Credit: CapcomThe first time I played Resident Evil 2, I was hooked. After a lengthy opening, featuring zombie hitchhikers and an exploding semi truck, Leon is left standing on one end of the burning husk of his wrecked vehicle. With zombies lurching towards him from all directions, you don’t have time to become oriented with the controls. You have to run, and run quickly, or else the lumbering mob will ravenously feast upon your tasty flesh.
You’ll run along the central road, through a gun shop and down numerous side streets before you reach the police station. Once there, you can catch your breath, but only for a little while.
The sound of something dripping messily to the floor catches your attention as you cautiously round the corner. You had already noticed the pools of blood, the crunch of bones, and the shattered windows, but it’s the endless dripping that fills you with dread. Seconds later, you find out why. A menacing hiss followed by a horrible screech announces the arrival of the infamous licker. Blind, it crawls towards you, whipping its lance-like tongue at your torso. Retreat and it’ll leap at you with outstretched talons in an effort to tear out your throat. If you remembered to take the shotgun off the shop owner’s half-eaten corpse, then liquefy its overly-exposed brain. Otherwise, flee for your life!
It’s moments like this that truly make Resident Evil 2 stand out. The creepy music pervasive throughout every room, hallway and tunnel keeps you on-edge, expecting something - anything - to ambush you at any moment. Whether it’s the flock of mutant crows that crash through the windows of the second storey, or the rabid dog that bursts through the mirror in the interrogation room, you’ll likely jump at some point.
Credit: Capcom
Credit: CapcomVeterans of the series will say that these types of scares are hardly worth mentioning anymore. However, that doesn’t make them any less effective. The apprehension I felt never subsided because, even when I knew what was coming, I was still afraid. Afraid that whatever would hit me next would overwhelm me, that I wouldn’t have the right tools to defeat it, or the skill to run from it. Conserving ammunition became a motivating factor because I also knew that once I finally faced the horrifying abominations that made up the game’s bosses, I would need every ounce of firepower at my disposal.
Yet, despite the fear, I felt an increasing desire to uncover the truth. What madness drives the police chief’s sudden interest in disturbing art? What sort of terrifying creature skulks around the sewers, implanting embryos inside people’s chests? Just how much of a role has Umbrella played in ruining this quiet Midwestern town?
To obtain these answers, your journey will lead you through the complicated system of tunnels that make up the sewer. Here you’ll have to deal with giant spiders that spit toxic acid at you, hideous roaches that crawl through the ventilation shaft, and a giant alligator that’ll gobble you up in two bites if you don’t blast it to pieces first.
The final chapter brings you to the underground laboratory and the most exciting part of the game. Slithering plants creep towards you, flailing vine-like tendrils and spewing poison. Enhanced lickers slash at you with elongated claws and sharper intelligence. You’ll fight your way past these or die, and hope that you conserved enough ammo to finish off the final reincarnations of the G-Virus before the whole place explodes.
Credit: Capcom
Credit: CapcomBeat the game as Leon and you’re given the option to play the second scenario as Claire where your alternate path fills in many of the plot holes from the first play through. You’ll discover how the helicopter crashed on the roof of the police department. You’ll save the crazed scientist William Birkin’s daughter, and discover the cause of the laboratory’s self destruction.
It’s also fascinating to see how actions taken as Leon affect Claire’s scenario. Locking down the shutters on the west side of the RPD may have helped Leon, but as Claire, the malfunctioning circuit releases them. Dozens of zombies pour in, cutting off all access to that side of the building. Leon takes the crowbar and all the chess-themed plugs to gain access to the sewer, so Claire has to find a completely different method of entry.
The most notable difference between the scenarios is the introduction of the Tyrant, Mr. X. This hulking genetically modified bio-weapon crashes through walls to murder you at unexpected times. His punches will smash in your skull, but defending yourself isn’t always possible. He also has a nasty habit of reanimating every time you think you’ve killed him, making him one of the most feared enemies in the series.
With its endless horde of vile creatures, its ambient unease and its overwhelming suspense, Resident Evil 2 will fray your nerves and weaken your resolve. This is the type of apprehension that has defined the genre for years, and this game does it best.
