Silicon Fusion >> News >> New Resident Evil Zero screens and details

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12th December 2002:
New Resident Evil Zero screens and details
Capcom's first GameCube-exclusive Resi title is looking great - check out new screenshots and a hands-on report right here!
Posted by Marc Hull - GameCube - UK and Europe

When Capcom announced that the Resident Evil series was turning GameCube-exclusive, many were confused about their choice of platform. Sure, the GameCube's a great console, but it had been unfairly branded as a 'kiddy' platform, while the Xbox and PS2 were seen to be for more 'mature gamers'. Well, after porting across the original Resident Evil in such style earlier this year, I think all doubts about their choice of platform have now vanished. And if you loved the first Resident Evil, their new GameCube-only prequel is likely to give you uncontrollable bowel movements of the kind only experienced after curry nights.

Resident Evil Zero is set just before the mansion incident, and involves you taking on the role of Rebecca Chambers from the original game as she investigates the disappearance of a framed convict, Billy Coen, who escaped after the military transport truck holding him is masacred by zombies. Upon finding Coen, the player can utilise the game's "character zapping" system to switch between the two, opening up loads of team-work-based puzzle opportunities.

We recently got to play a near-complete version of the game at a Nintendo press event, and are pleased to say that it's coming along really well. The graphics surpass even those set in the GameCube's Resident Evil 1 remake, by offering much more animated backdrops and more detailed characters. In one scene, Rebecca and Billy have to make their way across the roof of a moving train, with rain pelting down on them as they try to make their way to the front carriage, and it all looks superb! The only questionable thing is the variety between this episode and the previous games, but Capcom hopes to dispel any doubts using the two-character system. This is introduced very early in the game, and you'll soon find that teamwork is the only way to overcome most of the title's puzzles.

Choosing which character you want to play as is as easy as choosing and option from the pause-menu, although when the two characters are together things get a little more tricky. You are given the option to either allow the other character to be controlled automatically, or to control him/her yourself by using the GameCube's C-stick. Additionally, you have to keep track of both your health and your partner's, since they both have individual health bars.

However, while the gameplay may have changed, the style of the game retains the general scariness that the series is well known for. Cut-scenes are now quite frequent, with most being done in realtime, but some of the really spectacular ones left to FMV where every drop of blood can be shown in all its gory detail; and if some of the sequences we saw early on are anything to go by, you won't be playing this game with the lights off!

While it may still be a few months away from release, Resident Evil Zero is well worth getting excited about. This game really does push the GameCube to the max, with some incredible graphics and a great atmosphere. We hope to have more details very soon, but in the meantime check out these brand new screenshots!

Marc Hull

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Related Games:

Resident Evil Zero
for GameCube

Screenshots