Can kind of tell this is Capcom's first new IP to follow the Resident Evil formula. For the most part, it is still just an RE game with dinosaurs, but there's a lot of smaller differences that weren't terrible ideas, they just didn't work as well for me compared to the actual RE games.
The use of fully 3D environments and more complex enemy design does have it's advantages, but they come at the cost of variety and atmosphere. The environments are all incredibly similar while also lacking the level of detail they could've had from pre-rendered backgrounds. The more complex enemy AI did mean that a basic enemy was more engaging and unpredictable than a regular zombie, but this comes at the cost of there essentially being 1 enemy type throughout the entire game, and a nearly complete lack of bosses.
For the puzzles, I didn't mind the actual process of solving them and they were generally pretty fun. However, this game is absolutely flooded with number codes, to the point that finding them takes up a major portion of the game. This would've been fine, but for some reason this game doesn't give you a journal of all the memo's you've come across, meaning you have to go back to each individual room if you forget the codes. They also changed how item boxes worked and it's mixed for me. I do like the decision making that comes from the use of plugs and the different resources that item boxes can give. However, the game is incredibly scarce with plugs in the beginning of the game, and I wish that every unlocked box functioned like in RE where they were all connected with infinite space.
To give some praise, I actually wasn't opposed to how this game is structured around the combat, or rather the lack of it. A standard enemy in Dino Crisis is a lot tougher than one in Resident Evil. The game is also generally scarcer in ammo, which means that a lot of encounters encourage running past enemies and utilizing the environment such as the beam gates. I personally find running around enemies with tank controls to be incredibly fun, so this style of play was actually pretty very fun for me. Also I think the small cast of characters actually helped, as you just get more interactions with each of them.
Regina is a fun protagonist, but she also contributes to a smaller gripe I have with this game. This game just isn't scary if I'm being honest. There's really nothing all that disturbing, and like I mentioned, the lesser detail in the environments doesn't really help with creating a disturbing, eerie atmosphere.
Even though I've gone over a lot more negatives than positives, I do still think this is a decently fun game. It still has the great survival horror game flow, where just progressing through the map feels great while keeping track of resources throughout. This definitely feels like a first attempt at a lot of these different ideas, but I'd like a sequel to this style or even a remake that's able to flesh it out into something great.
The use of fully 3D environments and more complex enemy design does have it's advantages, but they come at the cost of variety and atmosphere. The environments are all incredibly similar while also lacking the level of detail they could've had from pre-rendered backgrounds. The more complex enemy AI did mean that a basic enemy was more engaging and unpredictable than a regular zombie, but this comes at the cost of there essentially being 1 enemy type throughout the entire game, and a nearly complete lack of bosses.
For the puzzles, I didn't mind the actual process of solving them and they were generally pretty fun. However, this game is absolutely flooded with number codes, to the point that finding them takes up a major portion of the game. This would've been fine, but for some reason this game doesn't give you a journal of all the memo's you've come across, meaning you have to go back to each individual room if you forget the codes. They also changed how item boxes worked and it's mixed for me. I do like the decision making that comes from the use of plugs and the different resources that item boxes can give. However, the game is incredibly scarce with plugs in the beginning of the game, and I wish that every unlocked box functioned like in RE where they were all connected with infinite space.
To give some praise, I actually wasn't opposed to how this game is structured around the combat, or rather the lack of it. A standard enemy in Dino Crisis is a lot tougher than one in Resident Evil. The game is also generally scarcer in ammo, which means that a lot of encounters encourage running past enemies and utilizing the environment such as the beam gates. I personally find running around enemies with tank controls to be incredibly fun, so this style of play was actually pretty very fun for me. Also I think the small cast of characters actually helped, as you just get more interactions with each of them.
Regina is a fun protagonist, but she also contributes to a smaller gripe I have with this game. This game just isn't scary if I'm being honest. There's really nothing all that disturbing, and like I mentioned, the lesser detail in the environments doesn't really help with creating a disturbing, eerie atmosphere.
Even though I've gone over a lot more negatives than positives, I do still think this is a decently fun game. It still has the great survival horror game flow, where just progressing through the map feels great while keeping track of resources throughout. This definitely feels like a first attempt at a lot of these different ideas, but I'd like a sequel to this style or even a remake that's able to flesh it out into something great.
how the hell did they manage to make a game about time-traveling dinosaurs so bland? this game has an incredibly boring setting, which is especially important in survival horror because of how much backtracking and memorization it requires. the game also fucks up so many things that the original Resident Evil nailed three years prior. the inventory system is absolutely abysmal. there's like seven mechanics associated with just storing items. hardly any variety in dinos, and one boss (that isn't even good). the files don't even save. if you are at a puzzle and want to reread the associated file, you have to GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO IT, using the useless map. all of these aspects were great in Resident Evil, made three years earlier by the same guy. Shinji my man how did this happen. the OST is good and some of the puzzles are fun and Regina is cool but man this game sucks
Fun enough game. The need to use your environment and block off enemies instead of dodging past listlessly shambling enemies is really interesting. The choice of using tranquilizers to temporarily remove a threat or spending rounds adds to the tension a ton too. When one of the raptors followed me into a room for the first time was genuinely shocked that they were this smart. Sadly the game just gets too repetitive and the amount of backtracking is gets egregious alongside the game's small enemy pool. You can feel the dev team struggling to get the game finished in time with how much reuse there is. If the level design was better and there were more hazards I'd consider it up there with the other PS1 RE games. As it is I wouldn't play it again over them.
It's fine I suppose. Not gonna lie, Dino Crisis is rather generic in concept for a survival-horror game, but is thankfully saved by dinosaurs. The dinosaurs are rather repetitive unfortunately, banking on a few species.
Short and concise, I suppose Dino Crisis is novel in concept. Stuck in an isolated island run by dinosaurs is a total fun time, right? Kind of, except when I start solving its dreadful puzzles.
Dino Crisis is tight. Its hallways even tighter. Regina? Great character. Would I vouch for a remake? Yes, but please. Lose the godawful puzzles, pretty please.
Short and concise, I suppose Dino Crisis is novel in concept. Stuck in an isolated island run by dinosaurs is a total fun time, right? Kind of, except when I start solving its dreadful puzzles.
Dino Crisis is tight. Its hallways even tighter. Regina? Great character. Would I vouch for a remake? Yes, but please. Lose the godawful puzzles, pretty please.
English isn't my first language, so when I was a kid, I struggled to catch what I needed to do to progress in the game. Back then, without fully comprehending the game mechanics, and with the dinosaurs jumping around, I found myself stuck at the beginning.
Now, 20 years after my initial attempt with this game, I've rediscovered Dino Crisis, a great game, possibly one of the best on the PSX that I've played.
In the end, it did become a bit boring. Aside from that, I don't have much else to say. With great puzzles, not too difficult, without jump scares, and with a good balance of action.
A Great Game.
Now, 20 years after my initial attempt with this game, I've rediscovered Dino Crisis, a great game, possibly one of the best on the PSX that I've played.
In the end, it did become a bit boring. Aside from that, I don't have much else to say. With great puzzles, not too difficult, without jump scares, and with a good balance of action.
A Great Game.
its just resident evil with dinosaurs, as somebody with a hyperfixation on dinos and loves survival horror this game was made for me
GooeyScale: 90/100
GooeyScale: 90/100
one of those games that are just okay
When horror meet dinosaur. I dont really like the control, but i understand it was an old game. But imagine they remake this game with current technology :0
i really wish i had a physical copy and didnt have to use emulation to play it several months ago but i absolutely adored playing through it, it wasnt as hard as i wanted it to be but the aesthetic, visuals, score (the first encounter theme fucking rips and the save theme is easily my fav save-related piece of any game ever), characters, story, gameplay and setpieces were all amazing. i hate that this is probably never going to see the light of day again (series wise) or get a remake since 3 was an apparent mess but still... oh well! i need to play 2 soon