Classic survival horror fare, but those without the stomach for old school convention should play the GC Remake instead.
The Resident Evil experience begins (as many will know) with one of the most unintentionally hilarious opening intros in videogame history. The intro comes in the form of a live action movie shot starring a bunch of people pratting around in a bizarre B-movieesque scenario that sets the scene for the rest of the games plot and script silliness. The helicopter that drops off and abandons the game's protagonists may as well have been a metaphor for the game's audience as Chris Redfield screams 'NOOO, DON'T GOOOO' in perhaps the most unconvincing bid to save himself since Justin Beiber's appearance on CSI. One useful thing the intro does manage to do successfully is introduce the cast of characters, each striking a pose as their name is called by a man who always dreamed of being the voice over for a Hollywood movie trailer.
One thing that has always impressed me about the original Resident Evil was how despite its ridiculous set up and cheese drenched characters it still has a solid sense of atmosphere and this is very much the case even today. The generally solid soundtrack contributes well to this atmosphere and provides fittingly eerie music to most of its scenarios; the pre-rendered environments still look pretty good and while the game's polygonal characters and enemies don't stand the test of time quite as well the game comes across pretty well for an original Playstation game.
By modern standards the game's pace is more resident pensioner than special tactics and rescue squad member, and anyone new to the concept of tank controls may just be turned off immediately, however I found returning to such a different set of gameplay regulations and game pace quite refreshing in contrast to the often frantic and reflex based gaming of current times. Some may also find the cycle of find item, place item, find item, combine item, place item quite tedious but given that there is a fair amount of zombie splattering, snake wrangling and Barry Burton's accidental comedy moments in between the game manages to create quite a nice albeit leisurely rhythm that is rare in games released today.
While the aforementioned fetch, combine, place structure doesn't vary much throughout the entirety of the game, Resident Evil: Directors Cut's environments are quite diverse for an old Playstation title. Between the grandeur of the mansions entrance hall and the dusty dilapidation of the attic to the damp industrial concrete halls of the basement complex, you never feel like you've been in the same kind of environment for too long, so virtual cabin fever never manifests itself as an additional horror to face.
Another diverse aspect to be found within the game not related to processing power or complex gameplay mechanics is the amount of strategy that can be employed due to a number of clever design choices. Due to a limitation in item slots each of the games two characters are assigned in which to carry the games weapons, health items, keys and the like, you will likely find yourself developing your own individual approach to overcoming such a limitation. Will you travel light, carrying limited weaponry and health items so as to leave inventory space for puzzle items and keys for new areas? Will you hoard your herbs, playing defensively to allow yourself to take damage from the zombies you decide to leave standing? Or will you be an offensive powerhouse blowing away anything that so much as twitches, but being in a bit of a crisis should you get caught off guard reloading?
The variety is increased more by having the option to play as either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine that while both initially seeming very similar have a different number of item slots and differences in speed and capacity for damage which means certain play methods are suited to one better than the other even though they can be adopted by both. Each character will also be aided by their own exclusive support character and will be exposed to slightly different scenarios throughout the game, adding immensely to potential replay value.
When it comes to the crunch, there is no hiding that Resident Evil: Directors Cut is dated in both design and from a technical standpoint, but that's not to say it's completely without merit as a gaming experience today. This game for all its age has a unique flavour of B-movie meets satisfyingly creepy that's hard to come across these days and wasn't present in the frankly chilling Gamecube Remake. As an authentic insight into the origins of a great game franchise and as an excuse to celebrate its 15th anniversary, Resident Evil: Directors Cut is a must play, but it's worth keeping in mind that overall enjoyment will likely be influenced by your ability to stomach slower paced gameplay and the limitations you would expect from a game well over a decade old.