Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

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Product Description The zombies from the original Resident Evil have returned to give gamers another taste of terror in this third installment of the popular horror survival series. The game begins with Jill Valentine, who survived the first quest, but now finds herself surrounded by flesh-eating zombies as she tries to leave Raccoon City. Once again, there is lots of bone-crunching action as Jill defends herself against this never-ending army of the undead. Later in the game, players will assume the role of Carlos Oliveira, a Brazilian mercenary who will race against the clock to aid Jill in the morbid madness. This game boasts tougher zombies and a few new moves to help you survive. At many points in the game, you will be chased relentlessly by the unstoppable Nemesis. This larger-than-life enemy appears to be impossible to destroy, which essentially means that you will have to outrun and evade it to survive. Nemesis may be slowed momentarily by a few bullets, but this creepy creature just keeps on coming. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis appears to have all the elements in place to become yet another classic. The success of the original game and its sequel has already spawned numerous imitations in the horror survival game genre. However, few games have been able to successfully replicate the spooky sounds and tension-building storyline of the original. It is also worth noting that this zombie-filled game does contain blood and gore that parents may feel is inappropriate for younger children. Amazon.com The third installment of the series that redefined the survival horror video game genre, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is the best Resident Evil yet. As Jill Valentine, one of the original game's survivors, players must fight for their lives while fleeing a city overrun by hordes of zombies and other hideous creatures mutated by a sinister corporation's biotechnological virus. To make thing worse, a near-invincible monstrosity known as the Nemesis stalks Jill throughout the game, which raises the series' suspense level to an all-new high. In addition to the constant threat of the Nemesis, Resident Evil 3 features other gameplay elements new to the series: players can now dodge attacks, perform quick 180-degree turns, and create ammunition by mixing gunpowder types. Also, the "Live Selection" feature forces players to make decisions that affect the story's direction. While none of these additions are particularly groundbreaking, Resident Evil 3 keeps the player in suspense and the action even more intense than in its predecessors, proving that more of same can be a good--make that very, very good--thing in a sequel. --Joe Hon Pros: Suspenseful and thoroughly engrossing storyline Suspenseful and thoroughly engrossing storyline Excellent use of topnotch graphics and sound to establish mood Excellent use of topnotch graphics and sound to establish mood Improved controls and faster load time between scenes Improved controls and faster load time between scenes The Mercenaries secret game adds serious replay value Cons: Third-person, fixed-camera-angle point-of-view can be awkward May be too intense for younger players The Mercenaries secret game adds serious replay value Cons: Third-person, fixed-camera-angle point-of-view can be awkward Third-person, fixed-camera-angle point-of-view can be awkward May be too intense for younger players May be too intense for younger players Review While Alone in the Dark may have been the forefather of the survival horror genre, Capcom's Resident Evil series perfected it, with each installment improving on its predecessor with finesse and style. Now Capcom's bread 'n' butter flagship series (no, not Street Fighter, silly) is back in the form of Resident Evil 3 Nemesis. It seems Jill Valentine just managed to get cleaned up from her adventures in the original RE. When she returns to Raccoon City, it seems as though the entire Umbrella incident has been swept under the rug. Disenchanted, she quits the STARS force, hoping to catch up with Chris Redfield, who's already backpacking through Europe en route to investigating Umbrella's European headquarters. But before Jill can get out of Dodge, the zombies come back in force, putting an abrupt halt to her plans. Taking place the day/night before the events that transpire in RE2, Nemesis, ironically, is the most sophisticated of all the RE games, both graphically and in terms of gameplay. While it stays true to the format, keeping the prerendered backgrounds of the previous games, RE3 is the most accomplished of the three. If you thought the graphics in RE2 were pretty sharp, Nemesis' are of even greater detail, with a higher resolution and get this - the loading times are faster. Jill Valentine is also easy on the eyes, looking light years ahead of the comparatively blocky models in the original game. Smooth light sourcing and practically flawless character models give the game an extremely sharp look. In terms of gameplay, the controls remain largely the same. While it would be interesting to see how the Biohazard series would function with more of a 3D-platform game-control scheme, anyone comfortable with the RE setup will find RE3's even better. For starters, Capcom has implemented an auto-aiming function that doesn't detract whatsoever from the challenge in the game. What this does is keep you from wasting your ammo trying to line up shots from difficult angles. There is also a defensive sidestep that lets you dodge when an enemy attacks you, something Nemesis (he has a rocket launcher, the rat!) does with vigor. Thankfully, during your travels, you'll find that the game's puzzles are a lot more reasonable, with none of that "ooh, I'm dying, please go all the way across the mansion and solve tricky puzzles to get me the antidote, only to return and find that I'm dead anyway" stuff. Another new feature initiated in RE3 is the ammo system. Throughout the game you will come across all types of gunpowder, which you will use to create a variety of ammunition for the various weapons you collect. Which powders you mix together will determine what sort of ammo you come up with (explosive, acid, etc.). And you'll want to collect as much of it that you can because you will definitely need it by the end of the game. Nemesis does not go down easily. There is also a new pick-your-path feature that lets you opt for one of two choices during key points of the game. Which action you choose will dictate how the game continues. You can play through this game a number of times and not see the same things twice - which is great, but this leads us to the "downside" of the game. If you were spoiled by the two-character system in the first game, and super-spoiled by the two-character, two-disc, four-scenario system of the second game, then you'll be disappointed when you find that there is only one character and one disc to play in RE3. While this really isn't all that big of a deal by comparison, the game is over a lot sooner than the previous two games. In fact, aside from a brief jaunt as Carlos Oliveira (an Umbrella mercenary), you pretty much make your way through the game as Jill and only Jill. Fortunately, there is a not-so-mini minigame that opens up after you beat the game that lets you win points and buy weapons with unlimited ammo, which you can use to play through the main game a second time. While it may seem as if Resident Evil fans are getting shortchanged on this one, it really isn't the case. Judged on its own merits, Resident Evil 3 is a truly outstanding game. Unlike other series (Street Fighter, Tomb Raider) that offer incremental "improvements," the RE lineup continues to refine an already excellent premise. This is a series with legs, and each new chapter does nothing to diminish it. --James Mielke -- Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc. -- GameSpot Review See more