Resident Evil 0 GameCube Review

Resident Evil 0 is the installment in that franchise that precedes all. Referred to as RE0 for the rest of this review, this game is the one that tells the story of how the whole thing got started. RE0 tells us how the T-Virus was created and how Umbrella was involved with it. It tells us how it was initially spread and who was responsible for it.

It is the year 1998, and several "unusual" murder cases have been reported in Raccoon City, a small midwest suburban town. Sadly, members of Raccoon City police have done nothing but return reports of spotting groups of "people-eating" monsters who are maliciously attacking civilian houses without provocation. The order has been given, send in the S.T.A.R.S. team to investigate these happenings!

S.T.A.R.S. stands for Special Tactics and Rescue Service. It is composed of Bravo team and Alpha team. Bravo team is the first to go in for this mission, but unfortunately due to some inexplicable engine failure, they have to make an emergency landing. This landing causes them to end up in the middle of a deep, dense and dark forest.

The story of RE0 involves two unfortunate people. One is Rebecca Chambers, a rookie S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team agent. She is in fact the newest member of that team and a gifted young woman who was able to speed through her education. She graduated from her university at the age of 18. She is also highly organized and is able to handle herself calmly in most pressure situations.

The other is Billy Coen. This middle aged man is an ex-Marine who was convicted on the deaths of 23 different people based on circumstantial evidence. This conviction caused him to be sentenced to death. However, on the way to his execution, his transport crashed and he managed to escape. While on his run, he just happens to bump into Rebecca.....they are forced to cooperate with each other.

RE0 is just one of those games that sets the mood IMMEDIATELY. Meaning, this game will let you know you should be ready to be frightened at just about any given moment! The whole atmosphere with watching the forest sequence and finally beginning the story on that train in a sudden storm really can do a number on your nerves. Depending on just how easily scared you get will determine how you feel throughout the rest of the game. Some people really never get afraid at all in this game or any RE game for that matter simply because that's their nature. But some people will get spooked quite a lot in this game, and the start of this one is only the beginning of that!

Since RE0 is one of the oldest installments in the franchise, many may view the gameplay mechanics featured in this game as nothing more than "archaic." Many may actually compare it to the controls in Resident Evil 4 because of how different they really are. But in the end, that truly isn't fair, because Resident Evil 4 and the other games in the franchise simply aren't the same. RE0 and many other games in this franchise approach the whole "survival horror" theme with very unique movement controls coupled with predetermined fixed point camera angles. The point of both is to simply increase the level of fear and suspense in the player, and that's just what they do!

Yes it would be safe to say that it's a little strange during most of the game when you have to push the control stick away from you in order to make your character move forward, but in all honesty, you get used to it pretty quickly. Whether you've never played a RE game before or you're playing this one after RE4, it's really not as difficult to learn the control scheme as many may try to make you believe. Sure you might ask yourself what you got yourself into at first, but just like any other game that has a unique gameplay setup like this one does, all it takes is a little patience in a little practice.

In a given 2-3 hours, you should be well in tune with how the game controls and feels with relation to the controller and the character you're controlling. It's really all relative to the individual person who plays this game because the learning rate will vary. Some will get easily frustrated, yes, but some will learn the controls without too much difficulty and be able to press on beautifully. So if you're willing to give it a shot and experience a truly great game, RE0 is indeed for you!

The name of the game for each installment of Resident Evil is simple, SURVIVAL HORROR. Well of course with that theme, you would expect the graphics, animations and special effects to show that off wouldn't you? RE0 does that incredibly well, even if it does have its few faults. But the faults are very minor, which make the overall presentation of RE0 graphically truly eye opening!

During the beginning of the game, you will be treated to a FMV that tells a brief overview of the game's story and a sequence with the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team helicopter. With Rebecca inside this very helicopter, you witness the team en route to its destination. Eventually something happens to one of the engines on the chopper and they are forced to make an emergency landing right in the middle of this already creepy looking forest!

The events that happen next are truly spine chilling. Rebecca is one of the first to spot the overturned jeep that traps 2 dead military officers underneath. She eventually finds a clipboard that holds part of Billy Coen's file explaining his conviction and sentenced execution. This causes the team commander to order a full alert status to everyone since the man has been deemed armed and EXTREMELY dangerous. Unfortunately since the forest they are in is so vast, the team members are forced to separate, making Rebecca go her own way.

Well she eventually comes upon a seemingly abandoned train, and then the true nightmare begins. She boards the train, shouting out to anyone that may be onboard and alive along with her status and full name. Well, unfortunately this didn't mean squat because only seconds later, she sees a horribly decayed and disfigured man sitting next to a window, and then takes a harder look around, only noticing more people in the exact same condition! Then to her extreme shock, the first man she saw actually gets up, begins growling and groaning while slowly moving towards her!

Ok, hopefully by now you aren't scared to death so we can actually move on to how the graphics really just accentuate this whole survival horror experience!

Let's start with your surroundings. Since RE0 is a survival horror game, what would you expect to see in your surroundings? Some areas pretty well kept? Some areas pretty run down? Blood stains on the walls, carpets and other man-made objects? Well, to answer each of those questions in one simple word, YES!

There are actually 6 main areas in this game that you will encounter and explore while playing. There is the train like previously mentioned, the Umbrella Training Facility, the church, the laboratory, the factory and the cleansing plant! Each of these locations offers a pretty unique experience when it comes to how the environments are laid out.

The train offers a very diverse number of surroundings like the more casual looking passenger cars to the more elegant and luxurious first class rooms. It also houses a rather disgusting looking kitchen, a rather chaotic pet housing car and even passenger bedrooms that feature bunk beds and work desks! The train may actually be one of the best looking if not THE best looking area of the game. So while you're in it, take in all the great eye candies it offers because you won't be in there for too long! Just what are those eye candies? Well you have the flickering lights, the bottles of wine that roll back and forth along with the movement of the train, and even the disgusting puddles of who knows what on the kitchen stoves! It's really the little things on the train that make that area such a great looking one, and the suspense is definitely there!

The Umbrella training facility is very much like the mansion featured in the original Resident Evil. You have your well lit and poorly lit rooms, the blood and guts covered floors and walls and all the strange equipment! One of the best parts of the great lighting in this area is when you fire off your pistol, you can actually see the bullet's shell casing bouncing around the floor after you do such! That's a really cool effect that helps you know, hey, you're actually SHOOTING your weapon! This feature also happens to work well in the laboratory area where there tends to be quite a bit of bulletproof glass.....

When it comes to the other areas, you will encounter so many strange and appalling sights that it can be unbelievable at times. A rather grotesque yet almost holy looking altar awaits you in the church. An array of bookshelves and various creepy lab equipment await you in the main laboratory area. Then when it comes to the factory and cleaning plants, *chuckles*, well, what can be said is Capcom definitely did their part in making those areas give you the chills. Some of the enemies you will encounter, some of the horrific equipment you will see WILL make your heart beat just a LITTLE faster!

With the incredible looking surroundings that Capcom offers you, they are coupled with some great FMVs! There isn't a whole lot of them when it comes to the first half of the game, but when you get closer to completing the story, you will begin seeing more and more of them. These sequences are simply stunning to the eye. The natural effects of water, the characters' sweat and just the raw emotion and determination you see in their faces is enough to please any FMV lover! They do an incredible job to help tell the story, and if you really are into having a game that has those kinds of FMVs, RE0 is definitely a worthy try!

Now of course with the animation, you really couldn't ask for much more when it comes to RE0. When you walk, the characters do so in a very confident but cautious manner so as to make you feel like that's what you would be doing if you were in their shoes. When you run, they have their weapons raised just like you would in real life so you can be ready to fire on a moment's notice! Then when it comes to your actual enemies, they really move in such frightening ways it truly can make you jump if you're not ready for it! The more common zombies move just like you would see them in a movie. Their arms are outstretched, just waiting to grab a hold of you and take a nice big bite! Then with the disgusting looks of decay in their bodies, you can't help but feel too stunned to utilize your controller at times! They can frighten you just like they frighten your characters! Other experiments of evil you will encounter like oversized cockroaches, leeches and even mutated gorillas will opens your eyes! Then there is the enemy that really resembles that of the "El Gigante" in Resident Evil 4. But we'll leave that for you to see on your own!

Finally, what survivor horror game would be able to be defined as one without the key element? BLOOD! Oh yeah, there's PLENTY of it in this game. RE0 has it in countless places. Whether you see it come out of your neck when a zombie takes a chunk out of you, or whether it's on the floor, ceiling, walls or bed sheets, it's EVERYWHERE! Sometimes it can look SO realistic because of the pre-rendered backgrounds that at times you may feel a bit queasy if you happen to be squeamish! Be prepared, you have been warned! If you're going to play RE0, be prepared to see a LOT of dead bodies and a whole lot of blood to accompany it!

Now just what are those few faults that were mentioned at the very beginning of this? Well one thing is loading times. EVERY SINGLE DOOR in this game has a loading sequence. Meaning when you go to open a door, or set of doors, the screen will change from the in-game play to a completely black one with just that door or doors in it and force you to watch a rather annoying open sequence. Now this was done in part to help heighten the suspense level as you wouldn't see what was going to be in the next room until the screen reappeared. But having every single door do that can just be downright annoying sometimes. This is especially evident when you have to backtrack at certain points in the game and there's nothing for you to be worried about. But if you're willing to get over that somewhat minor detail as well as some points in the game where some effects just seem a bit out of place, you will have absolutely no problem loving the graphical atmosphere that is RE0!

Any and all players of this game, be prepared to be dazzled with just how great this experience is brought to you throughout the use of incredible music and sounds!

If you think just those sounds you hear outside your bedroom door or window at night is all that's going to be in this game to scare you, THINK AGAIN! Moaning, groaning, spine chilling songs of the night, they are ALL in this game!

Oh yes, RE0 features a good number of different vocalizations when it comes to the zombies giving off their cry of suspense. Now of course many probably wouldn't even care to pay attention to that sort of thing since the main thing you'll be worrying about is how to get them on the ground in a puddle of their own blood. But since you're actually playing RESIDENT EVIL, why not listen closely to just how creepy and authentic sounding those zombies really are? Some of them growl more than others, some just moan like you might do waking up at 6:00 a.m. for school, and some even gag on their own blood curdling throats! Try having a stereo surround sound system cranked up at night and it'll be even worse!

Whatever sound you could possibly imagine from a horror movie, you will most definitely hear it! There's the sudden "crashing" of creatures to give you a little jump in the nerves, there's the outburst of a zombie on the floor that you thought was dead that wanted to take one last bite out of your ankle, just so much! If you really want a game that has a good shot at giving you some chills here and there. RE0 is a likely candidate!

Even the music is simply there to be coupled with the sounds to give you that bone chilling experience of a true survival horror! Now there will be some themes that you might recognize the overall delivery to since many of the RE games utilize them, but there are also some unique score that will simply amaze you with how well composed they truly are! If you've seen the Exorcist, if you've seen the Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street movies, you can understand the music that comes with this game. Now of course that doesn't mean you will hear music that comes from those movies, but if you are familiar with what they bring, you will understand what this game has! There are the rapid paced themes that will do a good job of making your heart race, there are the more serene ones that allow to feel calmer since there are no dangers around you. Then there is the music that is simply meant to say, hey, stay alert, there might be danger looking around that VERY corner!

Really the only complaint that could be founds with this game is that the characters you control throughout the game, Billy and Rebecca, just don't really talk a whole lot. Most of what you'll hear them say to each other is when you choose to split it up for some reason or regroup and you hear those repetitive one-liners. "I'll go check over there!." "This way!" "Follow me!" "You stay here." "Let's split up." "Regroup!" Of course Billy and Rebecca don't say the same things, but there isn't a real variety to their lines, so after about the first hour or so of the game, they almost become obsolete. Yes they do speak a fair bit more during some of the cutscenes, but it doesn't really make up for how bland it can be during the actual gameplay. This is especially evident during the first half of the game since there isn't a large number of cutscenes.

So to sum this all up, RE0 does an incredible job showing off the very reason why it's yet another entry in Capcom's infamous survival horror franchise. The sounds of the zombies and various environmental effects along with the appropriated music just make this for one heck of an experience!

Just like many of the other RE games on the market, RE0 sports the rather unique gameplay mechanics that you either seem to love or hate. There's really no middle ground here. RE0's gameplay is specialized through the used of fixed point camera angles, and how you control the characters with them is rather interesting so to speak.

This game couldn't really be defined by having any kind of perspective because there just really isn't one. It wouldn't be correct to call this a third person game because the camera isn't behind you all the time since it has predetermined fixed points. Pretty much in every area you explore throughout this game, there will be different points of the camera influence how your exploring goes! Sometimes it will be third person, sometimes it will be a complete aerial view and sometimes the view will come right from the floor!

What makes the gameplay mechanics so interesting? Well when you have the camera fixated at points like it is in this game and how you actually have to defend yourself, the gameplay is forced to be the way it is. So most of the time throughout this game, you will actually be pushing the control stick away from you, meaning UP, to make whomever you're controlling move forward. So say you go through a door and in the next room the camera is fixed at the end of a longer hallway and you see your character in front of the very door you just came through at the other end. You don't hold down on the control stick to make the character move through the hallway, you hold it up! Can this game a little confusing? Yes it can. Can this be frustrating? Well that depends, but really only should if you allow it to. Like stated in the Learning Curve section, all it takes is a little patience and practice. Even if you've only played RE4 before this, it's really not as difficult as you might originally think. Holding the stick left still makes you turn left and holding the stick still makes you turn right, and if the camera happens to be behind you, pressing up actually does make you walk forward. But pretty much any time you want to move your character forward, even if you are facing to one of the sides, you still have to press up on the control stick.

It's a mechanic that can indeed frustrate players, but after a while it really does just become second nature to you! So if you're willing to get past this rather interesting gameplay setup (which there are more than one to choose from actually), then doing everything else just isn't a problem! You hold R and press A to use whatever weapon you might be holding, and that holds true for all the other games as well. You still check things with A and access you main menus with Y. Nothing else has changed, you simply have to get used to how the game feels with regards to it now being considered "archaic."

However, the biggest aspect when it comes to RE0's gameplay is the teamwork. Pretty much from the get-go, Billy and Rebecca decide to cooperate with each other and take on these gruesome monsters together. Yes at first their "relationship" is a bit rocky since neither really knows much about the other, but they eventually get past a lot of their tensions and develop a true friendship. They both care about each other and work well together, that is, if you allow them to.

Billy is obviously an older male, so he has more strength and resilience. He is able to take a lot more damage than Rebecca and can move around heavier objects when the time calls for it. Rebecca is obviously a younger female, and she is a little weaker compared to Billy, but she has the unique ability of mixing various chemicals together that will prove essential later on in the game. Some players will view her as nothing but a "pack mule" and make her hold the team's more important equipment and items while they use Billy to take care of all the baddies. But it's really up to you how you decide to utilize each character. Each has 6 slots in their main inventory that you can use to store whatever, but even that tends to be a burden at times. You will find yourself leaving behind a lot of things during the course of this game, especially in the main lobby of the Umbrella Training Facility. But the nice thing about that is you can come back to these left behind items at virtually any time you wish. That's a good thing too because you actually have to at certain points in the game. The map also helps in this regard because it tells you every item that's left in any particular area. Yes it can be a pain in the butt to have to backtrack just to retrieve one necessary piece of equipment, but hey, that's life in this game so just suck it up!

So just like what was stated, this game involves teamwork. Whether that involves working together to take out those nasty zombies and other freaks of nature or actually solving one of the games many brain busting puzzles, it is highly essential in surviving this RE world!

Finally, you have to have your boss fights RIGHT?! Well of course you do, and RE0 has a good number of them! Whether it's the mile long centipede (ok, slight exaggeration), to the very freaks that rival those strongly feared Gigantes of RE4, there are boss fights in this game! Some of them may indeed feel a little "all of a sudden and out of place," but if you think about it in the end, Capcom did their best to put in bosses and in the most appropriate places. Some of them are actually very good and EXTREMELY creepy looking, some are just so-so. But nevertheless, when it comes to the final fight and sequence to this game, there is no disappointment to be had!

RE0's world is definitely a very unique and memorable one. The relationship that develops between Billy and Rebecca throughout the game can truly be heartfelt at times, and the gameplay mechanics simply do nothing but accentuate everything! If you want a game that involves great teamwork and an actual intelligent partner, RE0 is for you!

When you first start out this game, you will get various glimpses of a shadowy character that looks like he's wearing a ghost's nightgown. This character seems heavily bent on getting revenge on the Umbrella Corporation for whatever reason, and he actually plays a semi heavy role near the end of the game. The actual ending of this game is an absolute PERFECT lead in to the next game in the series, Resident Evil, as it actually talks about and allows you to see the very mansion that is the setting in that game. But as for the actual completion of the game, you will hear Billy say one of the best catch phrases ever when you eventually take down the final boss. After this, you will see the final cutscene that shows where the team's relationship ends up going, as well as the lead in to the next game. It does an excellent job in that regard, so chances are you won't be disappointed!

When you eventually complete this game for the first time, you will unlock a rather interesting mini game that confines you to the area of the Umbrella Training Facility. It's a game called "Leech Hunter," but just so no spoilers happen here we won't get into just what that is. Let's just say it's rather "interesting" even if it's not as entertaining as the Mercenaries mode is in RE4. There are 3 different difficulties to the main game that will obviously challenge you accordingly so there is something in this game to make you come back to it at least once if not more. So in an overall sense the replay value in this game is good. It's nothing stellar because many may find no motivation to play through again, but for those that really enjoyed the story and want to give themselves a bigger challenge, there is something to come back to!

For this game being the prequel to every single RE game out there, Capcom did a pretty decent job on delivering. The game may not be as heavy as the others when it comes to the story since there wasn't a whole lot that could be told that wouldn't be unoriginal, but one is there and it's a very good one! You will learn how the whole RE world and the tragedy was brought about, and why poor Raccoon City has had to suffer so since the occurrence. It does a perfect job leading in to the very story of Resident Evil and many others afterwards, so you definitely have that to look forward to! The graphical aspects of the environments that you encounter are simply superb. While every area isn't stellar, they all do their job for the most part so you really shouldn't be disappointed. The character models of Billy and Rebecca are mighty impressive, as you'll see everything right down to the very sweat on their bodies and the fear in their eyes! The music is just as spine tingling as you would hear in any other horror movie or survival horror game. The sounds are simply there to partner with that and give you that real horror experience. The moaning of the zombies, the crashing of various other disgusting creatures and the satisfying sounds of your weaponry and a bullet casing bouncing around the floor. All this along with a pretty decent replay makes this a must have for any Resident Evil fan and lover of the franchise!

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