Is Resident Evil Survivor 2 Code Veronica the Worst Resident Evil Game?
The Playstation 2 was home to a lot of horrible games…
This review started with the original Resident Evil survivor. It’s a game I enjoyed but wasn’t well received by critics. It takes you into the Resident Evil universe as an action, FPS game. The Survivor series is not designed to be horror. For anyone craving a real Resident Evil experience, this isn’t it. But it is an accessible way to get into the franchise.
For Capcom, it also opened an opportunity to bring Resident Evil to the arcades with Resident Evil Survivor 2 Code Veronica. A game so arcade, it was released in the arcades first before being ported exclusively to the Sony Playstation 2. Only released in Japan, Australia and Europe, is this the worst Resident Evil game ever?
Resident Evil Survivor 2 Code: Veronica knew exactly what it needed to be. It’s a direct port from an arcade game. Set up in a noisy arcade with a turret and a few friends, this game is a quick blast through locations in the original Code Veronica game. This isn’t a ‘serious’ entry in the Resident Evil series. It’s not designed to innovate or turn-heads.
Developing Resident Evil Survivor 2 Code Veronica for Dreamcast?
Co-developed by Namco and Capcom and designed for Sega’s Naomi hardware. This game is basically a Sega Dreamcast game. Resident Evil Survivor 2 was produced while Capcom and Nintendo had an exclusivity agreement. While the main Resident Evil and Biohazard franchise was tied up on the Gamecube, spin-offs like Dead Aim and Outbreak were common on the Sony Playstation 2.
The Resident Evil spin-off’s had stiff competition from the main titles. Resident Evil 3, RE4 and Code Veronica are incredible games in the franchise and really strong entries in the franchise. Compared to that, games like Survivor, Outbreak and even Gaiden didn’t manage to impress. Reviewed on their own merits, the Resident Evil spin-off’s are still mostly fun to play. Survivor 2 missed the mark completely.
Resident Evil Survivor 2 Code Veronica takes a lot of the locations from the first disc of the Code Veronica game. Enemies from the entire franchise and tries to hack the original Code Veronica story to pieces. One of the strangest additions is Nemesis. As you play through each stage a timer ticks down. Once it reaches zero, Nemesis ‘escapes’ containment and chases you down.
Completing the game reveals this was all part of Claire’s dream. It effectively makes the game non-cannon. But doesn’t explain how Claire knows about Nemesis as well as the enemies and bosses from the latter half of CV.
Anyone interested in seeing a more arcade style of Resident Evil gameplay has better options now. Umbrella Chronicles on the Nintendo Wii takes a lot of these concepts of an FPS game and gave us a rail-shooter. It’s a more ‘House of the Dead’ style approach to the Resident Evil universe and it works so well. Even better with a friend and the nostalgia is off the charts.
Extra Modes
As a gamer, I really appreciate spinoff’s because they give us an alternative way to explore and enjoy the universes these franchises have created. It’s clear that Umbrella Chronicles is the better arcade spin-off but Survivor 2 is an interesting beast. Direct from the arcade via Sega Dreamcast hardware. Mashing multiple storylines together to create a real abomination. And I enjoyed checking it out.
It’s also the only game I ever played with a Vs. Roach mode. I wasn’t sure what to expect. To put it bluntly, you shoot cockroaches on the wall. Sound stupid? It is. I can’t explain it but it’s slightly addicting chaining together combos. The other game play mode, Dungeon, feels super-tedious by comparison. It adds A LOT of repetitious content into the game. New locations, enemies and bosses with easier access to an arsenal of weapons. But it’s not fun and the progression feels very artificial. Unless you loved story and want more of the gameplay, dungeon mode won’t hold your attention.
Each dungeon opens into a sprawling labyrinth where you can get lost. But for how short the arcade game is, this only serves to pad out your play time.
Resident Evil Survivor 2 is not a buggy game. Frame-rate is pretty consistent and the action rarely lets up. It’s a short game that looks good on paper. It has a good cross-section of enemies but it fails to really capture any of that Resident Evil atmosphere. It’s not a hidden gem but it might be worth seeing how bad a Resident Evil game can get.
Resident Evil Gaiden has also worn the label of worst Resident Evil game. Of course, you can find the review for that game here. Or sink deep on the Sega Saturn and see what competition the original Resident Evil had with Deep Fear.
