Some years back I was a die hard Nintendo freak. You couldn't pay me to get near a console from Sega or fresh blood like Sony. When the PSX was first introduced, I was still singing the praises of Nintendo's almighty Super NES (still the best). Foolish, I was. Ignorant in my quest for consistent gaming. And then one day back in 94 or 95, hell I can't remember, a friend of mine was desperate for a place to stay. I agreed and the only things he brought with him were a guitar, some clothing, and a Sony Playsation. I was so far gone on Nintendo that I argued with my friend periodically about the big N's superiority. That is, until he brought home Resident Evil one day....
....that day I will never forget.

With little argument I proceeded to indulge in the wonders of the most successful 32 bit machine. I owe my friend a debt of gratitude for opening my eyes to the possibilities. Needless to say, I've been a fiend for horror based games ever since. Resident Evil is the most complete series of games in the genre. When word broke of the Dreamcast's very own title, I was ecstatic. And now my friends, finally, I have my hands on Code Veronica.





If your a fan then quit reading right now and get yourself to the closest retailer and start dishing out the bread. Anyone, everyone go now. Why, you ask? Code Veronica isn't your typical RE game. As soon as you pop the game in, you'll be treated to an excellent cinema detailing past and current events, bringing you closer to the quest at hand. The opening sequence is top notch as are all of the cutscenes found in Code Veronica. Once you've been introduced to the current story, you'll find the same gameplay elements found in all RE games. Plenty of puzzles to keep you busy as well as the classic items screen that we have all become accustomed too.

Nothing is more sacred than witnessing a proven formula on a superior system. Code Veronica is
absolutely breathtaking. The detailed landscape is frighteningly realistic. Blood glows in the dark setting of this title, man it's eerie. Perfection isn't a word to be taken lightly and the programmer's from Capcom (blessed Capcom) haven't skimped on the environments one bit. Your surroundings will be instantly familiar, yet completely refreshing. It's hard to explain in words just how good this title looks. It definitely has the Resident Evil look to it, but it's just so much more. Even our good friend Claire looks like a million bucks. For that matter, every character looks like gold. It's a given that in the coming years we will pay witness to superior graphical qualities, but as of now Code Veronica is a title not to be messed with.





To fit the mood of the horror genre, Capcom has included the same formulaic tunes that have graced the series since day one. No, their not the exact same tunes found in the other titles, but they maintain the level of suspense that have made the games so engrossing. A particular piano tune will play through your head long after you have completed your quest. Zombies still moan like, well, Zombies. To this day, I still get excited when I enter a new room and hear the familiar moan of the dead.

Nothing has changed in the gameplay department. You may at first be somewhat taken for a ride by the Dreamcast controller set-up, but you'll soon be playing just like always. I can't say much for the control in the Resident Evil games. It's a rare case of content taking precedence over control. Controlling Claire or Leon isn't overly frustrating if your familiar with past games. If your new to the games then you might find the experience to be a bit brutal. Using the analog pad can be difficult. I suggest sticking with the proven D pad for this game. The control isn't really stiff, it's just illogical for inexperienced players. Moving your character aro
und and aiming your piece shouldn't be such a task. But hey, who am I kidding? I'm a sucker for these games and I'm just used to the style of gameplay.





It shouldn't come as a shock to you that Code Veronica is a longer quest than previous installments. Without the help of a strategy guide, you may be stuck on this one for weeks. And that really is what gaming is all about. I sometimes wish that strategy guides were never created. It's important to be challenged by games and if you just purchase a guide and sweep through it, you may just miss the technical brilliance of this (or any) game. The puzzles alone will have you frantically re-exploring areas to determine the most viable solution. Not to mention the games enemies. Just as always, you'll have to choose your items carefully. You never want to get stuck out in the middle of a new area where you come upon a valuable item and then, damn, your packing too many items and you have to backtrack to an item storage box. It's a clever system that Capcom has dreamed up. The game makes you think. Try not to let a strategy guide think for you.





No game in the series would be complete without it's share of frightening occurrences. To play a game such as this alone in the dark can summon up evil vibes quicker than any cheesy horror flick ever could. You know how it is, your walking through a new area, just knowing that anything could jump out at any minute, but you still harbor an abundance of confidence that nothing is going to happen. And right when you think everything's alright, BAM, a ghoul jumps out and starts sucking the brains right out of you. It's truly horrifying. You can never be sure of your place in this game. Walk slow through new areas and don't assume for a second that your in the clear.

What a slap in the face to Sony. Capcom has saved their best effort for the Dreamcast. Their is no game in the
series as brilliant as this. Code Veronica looks and plays better than any other RE game to date. The lengthy two disc quest will provide fans with their greatest triumph, ever.