Only a few long-buried bodies in the Nevada desert know this, but I was a hardcore Sega fan in my youth. I of course had all the Nintendos and a TurboGrafx-16 (Keith Courage FTW), but my outspoken, oft-times misguided loyalty lied with the Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, and my favorite console of all time, the Saturn. So when Sony launched their unprovoked invasion of the home console market, I was not only skeptical, I was resentful. There was a distinctively soulless and American flavor to the PlayStation launch titles that my mind rejected on every level. I wasn’t about to leave behind Panzer Dragoon and Guardian Heroes for 989 Studios’ shitty sports games or Warhawk and Syphon Filter.

But as time went on, the Sony PlayStation didn’t sputter out like the Atari Jaguar or the Panasonic 3D0. This only made me want it less, as it was now the popular system to own, and my Marilyn Manson posters and nonconformist clothing said I was a beautiful and unique snowflake who zigged when everyone else was zagging. Then, along came a little game by the makers of Street Fighter and Mega Man. A game that would define an entire genre and lead to many of the most memorable moments in video game history. A game that finally made me give in and get in line with the rest of the herd.

Story
It all starts with some campy narrative over news reports of grisly murders outside the fictional Raccoon City. Members of STARS are investigating the disappearance of one of their teams when they are suddenly attacked by rabid dogs and chased into a seemingly abandoned mansion. That’s it. Jill Valentine, Barry Burton, Chris Valentine, and Albert Wesker simply need to search the mansion, uncover the fate of their comrades, and escape.

It seems incredibly straightforward, and at first it is, but the mysteries and betrayals which led to the zombie outbreak that would eventually justify Raccoon City’s total annihilation by the US government are anything but. Still, the first chapter is an excellent introduction to the labyrinthine saga that is Resident Evil, and one that I personally will never forget.

Gameplay
Utilizing a notorious love-it-or-hate-it control scheme, you take control of Jill or Chris as you explore the mansion and take on zombies, Hunters, and a variety of other infected mutations. You cannot move and shoot at the same time, so knowing when to run and when to fight is an integral element of your survival. Ammo, saves, and health (in the form of herbs and first aid sprays) are limited, which defines the survival horror genre. Or at least it did, back in 1996. Being zombies and all, most enemies will take more than a few shots from your Beretta to drop. A well-placed shotgun blast can decapitate a group of the undead, while a perfect speedrun with only your trusty knife will impress nerds on the internet and ensure you never know the touch of a woman.

Most of the game is spent in the mansion, solving puzzles and generally just trying to figure out where the hell you’re supposed to be going. Many of the doors you encounter will be locked at first, and require the corresponding item(s) or key to unlock. Jill will have a much easier time and is recommended for beginners. She gets more inventory slots, easier access to the shotgun and exclusive use of the versatile grenade launcher, and will be saved by her teammate Barry on more than once occasion. Chris on the other hand has to do everything the hard way, but gets to spend time with rookie field medic Rebecca Chambers who is much easier on the eyes and ears than super-cheesy Barry Burton.

In addition the standard zombies and creatures you’ll face, there are also a few extremely well-designed set pieces which act as staging grounds for some truly intimidating boss battles. Nothing gets your heart pounding quite like the first time you’re suddenly cornered by a massive snake in a small room. This encounter was made all the more terrifying for me the first time as I did not own a memory card for the first few weeks as a new PlayStation owner. I even once made it to the roof at the game’s climax, only to be impaled by the final boss mere seconds away from victory. Needless to say, a memory card is recommended…

Visuals
Although revolutionary for its time, employing everything from transparencies (a big deal back then—see the Resident Evil Saturn Vs. PS1 supremacy debate) to full-motion video and CG cutscenes, the PlayStation version does not stand up particularly well  against the test of time. Luckily Capcom agreed, and remade the entire game for the Gamecube with completely new visuals. Utilizing the Unreal II engine and ultra-detailed pre-rendered backgrounds, Resident Evil for the Gamecube still looks remarkable even years later.

Audio
Resident Evil has some very Western inspirations, but was developed by a very Eastern staff, so it’s got some rough edges. Namely, some of the worst B-movie FMVs and dialogue you will ever hear outside of a Toxic Avenger flick. Barry Burton is responsible for a number of these, including the infamous “Master of unlocking” line, but in a way the game’s deplorable voice acting is also part of its charm.

In contrast, the sound effects are very distinguished; zombies sound like you would expect zombies to sound, Hunters’ claws click on the ground as they come running around a corner, and weapons pack a satisfying punch. The music is also perfectly suited for each environment and situation, and is also the sole reason Moonlight Sonata (or some techno remix of it) is always on my iPod.

Lifespan
Unlike Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 1 can be beaten in under two hours. Not initially, of course, as you must first learn the puzzle solutions, item locations, and best routes to efficiently cutting down your backtracking and therefore total playtime. But once you have it down to a science, the game is like playing an incredibly involving horror movie. I use to beat the game multiple times a day just because I was so enthralled by it, alternating between Chris and Jill and the dozen different possible endings. The Gamecube remake introduces several interesting new modes which increase the challenges you will face, adding even more reason to keep going once the credits roll.

This is the game that best illustrates the point I always try to make when reviewing titles like Halo 1 and The Bourne Conspiracy which use repetitive environments or tedious enemy respawns in order to artificially extend the mileage of the assets. I’d much rather play a short, incredibly well-made game a dozen times than barely force myself through a drawn-out game that would have been better if at least 50% of the fat had been cut off the bones.

Recommendation
As one of the most important and groundbreaking titles in video game history, obviously you should play it at all costs (assuming you’re one of the five remaining people who haven’t already). The original version’s graphics may be hard to stomach for those of you who have become addicted to the current generation of HD visuals, but the Gamecube remake alleviates much of that and makes a legendary experience even better, if you can imagine that.

Resident Evil
System: Gamecube
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Find: Amazon - Gamefly - Goozexr
All reviews are based on final retail code unless otherwise noted.

Related Posts:

• X360 Review: Resident Evil 5
• Retro Game Review: Resident Evil 3 Nemesis
• Casting Couch - Resident Evil: The Movie
• Retro Game Review: Resident Evil Code Veronica
• Retro Game Review: Resident Evil 2