a fan, they cost more money because of the 2 discs and the bigger case.. buy all of them on the ps1, go to www.mobygames.com and u can download the gamecube cases, so, it will be like u bought them on gamecube but only 1 disk, and cheaper. well cheaper
the ultimate survival horror May 7, 2007
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
Yes the original resident evil started the horror genre but 2 took it to a whole new level the first was more puzzly, desperately searching for ammo adventure while this introduced the pulse pounding action & cool weapons.
Picking up a few months after where resi 1 left off disgraced S.T.A.R.S members have left the city in search of proof against the corporation umbrella the point mans sister Claire Redfield comes in search of him while rookie cop Leon s Kennedy arrives late for his first day upon discovering the city overrun with zombies they band together an attempt to escape the city whilst begin pursued by umbrellas hellish freaks.
Yes this is a port of the ps1 games with slightly improved graphics but its still 1 of the greatest games to ever grace a console & no amount of time will change that this is the pinnacle of the resi franchise essential even if only to revive undead memories without a doubt worth every penny you pay for it & then some.
 Remake of Capcom's Finest Horror Series... February 19, 2006
1 out of 10 found this review helpful
After playing the remake of the original resident evil and the brillant and underrated resident evil zero it is quite sad that how bored i am getting of resident evil. It isn't just how it looks either it is the simple fact that this game is so similiar to the others, the story is weak, and reminds me somewhat of a bmovie film horror. But the gameplay lacks it is exactly the same as the other resi's games i have played, i am becoming bored of this genre and running around find a key go back pick up some bullets shoot some zombies, it becomes repeative and when you complete the game there is no replay value shame, I was disappointed with this. But to complete the resident Evil series and to know more on the story it has to be looked into.
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