Resident Evil: Dead Aim Preview

By Giancarlo Varanini, GameSpotPosted Apr 16, 2003 2:09 pm PT

Find out more about the next Resident Evil light-gun game for the PlayStation 2.

Capcom's Resident Evil: Survivor series was first conceived as an opportunity to branch out from the Resident Evil storyline and gameplay mechanics, placing an emphasis on action as opposed to the puzzle-solving elements in the adventure-oriented originals. Indeed, Capcom even went so far as to change the perspective and gameplay to resemble something that you might find in a light-gun game like Sega's The House of the Dead--except the Survivor games didn't force you to move in any particular direction, instead allowing you to freely explore the games' environments and avoid enemy confrontations when necessary. The latest game in the series, Resident Evil: Dead Aim, has many of the same features and mechanics as its predecessors, but interestingly, Capcom has made some changes to make the game feel more like some of the classic Resident Evil titles, the most notable of which is the addition of the third-person perspective.

Capcom has added a third-person perspective for Dead Aim.

Don't think that this has turned Dead Aim into the next major Resident Evil game--much of the game is focused on action and little else. But even so, Resident Evil: Dead Aim has some of the classic Resident Evil characteristics, including a storyline that revolves around the T virus developed by the Umbrella Corporation. This time, a man named Morpheus has stolen the virus and essentially unleashed it on a hijacked Umbrella cruise ship. As special government operative Bruce McGivern, you have to track down Morpheus and fight through the hordes of horrible creatures that are now running rampant the cruise ship, including some familiar enemies from previous Resident Evil games. Naturally, you'll meet up with other characters along the way, some of whom you'll actually have to control in later on in the game.

There are a number of other similarities as well. Like the other Resident Evil: Survivor games, Resident Evil: Dead Aim features an inventory system that allows you to store ammunition, weapons, and various health power-ups such as the first-aid spray and the green herbs. You can also view the files that you collect throughout the game, as well as a map of the ship. This inventory system isn't all that complex, but then again it really doesn't need to be, since Bruce won't be running around the ship, collecting different jewels, shields, lighters, or any of the other common items found in the standard Resident Evil games. You'll still have to find keys or keycards that make different parts of the ship accessible to Bruce, but most of them can be found near the locked doors they open.

The emphasis is still on action, but there are some similarities to other Resident Evil games.

But the similarities go beyond just the inventory system. Like the traditional Resident Evil games, Dead Aim takes place in the third-person perspective, at least when you're not engaged in a battle against the undead. This allows you to have a broader view of your surroundings, which can be useful when looking for items or for spotting enemies that may not be directly in your line of sight when in the first-person mode. It also lends itself well to avoiding enemies entirely, since you can now maneuver your character with precision through the dark and dusty environments.

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1 Comments

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jakeboudville
Posted Sep 30, 2006 12:25 am PT

sounds cool
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