RESIDENT EVIL 2

RESIDENT EVIL 2

Resident Evil 2, known as Biohazard 2 (バイオハザード2 Baiohazādo Tsū?) in Japan, is a survival horror video game originally released for the PlayStation in 1998. Developed by Capcom as the second installment in the Resident Evil series, its story takes place two months after the events of the first game, Resident Evil. 

How it was in 1998? 

Resident Evil 2 is without a doubt the early favorite for my pick for Game of the Year in 1998. Sure, the year has just begun, but this game is truly amazing and is probably one of the best video game sequels ever created. I honestly didn't see what the big deal was with the first Resident Evil and thought it was a bit overrated, but Resident Evil 2 is worthy of all the hype and attention that it has received.

The game revolves around two new characters, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Leon is a S.T.A.R.S. rookie, who is starting his first day on the job, and Claire is the sister of Chris Redfield, who was one of the main characters in the first Resident Evil. The storyline is sensational and is brought together by some of the most amazing FMV cinemas this side of Final Fantasy 7. In fact, the FMV cinemas and the interactive gameplay elements are tied together better than they were in Final Fantasy 7.

Graphically, Resident Evil 2 is the most impressive game that you'll find on the Sony PlayStation. The backgrounds are infinitely more interactive and detailed than those found in the original Resident Evil and so are the game's characters and enemies. Simply put, the graphics in Resident Evil 2 are awe-inspiring.

The control isn't that much better than it was in the original, but it is still an improvement. If you're new to Resident Evil, it will take a little while to get used to controlling your character, but after some practice, everything will seem second nature and you'll be getting rid of zombies like a pro.

Other improvements over the original can be noticed in the amount of freedom that you're given to explore and the larger variety of enemies and areas that you'll come across. Unlike the first RE, in RE2 you are allowed to explore a wider array of areas that include the Police Station, Umbrella Labs, and a maze-like sewer system. And not only will you get to take on many of the same monsters that you faced in the first game, but there have been a lot of new ones that will undoubtedly scare you senseless. Moreover, the enemies seem to have a greater AI and the bosses are much larger and can require quite a bit of work to eliminate.

And if all of that isn't enough to convince you that Resident Evil 2 is a huge improvement over the original, Capcom has seen fit to add a great deal of secrets and other extras that help increase the replay value of the game substantially. There are secret weapons, alternate paths, secret characters, and even multiple costumes that can be discovered. Also, you can play through the game with different characters to get different endings. The coolest aspect is that what you do when playing through the game the first time with one character will affect what goes on when you're playing through with the second character.

Overall, Resident Evil 2 shows that Capcom is still one of the elite 3rd party publishers on the planet. They have improved every single aspect of Resident Evil and have created what is quite possibly the best video game sequel ever created. Resident Evil 2 is a must-own game and will surely go down in history as one of the PlayStation's best ever.

SCORE: 9.5