3. Resident Evil: Code Veronica
Why? Because it took everything that made Resident Evil what it was and improved it. Puzzles made more sense, but the classic survival horror still remained. Sure, you can complain about the “tank” controls but the point was never to lay waste to enemies. It was about surviving. Run, conserve ammo, pray and think before you save – they’re limited as well. Like Resident Evil 2, Veronica featured an awesome narrative, that was genuinely frightening and disturbing while still providing interesting backstory to the overarching saga (take notes, Capcom). Of course, the updated graphics and high quality CG cutscenes were no small thing either.
2. Dead Space 2
Space zombies. Who coulda known? The Necromorphs function on a very twisted system of survival: The Hive Mind fills the living humans’ minds with terrible halucinations, causing them to commit suicide. The corpses are than reanimated into Necromorphs, who go about slaughtering and breeding, oftentimes simultaneously (have fun with that mental image). They’re ability to mutate their body in certain situations make them a danger, as is their lithe and brutal nature. And that’s not even counting the Necromorph babies.
1. Resident Evil 2
Again, why? Because this is the game that did survival-horror right. This is the game that both literally and figuratively brought zombies in video games out of the castles and mansions, right into the public eye. The “Raccoon City incident” still remains a major part of every single RE storyline to date but Resident Evil 2 surpassed the original by overhauling it’s graphics and adding a multi-tiered city teeming with zombies. The terror factor was significantly upped with creatures such as The Licker – who’s appearances could frighten any one – and the new Tyrant. It set a strong bar for the series with it’s awesome story, centering around Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, working together to escape the hell-hole that was Raccoon City. All this, and the debut of Ada Wong.
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