User Reviews

This is still the best game ever. No game is so scary, has so beautiful graphics and is so original as this one. I bought the game three years ago and I still play it sometimes. This game is the number one for the horror-fan. And I have also Resident Evil 2 but Resident Evil 1 is better. But Resident Evil 2 is also a great horror-game.

"Biohazard Director`s Cut"(called "Resident Evil" outside of Japan) contains three different versions of "Biohazard". The first version is exactly the same as the first game, the second one is the same as the first game but a lot easier, and the third version is what this game is all about: the re-arranged version. In this version there is quite a few changes that`ll please veterans. The two main-characters now have a new set of clothes, some of the camera-angles have been changed, some new dialogue is put in there, the clothing on some of the walls have changed, there are more zombies and monsters and all the items in the game are to be found at different places. All these changes have been made to make the game as different from the original as possible, and it is a huge success. I love "Biohazard" and I was very pleased to learn that a director`s cut-version of the game was coming out. If you already got the first game, and aren`t particularly fond of it, you shouldn`t really buy this game, but if you love the original game, this is worth picking up, and remember that the game comes with a playable demo of "Biohazard 2". 10/10

I remember fondly I was at a friend's house looking at a rental copy of Resident Evil one hot summer day in 1996. I wasn't familiar with Playstation, as I was ignorant of the next-generation consoles (partly because I couldn't afford $300+ price tag). Resident Evil, along with Initial D and Battle Arena Toshinden, were the first PSX games I played. Actually, I observed a friend or two play these games since I was new to the world of Playstation, and I was still a loyal Super Nintendo fan at the time.

After playing Initial D, which I wasn't impressed with despite its cool computer-generated cinematic moments, I watched a friend pop in a copy and play Resident Evil. I thought that game looked strange as I've never seen it before - a 3-D environment with a playable character facing the first zombie using only a knife and there were bursts of blood. I was very impressed and wanted to play it after a friend's character dies from zombie bite attack.

The first time I started, I watched a very entertaining yet cheesy introduction sequence in live FMV. I figured this looks like a seriously fun game. After the chatter with Albert Wesker in the beginning, I encountered a zombie eating Kenneth. When the first zombie walks towards the character to grab him to bite I was seriously scared. I've never been this scared playing a video game before, and it was an incredible accomplishment - the groundbreaking gaming moment of 1996. I knew Resident Evil was this great.

Resident Evil is an incredible game in polygon 3-D environment and convincing pre-rendered backgrounds. In fact the bright, illuminated hallways and rooms gave it a very tense atmosphere reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. That made me nervous playing the game looking around the corner to avoid zombies popping out of the corners.

The story is very well-plotted with memorable characters, monsters and twists, albeit with awful dialogues. But that's what made it feel like a campy horror movie as a video game.

Quite frankly, Resident Evil is one of the best video game moments I've ever had in my life because of the wonderful feelings I had the first time I played. I finally bought a PlayStation console and a pre-owned copy of Resident Evil on my 18th birthday later that year. Resident Evil completely changed the way I perceive how video games can accomplish - immerse yourself into the video game world - something that The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy series achieved to a certain extent but not yet whole.

I'm now one of the devoted Resident Evil fans and I look back to the introduction of the first game with a nostalgic sense of wonder.

This game is a classic, a gem, one in which is very hard to find. The Storyline isn't a rip-off,the Mansion is so creepy you want to memorize every inch of it, and the Suprises scare you each time you play. There are very few other modern Horror games that are worth playing. Some great oldies are Snatcher, Alone In The Dark, Rise of the Dragon, and Night Trap. Snatcher is,in my opinion, the best ever, of the Videogame horror genre, but it is hard to find, because it is solely a Sega CD/PC videogame. In Terms of Resident Evil, the first is the best, the 3rd is 2nd best, and Code Veronica is 3rd best. Resident Evil 2 is interesting,yes, but I have never cared for it's characters much. This series is one of the very few reasons I still play Playstation.

Forget the movie for a second. "Resident Evil," the game, works just as well theatrically as it does in terms of gameplay -- it's an addictive experience with haunting visuals, a creepy perfectly suited score and tense, suspense-building action that propels into bloody gore.

I've never felt so nervous and sweaty while playing an RPG before. This is the type of game that builds up all the tension until finally, out of nowhere, a zombie appears and it really freaks you out. Unlike the film, it takes its time getting to where it's going and works well as such. The only game I've ever felt as paranoid playing in the past was "Aliens vs. Predators 2," which in the marine campaign was really scary and took its time delivering the action.

Don't get me wrong. I thought the "Resident Evil" movie bashers were overly-cruel. It was, after all, just a silly action movie and worked as such entertainment.

But the game is better.

Much better.

Nine years later it still packs a bloody punch and is one of the best games ever. I'd rank it in the top ten.

Best of all? It's got brains, too. It doesn't just require a quick trigger finger.

Highly, highly recommended.

Time is an enemy. This is a saying that can apply to a lot of things, as it means different things to different people and things. One area it definitely applies to is video games. This is due to how many games, despite being innovative and brilliant during their heyday, can age rather poorly. This is due to how many games improve on the established formula to a point where the original becomes essentially obsolete (i.e. the original Street Fighter), or relied on a gimmick or hook (its level or violence for example) that made them popular when they initially released but aren't much good removed from that original context (i.e Splatterhouse, arguably the original Mortal Kombat). Luckily, this isn't the case with the original Resident Evil. Despite some flaws here and there, the game has aged supremely well and its gameplay is still quite fun even to this day.

The plot of the game is that a group called STARS are investigating a bizarre series of cannibalistic murders outside of Raccoon City. While there however, they are attacked by a group of zombie dogs and flee to the nearest shelter: a seemingly abandoned mansion. However when they arrive, not all is what it seems, as strange monsters start to attack the remaining members and many of the members go missing. Now it is up to the player character to survive this terror and escape.

The plot maybe minimalist (so much so that it is forgotten about for large chunks of the game) but the game makes up for it in atmosphere. There is a strong sense of isolation and helplessness as the player, due to lack of resources and support, making the game a more intense experience. At points, it does make the game a lot more cryptic than it needs to be, but for the most part it still works in making you more immersed in the game's world.

It also helps that the game plays very well too. Despite sometimes awkward tank-like controls, the game runs at a good pace and is quite fun too, whether you are killing monsters or solving puzzles, with the former being the most frequent throughout the game, and thanks to a variant number of creatures and weapons, it never gets old and despite how later in the game some of the enemies start to regenerate, it is usually is fun to fight these foes. The puzzle solving aspect of the game is also quite good as well, with many of the puzzles being the right level of though in order to be enjoyable, but still fairly challenging as well.

The game's locations are also very detailed and encourages a lot of exploring. Sure the game isn't too huge and is limited in terms of scope , (which to be fair considering how this is a franchise starter) but there is enough in the game that is interesting and you will be curious to look around all around this game's world to find every nook and cranny around the area, which can be very rewarding as you can find many helpful items this way.

The sound design is also excellent. Many of the creatures sound menacing and make them more intimidating, motivating you to kill them as soon as possible, and for the most part, the music is pure brilliance, helping to up the game's creepy atmosphere and at certain points (like when you go into a save room or at the end credits) can be strangely calming as it makes a nice change of pace and tone from the intense action.

Is everything in this game perfect? No, considering how some aspects of the game hasn't aged very well. It isn't just the dreadful voice acting and poor live action sequences, as the graphics haven't aged greatly either. Some of the gameplay aspects are weak as well. The game can be too cryptic sometimes, the tank controls can take some time to get used to for new players & the bosses are very easy, as they usually consist of the same tactics: circle strafing and constantly shooting at it with a rocket launcher will put the creatures out of their misery, which does drain some of the tension and threat when you face them. To be honest, some of the game's regular enemies are harder to kill than these bosses.

Despite those problems, the original Resident Evil has aged very well and stands out as not only one of the best of its genre, but one of the best video games of all time. Fun, tension-filled and always a joy to play, the original Resident Evil is flawed, but it has more than enough polish and great aspects to it that make up for this in spades. If you haven't played this game yet, I would definitely recommend it to you, as it is a true masterclass in survival horror and it is one of the best video games of all time.

Resident Evil is the game that defined the survival horror genre. When it was originally released way back in 1996 it took the video game world by storm and has since spawned a number of sequels and clones.

The story revolves around the members of a special police task force who are sent to a remote mountainous location to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a number of hikers. Contact with some of the team is lost and the remaining members flee into an old mansion when they are attacked by a pack of strange creatures bearing a resemblance to large dogs. It is here that the adventure begins...

By today's standards Resident Evil appears a tad dated at least technically. The visuals have been improved upon greatly by its many sequels and the video clips have a very 'low budget' look to them (not helped by the terrible acting which would look more at home in a porno flick). Resident Evil, however, excels where it matters most - in the gameplay area. The game simply oozes atmosphere something which I believe was lost a little in its many sequels (yes even Code Veronica). The excellent sound, particularly the eerie music scores which are still the best in any of the RE games, help to enhance the creepy atmosphere greatly. For this reason I still consider this game to be the best of the genre. A classic.

Rating:10/10

Resident Evil changed the way I think about computer games. This was the first game not designed for kids. It has a great plot and even better game play. The acting is bad but oh so funny. "Wow, What a mansion!"

Its also far superior to all of the sequels. In the same way "Alien" is better than "Aliens". Bigger and louder does not equal better.

Judging by the many 10 star reviews here on the review page, a lot of gamers still have warm feelings for this classic survival game. I have a suspicious feeling that much of the love comes from copious amounts of nostalgia, since Resident Evil was easily the first and best horror game with a cinematic experience to reach a large audience at the time.

I was introduced to the phenomenon by a friend who tirelessly tried to get me at the same level of appreciation as he did. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the crappy controls that have plagued the series ever since. Just walking down a corridor was easy enough, but any close encounter with a raving zombie got me in a state of panic, and the inability to make a decent turn led to an undeserved death by poor maneuverability.

The opposite of a guilty pleasure is a guilty pain, and as much as everyone seemed to love it, I had to decide that Resident Evil just wasn't my thing. However, I kept having this nagging feeling that I was missing out on something great. So when the first game got a fresh new overhaul on the GameCube, I gave it a well-deserved second chance. Several more years of gaming experience had surely paid off; what used to be an impossible combination of buttons was now mastered within a few hours, and I currently rank REmake as one of my all-time favorite games, having already lost count of all the replays.

But let it be said that the firm building blocks upon which the REmake (and the franchise) rests still belong to the original. I got re-introduced to the place where it all began through Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, a slightly expanded GameBoy DS port of the original. Of course, I had to look past the graphic limitations and lack of detail as compared to REmake, but it struck me how much of the setting, plot and monsters were already in the original game. The intriguing setup of plunging players into a personal hell and have them find out what happened and how to get out for themselves is still the best way to draw the player into the narrative, and there is nice balance between the zombie threat and ammunition, which means there is no room for a gung-ho gun battle and every shot must count.

What quality is present in the plot and atmosphere, however, is almost undone by the sheer horror that passes for a script and performances. The game is as famous for its scares as it is for its heroically bad dialogs. Hilarious quotes like "You were almost a Jill sandwich" and "I found this weapon. It's really powerful, especially against living things!" would be the stuff of bad legends on its own, but it has to compete with the way the actors deliver their lines. It is hard to describe here, but those who know how the line "WHOOOOAAAAAA! This hall is DANGEROUS!" was pronounced in-game know what I'm talking about.

You might think that both quality and lack thereof in a single work would make for a very bipolar game, but the opposite is true. Upon playing, I found this game to be like an amusingly bad horror movie where the tense parts are periodically interrupted by unintentional comic relief. Because the script is cheesy all the way through, it really adds to the overall B- movie quality of the game, but at the end, you'll still be satisfied by the decent plot, gameplay and puzzles that challenged you.

I'll admit that I still prefer the REmake: it had a more serious tone, better scares, expanded plot, better actors and an improved script to match, making it an A-level B-movie, where I would rate the original as an 'enjoyably made' B- movie, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the original game is still the definition of interactive horror that changed the way of gaming for the next couple of decades.

I like this game very much! It's very scary, action packed, aided by some of the best video game graphics I've seen for a video game, and it's got a cool cinematic feel to it! The only drawback is the cinema. Not the cinema sequences altogether, but the acting is very like that of an Ed Wood movie. The dialogue is terrible, although not nearly as bad as some of the dialogue in it's sequel. But aside from that, this game freaked me out the first time I played it, because I've always pictured the "Resident Evil" series as an original haunted house thriller! Zombies work great in this game, because there's nothing more frightening than a haunted house that's plagued with flesh eating zombies! It's a superb video game, but the acting is bad. If it had better acting, then this game would be a towering achievement. But I don't know. Maybe the bad acting was in tradition with all the B-movies in the 60's. I hope the film version of this game, directed by "zombie god" George A. Romero, is as good as his "Night of the Living Dead" series, which clearly inspired this game.

Its boring cheesy catch phrases bad one liners bad camera angels outdated tank controls the appsolute worst live action cutscenes ever to be put in a video game

one of the best games in the world to date,and still going strong,this has paved the way for games such as parasite eve and silent hill in my opinion,resident evil truly is a classic,from the graphics,to the suspense of walking down a dimly lit corridor,with eerie music being played in the background,wondering whether you heard the squelch of a footstep behind you,to the plot of the games(i'm not going to give anything away!).sure enough there are flaws (the dialogue is atrocious,but it doesn't bother me) but every game has flaws,i've bought near enough every resi game thats followed on from this,and will carry on to do so,i'm hooked! amazing 10/10 :)

I know the HD remake for the GameCube did kind of blow this out of the water, but I do like the original version better because I have a fond nostalgia for it, I love those low-res graphics, the way your character handles like a three-wheeled shopping trolley, even all of that legendary cheesy dialogue, everything just gives it a great vibe that's fun and scary as hell at the same time and I still feel the same way to this day! I remember how this was one of those early titles of the Playstation that really championed it, and even though there were pseudo-survival horror games before it like Clocktower, it was definitely Resident Evil that truly ignited the genre. The live-action stuff is so unbelievably corny and laughable but that thankfully didn't reflect the real value and meat of the game, although of course it is dotted with many priceless snippets of hilariously awkward character interactions that very much make it all feel like you're playing an interactive horror B-movie, and that's a quality that I quite enjoy about this game. Compared to when things changed and it became all about the quick-time events and high octane action, I much prefer this comparatively simple approach, where you're just trapped in a good old-fashioned giant spooky mansion that you have to backtrack through and solve its many puzzles as zombies and nightmarish monsters await behind every turn and every new door unlocked... It was such an intimidating and for me as a young first time player, such a frightening game to even try to play, and it certainly wasn't one that held your hand at all, there wasn't any indication of what to do or where to go next, you just had to do a lot of exploring and gradually learn your way through trial and error, as well as learn how to conserve your precious ammo, your saves and your painfully limited inventory slots! I was captivated by the labyrinth of increasingly creepy cramped hallways and rooms, and the awesome music was so genuinely chilling. It was the rich atmospherics and magnetic dinghy visuals that made you want to explore the dark depths of that mansion and uncover its secrets. Something feels distinctly up with the place even before you encounter the first zombie, which is such an iconic gaming moment that truly sets the tone and is damn horrific, in which your character sees a grey figure feasting on the corpse of one of your fallen comrades, and the creature slowly turns to reveal a lifeless stare, decayed skin and bloodstained lips. So in closing I'd say that this is a game that is often an adventure of hilarious cheese as much as it is one of suspense and terror and is still overall a great gem of the 32 but gaming era. A solid 8 Jill sandwiches out of 10! X

I watched my big brother play this game with his friend when we were kids and my mom wouldn't let me play. I was too young at the time. I've wanted to play it for so long I begged her. As I got older, I immediately locked on to it. The game haunted me and it still does. Every time I play it it never fails to give me chills. The tone is very dark & intense, the scares are flawless, the story is interesting, & it probably has the best characters in the entire franchise: Chris Redfield & Jill Valentine. These two completely own the franchise. Every time I play it it always brings me back. It's dated but it never lost it's style. Resident Evil is one of my favorite games of all time.

I first played Resident Evil for the Playstation when I was only about 13 or 14. I found it to be a one of the most highly charged and addictive computer games of all time and loved playing it. However I decided to lend it to my friend and the b-tard scratched it completely ruining it!! I NEVER DID GET TO FINISH IT! Although I played the other 2 sequels to it, the fact that I never got around to finishing the first one still went around my head like and obsession and then I finally got my hands on a copy a while back ago so I decided to finish what I had set out to do all those years ago. I don't know what the difference is between the directors cut and this one but I still went ahead with it and well I truly felt satisfied! The story really does not need explaining as I could still pretty vividly remember what it is about however having said that acting that seemed to amaze me now just seems so cheesy that it seems like a badly made B-movie and that also goes for the dialogue. But where after all these years Resident Evil still is impressive is on the level of game play it offers, there is so much for you to do along with creepy music and still a few jump-out-at-you scene however and it may just seem a bit like running around but trust me - it is so much fun. The controls may seem a little fiddles-om at first but once you get used to the it is worth it and there might be a few things to do that one might find tiresome but trust me it is all worth quality of this game. I would urge people who are going re-visit this classic to play as Chris Redfeild because it is harder as he can carry less items than his counterpart Jill Valentine and that will make you enjoy the game a lot more whilst Jill Valentine has the ability to carry more weapons and fire power which makes you whizz right through it. I manage to complete the game as Chris in 5 hours and 21 mins, while Jill took me 4 hours and 15 mins. To conclude Resident Evil is the game that after all this time still has not lost any of its shine, I am aware that a remake was made for the Gamecube which looks brilliant but however this was a piece computer game nostalgia which I truly enjoyed.

RESIDENT EVIL:DIRECTORS CUT - 8.6 OUT OF 10

For now this is the Shadowman wishing you goodnight and good luck !

The story tells that people were strangely disappearing in the Arklay Mountains, northwest Raccoon City. Half of the S.T.A.R.S., a police group who's always hired when things go really bad, goes in to investigate, but they don't come back. That's when the rest of the group come to Arklay Mountains to see what's happening to those missing people and to the missing part of the team... They would just wish they were never born.

Resident Evil is a classic video game series. Unfortunately, the first movie wasn't nearly as good as any of the main games from the series.

This first version of Resident Evil/Biohazard, is the best one yet in my opinion. The graphics might not be great since most of us own next-gen consoles like PS2, Xbox and GCN, but they're still decent.

The soundtrack is amazing, voice acting is a little weird and a little silly, but it's OK. Videogames aren't about how close to reality it looks and feels. If it was, games from the past would be forgotten very quickly. What makes horror games special is how fun and scary they are, and this, along with Silent Hill, is the best horror game you'll ever play.

The game that kicked off a series. The camera angle, the music, the atmosphere, and the classic loading screen. It may be outdated, but I enjoy the game what it is. The voice acting is...something, but I think it fits the game's charm. It's funny knowing that this game was never supposed to be successful, but it showed what a survival horror game looks like.

This game is a classic. Really good story with excellent enemies. The biggest downside to this game is the voice acting. For me this is one of the hardest games. The characters were all well developed as much as they could be developed. The enemies look great and the game gets most of the sounds down perfect. You never know whats going to be around the corner with this game. My rating 6/10

The best ever franchise debut and perhaps the best ever selling game on the playstation. Resident Evil is plot driven - but the special forces you command (Chris or Jill) still hold character: the story holds up extremely well and the subsequent movie producers and directors should be shot or at least eaten alive by bio-infected gimp zombies for their crappy introduction to the world of raccoon city. The opening FMV's create the tension between the unexplained body count and the S.T.A.R.S team sent in to investigate: BOOM! the chopper goes down- you find a hand; a severed hand still clutching the gun in a field; something ripped it off, the magazine is still in, whatever it was it is fast...extremely fast "WAHHH!!!!!!!!" the roar of infected HOUNDS pierces the night air and you pitch a running- gun battle to an isolated mansion. Closing the double large oak doors in just enough time; your team is safe. OR ARE THEY. CHRIS/JILL/BARRY/WESKER you are unwelcome guests at the mansion of RESIDENT EVIL. The definitive SURVIVAL HORROR video game that defines the console world like the Exorcist for movies. (but this is better) Triumphant escape from the labyrinth of corridors and puzzles or a slow agonising death to befall you and your comrades: Gameotography is excellent: the realist pre rendered scenery is beautiful to behold and the bloodletting is superb. One word: please delete the movies from our minds and start the TRILOGY off with the proper introduction for it is the best.