Quote Originally Posted by Vivi22 View Post
Can I just say Ishin that I'm happy to see someone who actually shares my opinion on this game for a change? You know, the original RE games were highly praised, but had some obvious flaws that we simply chose to overlook back in the day. Now most people generally recognize those flaws, and many even heavily critisize the games for them. I imagine RE4 will be seen in much the same light a few years down the road.
when I first played RE2 I actually sort of liked it. This was way back in 1998 though, when developers were generally coming to grips with 3D engines and how to make them as fun as 2D managed to be in it's prime. I think by this point developers have made some GRAND strides in 3D gaming and survival horror. I personally enjoy fatal frame because the combat system is one that takes advantage of the aural and visual horrors around you, driving home the terror of the story while focusing you to get up close to your freakish enemies all while the visuals, sounds, and story are all doing their best to scar you for life. I usually can only play FF in short bursts, but It's a series I love as much as I fear, in the way survival horror should be feared.

Resident Evil on the other hand refuses to march forward at all. Tank like controls are still the order of the day. I don't care of enemies randomly side-step, they are still typically brain dead lumbering freaks. Except now they move faster.

and I don't consider more ammo, more guns, and a new aiming scheme to be a revolution. It's basically taking elements from Contra (run and gun style action) and Metal Gear Solid (aiming and hit reaction system). How does any of that = a revolution?

And really, I don't need a pulitzer prize winning story or anything, but RE isn't even trying anymore. I mean really, we got a bacteria thats been buried for centuries, a freakish cult out to kidnap the presidents daughter only to turn her into a freak and send her home as a spy, meanwhile I'm sure that the mutations this virus develops will totally go unnoticed. The characters are extremely two dimensional and boring. throw in plot twists you can see coming a mile away (hey dude, I JUST managed to find the cure to the new zombie virus and... oh look, the villain just killed me and stole your cure. Better find that piece of high tech yet brilliantly automated machinery that will cure you) and Ada on a military mission in a cocktail dress I mean really, how does any of this sound compelling in the slightest? It was forgiveable back in 1998 because the mainstream had yet to discover Final Fantasy, and for most people "Our princess is in another castle" was the pinnacle of plot twists in video games. But once again, this is ten years after the fact. Why can't resident evil actually try to improve itself?

It really seems that the only thing RE improves upon game by game is production values, and thats the one thing I can live without. many websites rag on developers whenever they use 2D and pixel based graphics for being old fashioned, but I always prefer gameplay and enjoyment before production. I guess I just wish RE would actually give me solid gameplay, a challenging combat system, genuine scares, and a story I can at least pretend to take seriously. Instead all it gives is slight improvements to a system that was defective even in it's time. I could live with that if websites and publications would stop selling out and calling this survival horrors premiere franchise.