Dino Crisis 2 for PlayStation 1

Fast-paced action is a simple way to describe Dino Crisis 2. Don?t expect the same Resident Evil aura if you decide to try this game out. The game mechanics essentially look the same, but folks there is definitely a different type of game to be played here.

Capcom has finally created a survival game that doesn?t give me a headache to play. I liked the Resident Evil series, but the inventory menu system and the limits on what can be carried etc were just a real hassle to me. Plus some of the puzzles in the game were just mind boggling in my opinion. For this reason I had little expectations when I popped in Dino Crisis for the first time. But now I know first hand that this is not just another RE game set in the world of Jurassic Park.

You?ve Never Been to Jurassic Park?
?but I?ve just come back from my trip there. Let me tell you about it. If you are familiar with Capcom?s survival series? then you should have no problems controlling the characters of Dino Crisis 2. I don?t find any benefits in describing the exact controls here, since I think that is the job of a manual. I?m here to tell you what I think about this game. But basically you control one of two characters, and as the story progresses, one character may require his/her partner to help him/her and so you will be automatically switched to the opposite character and continue on from there. It?s actually a nice feature in the game.

A great aspect of this game is the inventory system. It?s futuristic look, easy navigation and very fast saves makes playing DC2 more enjoyable. You don?t have to find weapons in this game, you buy them. You also are able to purchase ammo, healing supplies and weapon/armor upgrades. There?s no money in ?Jurassic Park? though. You are given points for defeating your enemies. This is where fast-paced action comes in. When you enter areas where the dinosaurs roam, you will encounter many, many, many enemies. You will probably kill 15-20 dinosaurs per area when you begin the game. Those dinosaurs keep you on your toes so learn to maneuver quickly. Raptors move much more quickly than zombies.

Puzzles seem to play a much more minimal part in Dino Crisis. I ran across very few, and it would seem to me that the game focuses much more on action and story. When you do run into a puzzle it isn?t a strange task of finding a green emerald to put into the god of time or whatnot. It?s usually having to find the right key for the right door. That?s fine with me really. I was thoroughly entertained in blasting my way through flocks of Raptor and all those other complicatedly named dinosaurs. Graphics are very pleasing as well as the ?scene transitions?. I am referring to when the character is moving from one end of a screen to the next, and the game must change the camera angle and scene. It is done very well in Dino Crisis. Also, another newly added feature is the ?door opening cinema? is now accompanied by a label that tells you where it leads.

You Need Firepower?
Let me tell you what I got. Did you ever realize that you have two hands in all these survival games?! Well Capcom suddenly realized it themselves and have decided to give you the power to wield two separate weapons. Maybe you want a shotgun in one hand, and your trusty machete in the other? It?s great combination of weaponry. Also, weapons carry so many rounds you almost never run out. For instance, a shotgun carries about 200 rounds and you never have to stop in the middle of battle, to reload. The only time you stop shooting is if your foes are dead or you?ve run out of shells, but since a re-supply station is always within reach, it?s easy to stay full of rounds.

There is a multitude of interesting weapons to choose from. You have double submachine guns, stun rod, missile launcher, flamethrower and grenade launcher just to name a few. You can upgrade the capacity of your guns to hold more ammo, buy upgrades for hand weapons, and most everything. It?s really a very straight forward and easy to understand system.

Anything Else Before Your Adventure Begins?
Dino Crisis 2 has improved loading times, easy navigation through menus, an excellent inventory/weapons system, the fastest saving process I?ve ever encountered, and an interesting storyline that keeps you wondering. The game picks up the pace, pumps the adrenaline a bit more with action rather than suspenseful scares. Play time is a little short. It can take as little as 6 hours to complete this game, but there are bonuses and secrets to keep the fun going a little while longer. The game graphics are light, well animated and a drastic difference from the original dark corridors and dim-lit areas. In Dino Crisis 2, your goal is bust through the game Duke Nukem style, and conservative is no longer key to survival anymore.