Last year, the release of Resident Evil Code: Veronica was one of the best reasons to buy a Dreamcast. Now that the PS2 version has hit the scene, Resident Evil Code: Veronica X has become a shining mark for Sony's juggernaut as well. The latest edition features a massive graphical overhaul and a much deeper storyline that, more or less, follows that of Resident Evil 2. In effect, Veronica X ties up a lot of the loose ends unexplained in previous editions, thus making Resident Evil 3: Nemesis something of sub-plot to the entire series.

For those of you who didn't play the original Resident Evil Code: Veronica (shame on you!) or for those who haven't even played a Resident Evil game at all (much shame on you!!) then I'll go over the story's premise. Claire Redfield, after her escape from Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2, has left for Europe in search of her brother, the hero of Resident Evil, Chris Redfield. They eventually meet up and decide to infiltrate Umbrella's Paris lab. During this break-in, Claire is captured (which I might add, features one of the best FMVs I've seen to date) and is taken to Rockfort Island, a military base/prison for Umbrella operated by the deadly Alfred Ashford. During Claire's imprisonment, an attack commences on the base, which accidentally releases the T-Virus, transforming almost everyone on the island into a zombie. Claire's captor releases her out of guilt, which begins the game of survival. Note that the Dreamcast version revealed most of the major plot points for Veronica X, which might make you ask "Why should I even bother to check it out?" Well, for reasons being Veronica X features added cutscenes, further exploration behind Wesker's involvement, and uncovering more juicy details on his sinister plans.

Upon its release, Code: Veronica boasted some of the best graphics to grace a console system. Now, looking at games like Onimusha, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X, the graphics of this game may seem a little dated. But that takes nothing away from its overall quality. The camera angles, ambient lighting and great direction make the visuals of Resident Evil Code: Veronica X really stand out. The character models are beautifully sculpted and move very well. There isn't much articulation in the faces, but enough so to convey the feeling of what's going on. Gone are the traditional pre-rendered backgrounds of old in favor of a much better quasi-3D environment. Adding a third dimension allows for the director to setup some really scary shots making for a much creepier experience. The FMVs of this game are, how does one say...awesome? Like something out of a John Woo movie, the FMVs are action-packed and beautifully directed. I can honestly say that Resident Evil Code: Veronica X has some of the coolest FMVs to date.

Unfortunately, the extremely awkward control setup featured in the first three games returns once again. There are a few minor additions in Veronica X that offer a little more depth to these crazy controls. For example, the 180-degree turn, the most useful addition in this game. When executed, the command allows players to spin around quickly and take off in the other direction, thus avoiding any hungry zombies or killer monsters they may encounter. The second addition featured in Veronica X is the ability to use two guns simultaneously. This makes combat so much easier, as now you can take out two creatures at once. The auto-lock feature is back and let's you lock onto targets or split them up between two weapons. This helps when you can't exactly see where your enemy is or when you need to take something out quickly and don't have time to aim properly. One thing I would have liked to see back in this outing is the ability to walk up and down stairs without using a button. This feature looks to be an exclusive to Resident Evil 2. We can only hope that Capcom will hear our pleas for its return in the next installment.

Over the years, Capcom has been notorious for slacking off in delivering quality voice acting. But, believe it or not, Veronica X features the best voice acting among the entire series. Previous editions have offered strained dialogue and choppy conversations. Not so this time out. Although the voice acting may not sound the most professional, it at least fits the persona of the characters. While the voices have been continued to be exceptional, the sounds have not. Every effect, ranging from gunshots and footsteps, to the moans and groans, have always been captured perfectly and this latest edition is no exception. There's nothing scarier than hearing that dreaded shuffle of an approaching zombie.

Another facet of the audio development that deserves significant credit is the music. To date, no horror game can make you feel more uncomfortable other than the soundtracks of Resident Evil; and that's a good thing. With a mix of light orchestrations and simple sound effects, the music truly enhances the gaming experience of the creepy atmosphere

Now we come to the big question - in spite of the acclaim of the original release, do the extra ten minutes of cutscene footage and a playable demo really make the newer installment a warranted purchase? Not really. I like to consider Resident Evil Code: Veronica X to be something of a "Director's Cut". To illustrate, as in the case of motion pictures (or more specifically, DVD and VHS releases), special editions are usually reserved for hardcore fans of the film. Which is in effect is what Veronica X represents. Avid fans of the Resident Evil series will see no problem in dropping fifty bucks for a slightly "upgraded" version of a game that's been out for over a year. PlayStation 2 owners who didn't take the Dreamcast plunge will also likely pick it up. Without a doubt, Resident Evil Code: Veronica X is the best in this fledgling genre known as survival horror. Hopefully, Capcom will continue to thrill players with future installments of this acclaimed series.

· · · Space Cowboy