Review of Resident Evil 2

Improving and expanding upon the classic original in every way except perhaps the raw terrifying atmosphere, this excellently-crafted sequel gave everything one could have possibly wanted in a zombie game and it set the bar for what horror games could accomplish. It may never have been as scary as Resident Evil 1 but this game too was pretty frightening back in the day, with disgusting monsters, a palpably tense atmosphere, and a chilling soundtrack that sounded like it was straight out of a high-budgeted horror movie. Sure until you got used to them, the controls were a real annoyance to work with, and sure the intricate puzzles of the police station involving fine works of art make no sense whatsoever..but who cares about that stuff? It was scary, and was bloody, and it was fun - it remains one if the best survival horror games to this day and was a blast to play. This was definitely one of the best Playstation games and it was my introduction to Resident Evil. I did play the first one later, and had my butt handed to me.. I'd say that this game is easy in comparison. The opening hurdle when you briefly meet the unfortunate owner of Kendo's Gun shop(and grab a handy shotgun from his chewed-upon corpse if you're playing as Leon, or a nifty bow-gun if Claire) and make your way through the fiery graffiti-sprayed alleyways to the presumed sanctuary of the police station where the game truly begins, as the station basically serves as this game's mansion in the woods. I love all of the pre-rendered backgrounds which are very varied and colourful in contrast to the original's predominantly dank Gothic visuals.. And I love a lot of the little things, like how much it made me jump the first time the licker leaps through the two-way mirror in the police station, how much of a crazy hoot Chief Irons is, and how you can do secret stuff like find a zombie Brad Vickers and even shoot the camera in certain spots! I like the Claire playthrough better because you face the unrelenting menace of a hulking tyrant in an overcoat who you bump into again and again in frightening encounters where he just walks up to you very slowly and lashes out with killer punches that pack the force of a sledgehammer. And until the end you can't kill him, just stun him for a while.. It used to make my heart leap whenever he'd unexpectedly explode out of a wall! It was a fine satisfying sequel and a classic game in its own right. "It looks like your party...has been cancelled!"