And my first write-up in what has felt like decades
#210 – Resident Evil: Code Veronica (Dreamcast)
After playing both versions of Code Veronica, the Dreamcast version proved to be clearly superior. Even with the PS2 having the more advanced engine, the game looked and played much smoother on the DC. Code Veronica is basically RE 3.5 or RE 2.5 (whatever you’d wanna call it) and plays much like its predecessors. What I liked about CV was its intense atmosphere. The beginning part of the game is where it truly shined. The game then started going downhill but picks up at the mid-to-end parts. Code Veronica was probably the first RE game which screamed for changes. The formula for the RE series and Survival Horror in general was turning horribly stale. While RE2 expanded on the RE universe and polished up the series and RE3 upped the ante with its gameplay, Code Veronica did next to nothing except enter itself as an entry to the series. However Code Veronica is a good RE spin-off to say the least and a must have for RE veterans.
#209 – Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (PS2)
Like many Hideo Kojima fans, I was first introduced to ZOE1 for the sole purpose of wanting to play the demo of MGS2. The first entry had an arcade-y style and was quite good. However it suffered from being extremely short (2-3 hours 1st play through) and had the whiniest protagonist in the history of video games. The 2nd entry ZOE: The 2nd Runner polishes up the gameplay, graphics and the cut scenes and produces far more likeable characters. However I can’t help but feel the game is still overrated. The spike in difficulty around mid to end game will frustrate many and the clunky controls are still ever present. Not to mention the horrid camera. If you can get past all that, ZOE2 is a unique experience and definitely a step up from its predecessor. You will likely receive far more favorable opinions from people who are into the whole Mobile Suit Action genre; I unfortunately never was that big on that genre.
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Rock n' Roll and Glam Metal... It never died