As the intro suggests..."Welcome to the world of survival horror". There have been strange goings on in a secluded mansion in the outskirts of Racoon City and you and your colleagues from the STARS Alpha team have been sent to investigate following the mysterious disappearance of the Bravo team. Searching the nearby forest you are attacked by what looks like some sort of mad dog. In a desperate attempt to escape the team are steered toward the suspicious mansion. As the door shuts you are safe from the pursuing hound but this is just the beginning of the nightmare....
Using a third person perspective view you can control one of two Alpha team characters throughout the adventure which has been developed in the style of old 'B' horror movie complete with bad acting. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine are the main characters, Chris being slightly more difficult than Jill as he can't carry as many items and doesn't have a lockpick. The game flows very nicely interspersed with some very scary FMV sequences and the main aim is clear. Get to the bottom of this mystery as you progress through this labyrinth of a mansion. As the story unfolds you will discover that the strange goings on are down to a biological weapon known as the "T-Virus" being created in the mansions hidden laboratories. Somehow the virus has got out of control infecting all habitants within the house and causing strange chemical reations.
To progress into the depths of the mansion there are various puzzles to solve, some easy, some not so easy and the further on you get the more ugly inhabitants you will meet and have to destroy in order to save yourself. There are also various weapons to find, but be sparing as the ammo is limited. The atmospher created by the spooky horror film score, excellent graphics, anticipation of not knowing what's round the next corner and pure shock factor is enough to turn anyone into a quivering jelly (especially if you are playing at night with the surround sound on), but for some reason or other you will always come back for more Some of the beasts you will encounter are truly hideous and some of the puzzles seems quite impossible to solve but it won't put you off.
The polygons on the moving characters look very good but where Resident Evil excels is with the background which include so much fine detail and the spooky lighting effects are excellent. Also there are enough FMV sequences to carry the story along but not too many to detract from the gameplay. The characters look a little stiff when they walk but if I was in their situation I'd probably walk like that too.
The music score is straight from a horror movie and makes everything so much more atmospheric and scary. The sound effects are also excellent, from the drip drip of water in a puddle in the underground lab to the shatter of windows as one of the beasts come crashing through to savage your flesh. The corny dialogue may annoy some people but I found it added a light side to what is an extremely pant-wetting game.
I have never played a game where I have actually felt the feeling of apprehension and fear as I go from room to room until now. Resident Evil captures the mood superbly and with beautiful graphics, brain-taxing puzzles and a chilling music score it has to be a must for all PSX owners. The slight loading time between rooms adds a feeling of suspense as you anticipate what's to come next but if you are backtracking through rooms you have already been through the wait becomes a little tedious. Slight criticism aside, go and buy it and see how long you last in the world of survival horror.
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