October 16, 2002
6th best VG moment - When zombie dogs attack

Until 1996, video games made us laugh; made us cry; introduced us to the joys of carpal tunnel syndrome; and generally turned us into complete social misfits. They hadn't, however, made us jump out of our seats in fright, then turn around and look for a wet spot on the couch. Capcom's Resident Evil changed all that, and proved that a slasher flick scare tactics could be even more effective when used in an interactive setting. The game had heart-stopping terrors galore, but RE mastermind Shinji Mikami also had a clear understanding that pacing was the key to a great horror experience. So, after that introductory FMV, he pulled back the reins; forcing you to walk through so many empty hallways that you began to suspect that there was nothing more dangerous in the old house than some teenagers throwing an after-prom kegger. Then, just when you were starting to feel at ease, those damn demon dogs jumped out of a window, leaving you with racing heart and loaded trousers. Before the knock-offs made "survival horror" just another cliche, Resident Evil was, and still is, the real deal.

BACK TO NEWS/ARTICLES

[Thanks to Game Informer Magazine for the above information]