Resident Evil | DJcube

Turn out the lights. Lock the doors… Live the Nightmare.

JP release: 22nd March 2002
NA release: 30th April 2002
EU release: 13th September 2002
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
NGC Magazine Score: 89%
Mods Used: Texture Pack

With the GameCube, Nintendo wanted to appeal to mature gamers more than they had done previously, and part of this was striking up a strong partnership with Capcom. Nintendo managed to get them to not only make new Resident Evil games exclusive to the GameCube, but also bring over the previous main games to their platform.

For the first Resident Evil, Capcom weren’t happy with just porting it over, and wanted to see what graphics they could get out of the GameCube, so decided to completely make the game from scratch – REmake, as fans call it. On top of the grapgics, they added cut areas, made tweaks and readjusted the dialogue (which sadly means they got rid of the wonderful “Jill Sandwich” line and replaced it with something that is more awkward and less amusing).

And they managed to make something absolutely gorgeous. Even when I turned the mod I used off, it still looked great (just pixelated as it was made for standard definition). A lot of this isn’t just the pre-rendered backgrounds alone, but how well they managed to sell them as fully 3D environments that the characters were actually walking around.

This was achieved by some masterful lighting and shadow techniques, with flickering eclectic lights, dancing fames from candles and lightning all having an effect on how each “scene” looks, with realistic looking shadows completely selling the effect that this is a living, breathing world, and not a painting.

With how much effort was put into the graphics and the knowledge that this is a beloved classic, I’m really sad that I really can’t get into the game itself. I’m not a fan of the fixed camera angles or the tank controls, but what made me tear my hair out was the inventory.

I fully understand that a limited inventory (six or eight slots, depending on your choice of character) is vital for a survival horror, and that managing weapons, herbs and ammo is a big part of the series. Those things I don’t have an issue with, as balancing what you take with you is a vital part of the game.

They even adjusted things for the REmake, making things like defensive items not take up inventory space. I really think they went the wrong way round with this, though. Those defensive items should use up inventory space. Instead, the main thing that shouldn’t need inventory space are quest items.

As I played, I got more and more frustrated with the extra backtracking because I didn’t have the right puzzle items in my inventory, or that my inventory was full and you can’t throw stuff away to make space. In these instances, you have to backtrack to a save room to adjust your inventoy.

It’s a shame, as I know there’s a brilliant game hidden here. I can see the greatness myself, and there’s so much wonderful stuff. I just personally can’t get over the movement and inventory, and that fault is on me.

Fun

You’re probably thinking that too much of this review had seen spent carping about the game, rather than praising it, especially if you’ve seen the score. But that’s because we’re so disappointed with the elements that don’t work, that spoil the game. Resident Evil is obviously a labour of love for Capcom – you can see it in the visuals, in the presentation of a product so polished that it dazzles.
Jes Bickham, NGC Magazine #72

Remake or remaster?

It’s a shame that Capcom lost the original renders, because the original work in a higher resolution would likely look better than upsacled backgrounds, and they could properly render them in widescreen. It would also be interesting to see a full remake in the style of the newer remakes.

Official Ways to get the game

The HD version of Resident Evil games are available on PC, Switch, PS4/5 and Xbox One/Series. The lighting and colours look a little bit off and the widescreen mode is just horribly zoomed in.