vlad_davidov Reviews

Resident Evil: Survivor (2000 Video Game)

Not as bad as it's made out to be.

[10 April 2003]

First, I'll get the cons over with:

Yes, this game likely could have benefited from either an in-game save feature, light gun support, or CG FMVs, but that's about it.

The creators did go out on a limb with this project, and the end result is actually quite unique. The idea that the main character was stricken with amnesia and unsure as to who he is or why he was there ( Later stolen by Paul Anderson for the RE movie ) wasn't a bad idea, although it didn't really take a rocket scientist to figure out that he wasn't really 'Vincent'.

Another switch from the usual characteristics of the RE series is the weapons. In most Resident Evil games, your weaponry is limited to a Beretta, a Remington shotgun, and some random .357 pistol. Now they offer you three different sidearms ( I don't really consider the Japanese weapon worth using, but oh well. ), one having average rounds per minute and reloading time ( Glock 17 ), slow RPM and fast reloading ( Beretta Cougar ), and lighting-quick RPM and slow reloading time ( Czech-75 ). Gun nuts like myself will love this game.

One of the things with the normal Resident Evil games is that you always encounter it from a third-person perspective. Therefore, you know for sure if there's some evil low-budget zombie coming up from behind you. In this game, you won't know they're behind you until they take a big chunk out of your neck ( The sudden act of it all is more surprising/frightening than it sounds ).

Likely the reason that you cannot sidestep, or run and fire at the same time, is due to the fact that you can't do either of those in other Resident Evil games either. You always had to stop where you were, aim with R1, and then give whoever stands in the way, Holy hell. Plus it reminds me of the old nostalgia games where you had to beat the game all at once, like so many memorable NES games.

All in all, Resident Evil: Survivor is definitely worthy of belonging in a Resident Evil Junkie's collection, and even worthy of the casual player. Like all firsts of a genre, it has its lacking spots, but it's great to see how it's performed. I'd say four stars out of five.

Dino Crisis (1999 Video Game)

Jurassic Park meets Resident Evil.

[10 April 2003]

Dino Crisis improves on many aspects of Resident Evil, but it falls short in some other areas.

The main plus - Now you can aim AND walk at the same time. It's just...really cool. Another plus is the advanced mixing system, that allows you to create even more powerful medical equipment/weapons than before.

Not to mention that killing dinosaurs is just fun in general.

And the storyline isn't what you'd think at first glance, either. The dinos aren't created by some horrible genetic experiment horribly gone wrong, but I'll leave how it actually happens to the gamer.

Also, gone are pre-rendered backgrounds, the game is now completely in 3D ( Sort of like Code: Veronica ), and the graphics are just sensational.

Saving is also much easier. Instead of having to have enough Ink Ribbons ( Meaning you can only save so many times ), you only have to locate a save point, where you can save your game as many times as you'd like.

The FMVs are sensational, and the voiceovers are superb.

The problems lay in the gameplay though. You only get three weapons tops ( But you can upgrade them to compensate ), such as a Glock, a SPAS shotgun, and the HK Grenade Pistol.

Another downside is the item box system. There are now three different kinds of boxes you can store things in, and in order to open them, you need so many 'Plugs' to open them. But, as an added plus, each box will usually come ready-equipped with stuff already in it.

Also, the game has many keypads which require codes, which are either incredibly hard to find, or just darn-near impossible ( Thank God for FAQs ).

If these problems don't affect your gameplay, you'll get quite a lot of mileage out of this game. Otherwise, this will only be a one-ride game. Kudos to Capcom though, this was a really good idea.

**** out of Five.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999 Video Game)

Not the best, but still a worthy part-three.

[10 April 2003]

Hot off the wild success of the second installment of Resident Evil, one would think that another game starring Jill Valentine would be even better. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get varied responses, but of course, it's by far better than the first one.

You only get to play as one person through this crazy roller coaster ride, Jill Valentine ( Not counting the small part when you play as Carlos ), whereas in 'Rez' 2, you could play up to four different ways ( Claire A/B, Leon A/B ).

Yet another change is where the game takes place. The first game took place in a Mansion, the second one took place in well, a bunch of places ( Art Gallery-Turned Police Station, sewers, Umbrella lab, etc. ), and this time around, the entire City of Raccoon is your playground.

But they made up for the lack of multiple ways to play. Jill can earn up to five extra outfits ( 70's Disco, STARS, Meter Maid, Regina from Dino Crisis, and Leather bodysuit ), and the weapons have become far less exotic from Resident Evil 2, but there are a lot more of them, not to mention the ability to create new weapons from parts given from the downed Nemesis.

Oh yeah, Nemesis. Remember how many times Tyrant popped up during the B game of RE2? Remember how he usually caught you at the worst times? Guess what? Nemesis shows up even MORE times! ( I lost track around twelve ). He's certainly a persistent little bugger.

I don't find it scared me as often as the other games, but it's still fun to play over and over ( Is it because Jill's just eye candy? Maaaaaaaaybe. ), and ponder time and time again, just how the heck Jill can run around killing zombies in a miniskirt and a halter top? Perhaps the zombies caught her in the middle of a date.

Final Score - ****½ out of five.

GoldenEye 007 (1997 Video Game)

The Grand Daddy of them all.

[10 April 2003]

Guns, Gadgets, and Women. Bond in a nutshell. Throw in a tank, lush locations, and a multiplayer mode which will keep you desperately looking for your buddies to play with, and you have Goldeneye 007.

The game follows the movie closely, and even fills in some of the spots which weren't included in the movie ( i.e, anything between Runway and Statue Park ). Perhaps the best film-adaption game there is.

The arsenal is one of the largest, and by far the coolest I've ever seen ( Coming from a Gun Junkie ). Even though all the guns' names were changed to prevent copyright infringement, Bond's classic PPK is still there, silent and deadly. The game has at least twenty weapons to choose from, and that's if you don't include all the Bondy gadgets you get to use. If they only had reload animations, I'd never put the controller down.

But the game doesn't concentrate on spying so much, even with the objectives, fans of gory arcade shooters like Doom will still have a lot of fun with this, and with all the Bond references, it will even bring new fans into the James Bond craze.

This game is six stars out of five. If this game was any better, you'd be experiencing it live, and in person.

Die Another Day (2002)

The First Original Bond Movie in Ages

[10/10 · 22 November 2002]

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Lately, it seems that all of the Brosnan-Era films, and even some of the Dalton-era Bond films were stealing ideas and components from the 007 movies of the past. Die Another Day not only succeeds as one of the Best Bond movies of all time, but one of the best movies of the year.

Most elements in Bond movies are somewhat predictable ( The sidekick of Bond that helps the most turns out to be a dirty rotten traitor, the big guy's device turns into some kind of weapon, etc.), but aside from those two, this movie throws all kinds of surprises at everyone.

Bond sits in his office at MI6, when he faintly hears the sound of a silenced gunshot. He stops cleaning his Walther P99, and slowly creeps out of his office, taking out two armed men before meeting up with Robertson, one of the other MI6 personnel. People lay dead everywhere, and as he steps into M's office - Moneypenny's been shot, between the eyes! Then he busts into M's actual office, shoots one terrorist, then aims at one holding M hostage ( Sort of like the TWINE 64 game ), then fires a few times. Then out of nowhere, R ( Or the new Q ) appears, like some kind of hologram. Then Bond takes off his VR goggles. R claims Bond fouled up the training mission by also killing M, his response? "Check the replay - He's dead, and M only has a flesh wound."

James Bond gadgets have finally emerged to the point where they definitely surpass technology again. It's like we went back to the sixties, with Thunderball and the Jet Pack (Which won an Oscar for special effects). The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish ( Or as R put it, 'Vanish') can disappear by using a series of cameras to project what would be on the other side. Looks like Captain Picard and Kirk are getting their devices stolen.

But a welcome aspect from previous Bond movies - Mostly of the Moore era - have returned. The humour. Not enough to classify the movie as a comedy, but certainly numerous opportunities to burst out laughing.

And in the introduction, where Bond is captured and held prisoner for 14 months before MI6 and the NSA step in to get him back (Making the NSA's debut in the Bond series). THAT was original. Despite dodging bullets for 40 years, he's still human - I guess he's entitled to one screwup every half-century.

If there's anything I can complain about, it's Madonna. Her cameo didn't seem all that obvious. I could have sworn that it was Glenn Close, and not her. At least her song can be overlooked, as what's happening while the song plays is important to see.

Five stars, two thumbs up, whatever you use to rate it, it gets all. They'll have one heck of a time topping this movie.

Spider-Man (2002)

Lives up to the hype

[10/10 · 4 May 2002]

Nothing was more satisfying than seeing this masterpiece before my friends did.

The movie grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go until the ending credits. Danny Elfman once again pulls off a magnificent musical score.

Although I personally think Tobey Maguire isn't exactly the best looking guy, but you can't really give the part of a science nut to a jock either. He fits the part nicely, although his odd smile will give me nightmares for weeks.

Willem Dafoe is just the kind of villain that the big-name movie series need. He fits the role excellently. Perhaps the Bond series should invest in his talents at some point.

I don't really think of Kirsten Dunst as much of an MJ. I think her days of acting teenagers are over, but it was a lovely performance none the less.

Although one element I never expected to be included was - Amateur wrestling. God that sequence was funny. ^_^

One of the best movie theatre experiences I can say I ever had. Ranks up there with Resident Evil.