Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

This was my favorite Resident Evil game for the PS1 and one of the most intense (if not, THE most intense) entry for the PS1.

The space of the game takes place before and after the events of Resident Evil 2. For about 90% of the game, you control S. T. A. R. S. Member Jill Valentine as she tries to escape from the now zombie infested Raccoon City while also avoiding a relentless and seemingly unstoppable new enemy sent by Umbrella. I'll get to him soon... She also meets up with U. B. C. S. corporal Carlos Oliviera who assists her throughout the game.

First of all, I love how the game sheds more light on the Raccoon City incident. More areas of the city are revealed, and you're given more opportunity to explore them and witness the effects of the T-Virus outbreak. RE2 was limited to a few streets and alleys, the RPD, some sewer tunnels, and the Umbrella facility NEST. Here, you'll traverse through city streets, a power station, restaurant, bar, clock tower, hospital, park, and finally an Umbrella facility.

Thanks to some new mechanics, the game is a bit more action orientated. You have a gunpowder mixer to create certain types of ammunition, a dodging feature for Jill to avoid damage, explosives barrels and boxes to shoot and kill enemies, split-second decision making that could mean difference between life and death, especially during scripted encounters with Nemesis. Plus, despite retaining tank controls, you can now make 180 turns to quickly retreat from danger.

The dialogue is decent, and the characters are well developed. Jill is more hardened and confident, thanks to her experiences in RE1. Despite being a seasoned Umbrella mercenary, Carlos still has a good heart and proves himself a reliable companion for Jill. Mikhail is a brave man grieving for the deaths of his troops and even sacrifices his life to save Jill from Nemesis, and Nikolai is the human antagonist who is a greedy opportunist.

The soundtrack was pretty good with dark and gloomy music like "City of Ruin" or "City without Hope" that emphasize that Raccoon is dead and hopelessly lost to the T-Virus. And we have the spine-shivering "Feel the Tension" that plays whenever Nemesis is nearby.

Speaking of which, throughout the game, Jill must avoid Nemesis, one of the most intimidating enemies in video game history. Not only is he super strong, fast, and durable, but intelligent enough to use weapons, open doors, set ambushes, track Jill no matter where she goes, and even speak, although all he says is his infamous catchphrase: "Sssssstaaaarsss!!!"

Anyone who liked Resident Evil & Resident Evil 2 will LOVE this game. It is the perfect third installment to the Playstation series of games. I especially like the part of the game where you actually get to shoot zombies as they rise out of the graveyard. Game lovers cannot go wrong playing this one. I can't say enough good things about these games!!!

I remember being pretty damn impressed when I first got this game (first one I'd actually ever picked up). Having played the others since, I can say that this is equal to RE2 (which is saying something, considering that was great), though Nemesis is the best boss of the original three as far as I'm concerned.

Pros: + Nemesis. One of the most unrelenting, scariest bosses in gaming. + Pretty strong cast of characters. + Genuinely scary, a lot of the time.

Cons: - Same premise as before, in many ways (not the most original game). - Same gameplay as before, too.

Hot off the wild success of the second installment of Resident Evil, one would think that another game starring Jill Valentine would be even better. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get varied responses, but of course, it's by far better than the first one.

You only get to play as one person through this crazy roller coaster ride, Jill Valentine ( Not counting the small part when you play as Carlos ), whereas in 'Rez' 2, you could play up to four different ways ( Claire A/B, Leon A/B ).

Yet another change is where the game takes place. The first game took place in a Mansion, the second one took place in well, a bunch of places ( Art Gallery-Turned Police Station, sewers, Umbrella lab, etc. ), and this time around, the entire City of Raccoon is your playground.

But they made up for the lack of multiple ways to play. Jill can earn up to five extra outfits ( 70's Disco, STARS, Meter Maid, Regina from Dino Crisis, and Leather bodysuit ), and the weapons have become far less exotic from Resident Evil 2, but there are a lot more of them, not to mention the ability to create new weapons from parts given from the downed Nemesis.

Oh yeah, Nemesis. Remember how many times Tyrant popped up during the B game of RE2? Remember how he usually caught you at the worst times? Guess what? Nemesis shows up even MORE times! ( I lost track around twelve ). He's certainly a persistent little bugger.

I don't find it scared me as often as the other games, but it's still fun to play over and over ( Is it because Jill's just eye candy? Maaaaaaaaybe. ), and ponder time and time again, just how the heck Jill can run around killing zombies in a miniskirt and a halter top? Perhaps the zombies caught her in the middle of a date.

Final Score - ****½ out of five.

The 2nd, although scary with alot of replay value, pretty much tried too much to be like the original. "Biohazard 3" also has replay value, you make decisions that affect the path your character takes. It is also alot scarier than any of the other Resident Evils ("Biohazards")

You play as Jill Valentine, the character from the original Resident Evil, in a game that is Half Prequel, Half Sequel. Half of the game takes place before Resident Evil 2, the other half takes place after Resident Evil 2.

****/***** (Based upon comparison to other videogames)