Review: Resident Evil: Code: Veronica HD

I bought a Sega Dreamcast FOR Resident Evil: Code: Veronica. A year later, I bought Resident Evil: Code: Veronica X for the PlayStation 2.

What? I wanted to see Wesker.

Years later, I bought Resident Evil: Code: Veronica X for my Gamecube, just to have to a complete Resident Evil collection – well, from 0 to 4 – on one system.

Now, in 2011, I’ve just thrown down cash to purchase and download Resident Evil: Code: Veronica HD. Capcom sure saw me coming.

Originally released in 2000, Code: Veronica is a Redfield affair – players start off as Clare Redfield from Resident Evil 2, tracking down her brother Chris (from the original, REmake, and juiced up in Resident Evil 5). Tweaked in later years as the game really didn’t do much to forward the “Evil Umbrella” plot, notorious Resident Evil villain Albert Wesker gets introduced via several cutscenes and a couple small fights, just to liven things up a bit. All in all, the game ranks up there as one of my least favourite journeys in to the Resident Evil universe – not that it stops me from buying it. Bad Resident Evil is still good gaming.

Developed in tandem with Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, but the first in the series to use 3D backgrounds instead of pre-rendered environments, it shares exploding barrels and the 180-degree quick turn to escape enemies. Sadly, Jill’s cool dodge feature in Nemesis didn’t make it. The controls seemed pretty solid and “best yet” back in the day when compared to Resident Evil 2, but again, just like Resident Evil 4 HD, players old and new are going to need about a twenty minute reintroduction to the scheme. Unlike RE 4 HD, you’re stuck with just the one control scheme…so you’d better get used to it.

I’m getting sick of saying, “again, like Resident Evil 4 HD,” but – again, like Resident Evil 4 HD, the achievements/trophies are uninspired and could have used some originality. I would have preferred achievements that popped after mini-boss battles rather than after a cutscene reintroducing Wesker, as an example. Most unlock through normal story progression and one comes after mastering the “Battle Game” mode unlocked after completing the main game. The one good – and tough – achievement that I’m looking forward to tackling only unlocks after beating the game in less than four and a half hours, not saving, not using any first aid sprays, and helping a couple secondary characters along the way.

Oh, and if you do that last achievement, you get a rocket launcher to use in-game. Neat.

Visually, the game’s nothing to write home about. It’s outputting in 1080p, so that’s fantastic…just don’t expect things to look on-par with current generation games.

I could write more, but if Capcom gets to copy and paste games to different markets, I can copy and paste reviews. Even moreso than Resident Evil 4 HD, which can still hold its own today,  Code: Veronica HD seems dated and will be frustrating for most. Die-hard fans should pick this up, and newcomers to the series should proceed at your own risk. For $30 in Australia, it’s an understandably tough sale.

Just not to me, apparently.