Resident Evil:
Code Veronica X

Don't be fooled by the competition's zombie clones—Shinji Mikami's chilling sequel is horror done right

	Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
	By Capcom
	PlayStation 2
	MSRP: $49.95

Review by Mark H. Walker

e love to be scared. If not, there wouldn't be a dozen Friday the 13th sequels, a couple of handfuls of Dracula movies, or Tammy Baker in full makeup. Capcom executive producer Shinji Mikami tapped into this basic need five years ago when he designed the original Resident Evil. The game's edge-of-the-seat tension and heart-pounding action made it an instant success.

Several years, a dozen clones by rival gaming companies, and a game platform later, Capcom has thrown Resident Evil: Code Veronica X onto the PlayStation 2. Once again, the heroine from the previous Resident Evil series, Claire Redfield, is neck-deep in zombies and things that go bump in the night. Searching for her missing brother, Chris, Claire is captured by the secretive Umbrella Corporation. Clare is imprisoned on a remote island, and things look bleak. A rival corporation, however, destroys the island's defenses, and Claire escapes, only to find that Umbrella's heinous experiments have once again angered Mother Nature, and the zombies are back. Claire must find a way to fight through the zombies, find her brother, escape the island and stop Umbrella's sinister plans.

Players assume the persona of first Claire Redfield and later her brother, Chris. Playing from a third-person perspective, gamers must trek across the island, solving puzzles and picking up useful equipment such as bullets, lighters and knives, and killing lots of monsters. Resident Evil: Code Veronica X is a long game, and once complete there are additional tribulations such as battle mode, in which players fight through a ton of monsters just for the fun of it. There is no multiplayer option.

All that's missing is the blood

Resident Evil: Code Veronica reasserts Shinji Mikami's and Capcom's position as leaders in the survival horror genre. Everything about this game is done right. From creepy camera angles to believable story, the game will suck players in from the opening full-motion animation and take them on a wild ride.

The tension is amazing. This is a game, for goodness' sake—but game or not, Resident Evil: Code Veronica X knows how to put sweat on gamers' palms. In one scene, a zombie smashes through a window as Claire walks by, startling both Claire and the gamer. In another, an unknown entity watches Claire from beneath a wooden porch as she descends the steps. Spooky stuff.

Capcom's attention to detail is magnificent. Rain pours from the night sky while lightning flickers on the horizon. Street lamps drip rosy light on wooden buildings, generating a realism that draws players into the game. The rain even runs through gutters and pours from downspouts as Claire walks by. The controls are effortless, and even the most twitch-challenged gamer will soon be killing zombies like a pro. Conversely, the puzzles can be a bit frustrating. It always seems to require a couple of keys and a ticket to last year's Super Bowl to enter important rooms. On the other hand, the zombies seem to have no problem accessing the most arcane corners of the island.

Sound plot, luscious graphics and tense play make this a game to savor. A frightful delight, Resident Evil: Code Veronica X is best played late at night, in a darkened room, with your back to an open door. After all, we all love to be scared.

Rarely has a game so aptly blended fright with fun. — Mark

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