Resident Evil is the grandaddy of all shock / gore / horror games. I would reccomend its instant purchase if you haven't arleady got it in your games collection. ( I think it is easy for seasoned gamers to forget that there is a constant and never ending supply of new entrants to the wonderful world of the playstation, many of whom are new to the PS and have not ever been scared by a computer game!)

The graphics and plot have been surpassed by recent editions to the genre, ( not least the newer Res Evil games, and other such as Silent Hill), but I can vividly remember my engagement with resident evil, the intricate plot line, creepy music and sheer difficulty of the game made it one that you were keen to finish and gained a real sense of achievement when you finally did, ( sad, I know . .!) Also, ( and this is the mark of a REALLY good game), with the sense of triumph over completing the game, comes a sad morose feeling too, because you know you have done it, its over, there are no more flesh eating zombies that you haven't wasted, no creepy poison spitting spiders, no more mutant dogs or creepy hunters.

The game is set in a decayed mansion, in which there are many doors. Unfortunately, (or luckily for you, brave one), many of these are locked and can only be opened by finding the relevant keys, which are strategically placed throughout the game. The mansion is peopled by horrid zombies, ( I just will not believe anyone who didn't get a prickly feeling when the first one gave that characteristic groan on entering the first room, then lurched towards you . . . .). Not only that, but the player has to have a good sense of location and geographical orientation, as the game takes you on many twists and turns through the mansion and you need to be cautious of every corner you turn!

I cannot begin to describe how brilliant this game is first time around, ( it does get a bit tedious and tame on repetition though), and if you can play
it alone, at night, for the first time, in the dark, having had a beer or two and then not feel a bit wary of going up the stairs in the darkness , then you are a better man than me! This is a top top game and deserves a place in any respecting PS owners locker.