Code Veronica is one of the best classic styled Resident Evils, but this lazy port is hardly worth the price tag.
Code Veronica isn't a bad game, but it's much more difficult and punishing than the newer entries in the series. It's also slower paced with less combat and much more puzzles. Combat, in fact, is something that should be avoided altogether thanks to a lack of ammunition. You probably get enough bullets to kill every zombie, but as soon as you encounter the first boss fight of the game you'll realize you didn't plan ahead. The game is in no way a third person shooter like 4&5, this is when Resident Evil was pure survival horror.
The controls haven't aged that well, so gamers of this generation might be turned off in general. For diehard fans of the series, or hardcore gamers willing to overlook some aged gameplay for an otherwise exciting gaming experience, Code Veronica X is still a tough sell.
The game itself holds up fine. Dialog is cheesy at times, but Code Veronica managed to be a frightful game on account that the setting, a prison island, was lonesome and creepy. The storyline, especially the second half, was rather grim even by Resident Evil standards. However, controlling Claire and watching her situation go from bad to worse (being imprisoned and then having zombies attack, yikes) can be an engaging enough experience. The twists and turns, and particularly the completely dark and gruesome enemies and fates of various characters make Code Veronica completely memorable.
If you're used to the controls, Code Veronica holds up fine. Again, they're dated by today's standards, but it doesn't make the game unplayable. It is, however, a difficult game. Previous titles were a bit more forgiving in terms of enemy placement and the maneuverability around the undead, but inexperienced players might get eaten alive, literally. Some of the puzzles, while not extremely challenging, are definitely more difficult than the completely "duh" simple ones of 4&5, so again if you're used to those games be warned this is a different thing completely.
So while the game does hold up well, despite the off-putting control scheme to some, Code Veronica X is a difficult title to recommend because of the price. In the USA, the game runs for $20. It's marketed as an HD version of the game, and while it does look substantially better on modern TVs than what the PS2 version looks like, it isn't up to standards with other ports. The Metal Gear Solid collection and Shadow of the Colossus, for example, used new textures, increased the resolution, and stabled the frame rate and a steady 60 frames per second while increasing the audio presentation. In Code Veronica X's case, they increased the resolution. All this is is an upscale. So a lot of the textures and overall aesthetic of the game just look blurry. The game also has a "fuzzy" sound to it with some of the louder noises, although not frequently enough for it to be annoying.
Resident Evil 4's HD rerelease was a little better because the game itself looked better upon release, and it also has more content as a game. When you finish Code Veronica, you have the option to replay it with a new unlocked weapon or two, and you get a Battle Mode. The Battle Mode is simply a timed mode where you play with a character with unlimited ammo, it isn't very challenging and since the gameplay was slower paced and fighting was usually for survival, not for the visceral thrill, it isn't really that big of a deal. You don't gain extra chapters or anything like you would if you bought Resident Evil 4.
If you compare Code Veronica X with Resident Evil 2 or 3, it doesn't offer that much more content but costs twice as much. Ok, you get twelve trophies to unlock and a minor upscaling, but other than that you're basically asked to pay more money because it's slightly less outdated looking. The recently added PS2 classics to the Store are $9.99 a piece, Code Veronica X adds a few trophies and a lazy upscale and slaps another $10 onto it.
If you have any interest in the classic styled Resident Evil games, you'd be better off spending 16 to get Resident Evil 2 ($9.99) and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis ($5.99). Resident Evil Code: Veronica X is an absolutely great game, worthy of more than a 7, and should be played by anyone with an interest in the franchise, but waiting for a sale on this lazy port would be a good idea.