Genre: Third-Person Shooter | Developer: Capcom, Slant Six Games | Release Date: 2012
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City was released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows, and the game follows a group of elite military contractors during the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City.
Campaign:
The story of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is disappointingly weak, failing to deliver an engaging narrative or compelling what-if scenario. While the concept of revisiting Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis from a different perspective had potential, the execution is lackluster. The story fails to add meaningful depth to the established Resident Evil lore and, instead of exploring fresh angles, awkwardly forces main characters like Leon, Ada, Jill, and Claire into the plot. The inclusion of these legacy characters feels unnecessary, as the game would have been better served by focusing solely on its new cast.
The main characters of Operation Raccoon City—members of the Umbrella Security Service—are decent enough, each possessing unique skills and backstories. However, the short and uninspired narrative doesn’t allow them the space to develop into anything more than generic squad members. There was an opportunity here to expand on the dark world of Resident Evil through their perspectives, but the game squanders that chance. The campaign ultimately feels rushed and uninspired, failing to capitalize on what could have been an interesting deviation from the mainline series.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Gameplay:
Players choose from six different character classes, each with distinct abilities and weapons, providing some level of variety in playstyles. At its core, the combat is serviceable, with decent melee mechanics and functional gunplay. However, the gameplay is plagued with significant flaws. The "infected" mechanic, which allows players to turn into zombies upon infection, sounds intriguing but lacks real impact. The weapon balancing is poor, as even basic enemies require entire magazines to take down, making encounters frustrating rather than tense. The AI—both enemy and ally—is laughably bad, often making bizarre decisions that hinder the experience.
The game attempts to blend horror and action but leans heavily towards the action side, which dilutes the tense survival horror elements that define the Resident Evil franchise. The cover system is functional but clunky, making firefights feel awkward rather than strategic. Glitches are also a major issue, ranging from minor annoyances to game-breaking bugs. Co-op is one of the game’s strongest features, but the lack of local co-op is a huge letdown. The competitive versus mode has potential but suffers from balancing issues, making it frustrating rather than enjoyable.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Production:
Visually, Operation Raccoon City is a mixed bag. The character models, lighting, and environments are well-designed for the most part, creating an eerie and atmospheric take on Raccoon City. The cinematics are solid, with some impressive cutscenes that feel like they belong in a proper Resident Evil title. However, the in-game graphics don’t hold up as well, with some muddy textures and stiff animations that detract from the overall immersion.
The music is decent but unmemorable, failing to elevate the tension or reinforce key moments. Sound design, on the other hand, is one of the stronger aspects of the game. Gunfire, explosions, and environmental effects all sound crisp, and the grotesque sounds of infected creatures help establish a creepy atmosphere. The voice acting is surprisingly strong, with solid performances from the cast, adding some much-needed personality to the otherwise forgettable story. While the production values aren’t terrible, they aren’t enough to compensate for the game’s many issues.
Rating: 3 out of 5
The Verdict:
In the end, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is a mediocre experience that falls short of its potential, with a weak campaign, flawed gameplay, and underwhelming execution. There is some fun to be had but it's very hard to overlook a lot of the problems. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City gets 2 out of 5.
Comments
Post a Comment