Resident Evil 0 Review

Resident Evil 0 is a masterclass in survival horror, and still stands today as one of the best.

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Resident Evil 0:

Resident Evil Zero was the last true Resident Evil game. I’m not trying to be elitist here – the revolutionary Resident Evil 4 that would appear on Gamecube three years later was phenomenal, but it forever changed the series, how it played and how we viewed it within our industry. Resident Evil 0 was a culmination of everything the team at Capcom had learnt over the past five games, and inarguably a send-off to the traditional game play we’d all become familiar with. It’s a good thing, then, that this send-off was a great one, and I’m thrilled to see it remastered here for everyone to enjoy all over again.

Storyline:

Resident Evil 0 is set before the events of the original games – that’s before the mansion incident, before Racoon City went to the (zombie) dogs and before Jill Valentine decided a tube top was more appropriate zombie fighting garb than a standard issued STARS uniform.

If you’ve played the original Resident Evil games but never touched Zero, I demand you rectify that now. Starring Rebecca Chambers – the plucky medic that Chris can meet during the original game – and Billy Coen – a former marine who recently turned his hand to mass murder – Resi 0 explores the adventures of STARS Bravo team, whose myriad corpses you may remember dotted around the original game.

The prequel actually provides a lot of answers and context to the games that chronologically follow, and I loved filling in the narrative blanks as I went about answering very old questions. The game’s stars are some of the series’ most likeable and best, and whilst the writing is as corny as ever there’s definitely a purposeful streak to it in Zero. Capcom were leaning into their camp traditions and balancing this goofy nature to a more serious story.

Gameplay:

Resident Evil 0 almost plays like a greatest hits of the past few titles. Aside from constantly being aware that the storyline is rolling uncontrollably towards the bloody beginnings of the original Resident Evil, Zero is determined to remind you of everything that has come before and iterate upon it.

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Rooms are set up with backtracking in mind; certain corpses linger a long time before they finally pop up and pounce at you. Whilst these moments are great on their own, it’s the multiple times you’ll have to make your way past them where nothing happens that the game is at its most tense. Exploration is as key-centric as ever (though keys come in many guises, now) demanding you learn a place and its intricacies before you finally leave it for the next zombie filled mess the game sends you to.

The main quirk of the game – the ‘character zapping’ system that lets you switch at will between playing as Rebecca or Billy – is a tribute to the twin paths of previous Resident Evil games. At all times, Zero provides you with the best of its past whilst cutting down on a lot of the bugbears that had plagued the series before. For instance, instead of backtracking needlessly to an item box to free up space you can now put down items for an important key or a cooler looking gun. That said, there was still far too much to pick up at times – even with two inventories to fill – which led to some very frustrating decisions of what to leave.

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The character zapping really is the heart of Zero, though, offering you two leads that play very differently. Billy is better in a fight and is useful in some of the more physical puzzles, whilst Rebecca is an experienced herbalist and can explore areas Billy can’t. Knowing who to use when is as important as any other decision in Zero, and inhabiting the skin of both characters means the story works that much better too.

Good

  • Plays like a Resident Evil Greatest Hits
  • Great looking remaster
  • Character zapping mixes up the formula

Bad

  • Certain rooms intended to drain your supplies
  • Too many items to pick up
8.6

Great

Story - 8
Graphics - 8.5
Sound - 8.5
Gameplay - 9
Value - 9
Reviewer - GamerKnights

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