Dino Crisis

For such a young genre, it has quickly gained a feeling of "been there, done that" in the few years since its explosion onto the scene. In fact, looking back at the list of games that qualify as survival horror, I'd pick only three as being the best representatives of what this type of game has to offer: Resident Evil for starting off the craze, Silent Hill for making things truly chilling and Dino Crisis 2 for putting an entirely different spin on how the game can be played.

My feeling on Dino Crisis 2 is that it's too little, too late. I have a good respect for the original because it tried to do a few things differently then most survival-horror titles, and while it wasn't anything earth-shattering, I still appreciated the effort.

Game Description: Dino Crisis 2 picks up where the original left off. While continuing Dr. Kirk’s research into Third Energy, the government has opened a rift in time. Now, an elite team of operatives must travel back in time and rescue any survivors and recover the Third Energy device. You take control of Regina and Dylan as they use their special talents and maybe a weapon or two to get through the mission. Along the way, they will encounter 10 species of dinosaurs that are looking for a human snack. It’s up to you to save the Third Energy device and return home safely in Dino Crisis 2.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence

While it was spawned from the phenomenally popular Resident Evil franchise, Dino Crisis tries to offer enough to separate itself from Resident Evil as well as the myriad of clones Resident Evil sequels that have saturated the market. Capcom has dumped the pretty (and expensive) pre-rendered background graphics and shock tactics that Resident Evil used and instead have opted for real-time 3D backgrounds, packs of carnivorous dinosaurs, and real-time action. It's a big break from the norm, but it shapes up to be a successful one.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence

Game Description: Guide Regina as she explores and fights her way through 3D environments in an effort to save Dr. Edward Kirk. With some help from her communications officer, Rick, and a few weapons pistols, shotguns, grenades, and poison darts she can do battle with the raptors, pteradons, and t-rexes that inhabit Ibis Island. Only by using both brain and brawn will you be able to survive the dangers in Dino Crisis.

To my surprise, Dino Crisis was much better than I expected and held up pretty well under my scrutiny. Laughable voice-acting (marginally better than Resident Evil's) and the old 'door entrance' load-times are still present, but there's an effort to fix or improve on all other problems that have consistently plagued the series. Bad camera angles obscuring enemies and objects are less apparent since the use of real-time rather than prerendered environments allows the perspective to pan around when necessary.