I first played this in Japan on Dreamcast back in early 2000. I played it up until a very punishing set piece that killed me over and over until I gave up in frustration. I’ve since owned at least three versions of it across multiple platforms, always intending to finish it. It took this focused franchise playthrough of 2024 to see it through, and I was surprised how close to the end I’d reached.
I’d otherwise all but forgotten the game, so it was a very pleasant playthough. It turns out that nearly a quarter-century is a sufficient gap of time to “play it again for the first time”. The “tank controls”—a design decision I’ve defended on multiple occasions as one that absolutely heightens the tension of a survival horror video game—took a bit of getting used to, as all the previous modernized games had discarded them. But after eleven hours of pushing Jill and Chris around Veronica’s beautifully rendered scenes I once again appreciated the brilliance of their implementation.
This is not a game for anyone raised on the modern Resident Evils. It takes patience that I fear far too few younger gamers possess. But if you’ve got the grit, it’s essential for understanding the grand narrative this franchise possesses.
2024.10.25 – 2024.10.27
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