An Umbrella Experiment gone... right!
User Rating: 9.3 | Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 PS2
Back in 1996, Resident Evil was released for the Playstation. Ever since, the Resident Evil franchise became a hit and sold millions of copies and now is one of the most recognizable franchise in the industry. Now, using the power of technology, we can play Resident Evil... Online! Resident Evil Outbreak can also be played offline, and this review is for that gameplay option. In Outbreak File 2, you control one of the eight survivors of the Raccoon incident. Each character has it's own speciality. Example: Yoko's bag lets you carry more items, Cindy's Herb Case lets you carry 3 Green Herbs, 3 Blue Herbs and 3 Red Herbs. In Outbreak File 2, characters now start with a special item which will take a slot of your inventory. Their special items will help them survive throughout each scenario although carrying them is optional. Okay so it might be hard being alone, that is why you are paired by 2 AI partners which will help you only this time you are able to pick your partners. Be wary though, if you pick a wrong pair for your character, they will stray away from you, thus affecting your strategy and will also effect the flow of the scenario, while you pick a good pair for your team, you will see them helping each other. Example: Pairing Cindy with George and Kevin will make a good team while pairing Cindy with David and Kevin won't make a good team because David and Cindy doesn't have a strong relationship. After picking your partners, you will find yourself playing a certain scenario. Since you're a team, you have to help your characters, as they will help you too. Their AIs are pretty impressive, helping your AI partner will make your partner thank you. And eventually, they will help you too even if you don't ask for it. I remember once with Cindy and George, Cindy was bleeding and because of her kindness towards to George, George quickly loaded his Capsule Gun, or whatever was that and shot Cindy, making her feel better again. Sometimes too, your partners will apologize if they did something wrong. Also, each character has a different vitality, the attack of each weapon will differ from character to character. The characters are different from each other, I have to day, each character even has it's own action! Yoko, when confronting many zombies, can quickly crawl out of the way, Jim can play dead, and Mark's block is very useful. The AI is pretty strong, and you can see how each character were made to be different AND unprepared victims of this tradegy, and this makes the character system a success. And what about the scenarios? There are 6 scenario, including a Tutorial scenario. While 5 (including the tutorial) is unlocked, the final one is locked and you will find you and your partners playing through each scenario. The scenarios, this time, are fun and even more interesting than the first Outbreak installment. The 5 scenarios feature a zoo, where you fight infected Zoo Animals,another scenario takes place in a subway, where there are 2 possible endings, the other occurs in an old hospital, where a Biological Plant and an Axeman will attack you, another scenario takes place in the Police Station, where the second Resident Evil game took place, and the final scenario occurs in more than one location where we revisit some of the old locations from the first Outbreak game took place. Each scenario also has it's own Special Enemies, which are more powerful than zombies. The number of Zombies have been reduced, so there are more special enemies. Not only does each scenario feature new enemies, each scenario are designed with very detailed graphics. The FMVs aren't the best, though, it is very impressive. Each scenarios also feature impressive sounds. Again not the best but you will enjoy the sounds. If you ask me, what else are the new features? New actions such as swimming and shoveling. You can load your first Outbreak file to upload the extra content to your game and vice versa. The Replay Value is high, since in each scenario, you earn points for you to unlock new costumes, characters and even view movies. Also, there are 4 endings in the fourth scenario and you might find yourselves playing it over and over again. Although you might be stressed. Overall, Resident Evil Outbreak File 2 is better than the first game. The scenarios are more interesting and fun, it's new features,will let convince you to buy this game. It is worth it. Capcom... File 3 please.
