If it scared you the first time, it'll scare you again.
Just when you thought it safe to put down the controller, Capcom re-releases Resident Evil Code: Veronica X to the PS2 crowd. There’s not much enhanced for players who’ve taken the dive into survival horror on Dreamcast, but there is a very solid adventure for those who haven’t.
Claire Redfield is back to search for her brother Chris in an Umbrella Paris facility when she’s caught and sent to an island. Players pick up from here and battle the undead, as well as some new stretchy creatures.
The controls and weapons are all standard RE and do its job of making you armed and a bit helpless at the same time.
There’s some new footage in “X” to make another trip worth while. Interwoven into the title are new cutscenes with bad boy Wesker. The scenes do a much better job to explain the plot, and players will get to see Wesker smack and kick Claire in the face. He’s not only evil this time – he’s superhuman.
The visuals are very slightly improved over its DC predecessor. Everything seems sharper and there is some minimal background detail where there was none before. The side character Steve also sports a new hairstyle. Other than that the game looks like it popped straight out of the Dreamcast.
Resident Evil never fails to deliver a creepy experience and Code: Veronica does a fine job of it. There aren’t as many shock value scares as RE2, but the gritty and dark settings create very eerie moments. You just always think something is going to happen – and it usually does.
What makes Code: Veronica and environmentally driven experience are its 3D backgrounds. They’re a nice departure from the static 2D backgrounds of the series and helps follow the action better. Every object is rendered in 3D to give the camera free reign to swing and follow in close on the action.
Not everyone will want to take the trip back to that horrid island. But the adventure is worth it to see more plot detail. The Devil May Cry demo is also a sweet bonus. Players who haven’t experienced Code: Veronica need to. It’s to die for.
