Your inventory shows on screen, which is a stark contrast from the older-feeling inventory system. The constant footsteps and their increase in pitch as a monster nears is one of gaming's most tense moments.Īs for the gameplay, Capcom seems to have found the sweet spot between old and new. At times, the sound alone makes the player feel helpless or akin to a puppet on strings and the atmospheric detail only becomes more stress-inducing when a certain roaming monster is added to the mix. If a player has headphones on, a simple stroll down a hallway one knows they've already cleared is still a tense affair-and Leon or Claire will comment on it to let the player know, too. Directional noises with the proper pitch to indicate relative closeness is a masterful stroke of an addition a horror game needs. The sound design is a shining feat for Capcom.

Yet, as good as that all sounds, even the stunning graphics fall behind something else-the sounds. The only thing offsetting the dread is some of the dialogue and Leon's amateur innocence, which we know from sequels hardens and goes away in a hurry. Rather, just an onslaught of violence, dark corners and dangerous blind turns in an uber-detailed labyrinth. There aren't any cheery visual breathers. There's also the droplets of water from the downpour on his leather jacket that move realistically along with his reaction.Īnd the palette and tone it sets are immeasurable. When Leon runs by a pile of garbage aflame in the street, he recoils from it. The little graphical things is where Capcom flexes with the technology. It isn't out of the player's control or intrusive, but it's the little things that count. And once the zombie falls at the player's feet, your character gives it a swift kick out of frustration. Between the latter two shots, Leon or Claire will react in surprise that the enemy hasn't gone down. Ditto for the second shot and the third-provided the player doesn't miss, because the zombie's balance and trajectory change with each impact. Shoot an approaching zombie once, and the damage shows on its face as it resets and starts approaching again. Graphical detail combines with gameplay incredibly well. And this is a gory affair, though it is hard to not appreciate the realism accompanying it. Zombies have never looked this good, and without going into too much detail, neither has gore. Kidding aside and chef hat off, the burger is a serious preview to this game's best-in-class presentation. Resident Evil 2 doesn't take long to show players it is one of the greatest graphical feats of gaming to date.Īnd it does so via the best looking hamburger to ever appear in a video game, from the way it looks to the way it moves and squishes-not to mention the sounds to go with it.

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