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Resident Evil Zero
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 36 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 54 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Capcom Entertainment
Developer: Capcom Entertainment
Genre(s): Adventure, Survival Horror
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: November 12, 2002
Summary
Before the Mansion. Before the disaster. Evil is Born. Something terrible is seeping into the once pristine mountain air. The residents of Raccoon City go about their lives unaware of the dark fate that surrounds them. It's only the beginning! Sent in to investigate a series of grisly murders in the area, S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team scrambles into action. On the way to the scene, Bravo's helicopter crashes. Although everyone survives, what they discover next is a gruesome site. An overturned military transport truck, riddled with corpses. Rookie member Rebecca Chambers is beginning to wonder what she got herself into. Bravo team is about to discover the evil nightmare that is growing all around them. [Capcom]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Resident Evil Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 3 Nemesis Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central IGN Insider Guide
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Play Magazine
No Resident Evil has established such gloomy mood as effectively as Resident Evil Zero, which paints every screen with a decadent artistry that is unmatched in its extraordinary detail and inspired darkness. [Dec 2002, p.70]
Nintendo Power
A captivating and horrifying journey. [Dec 2002, p.211]
RealGamer
With beautiful graphics and disturbingly realistic audio Resident Evil 0 is probably the best game in the entire series.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
By the end of the game, you'll feel physically exhausted by how much content you've absorbed. [Dec 2002, p.124]
Nintendojo
The story fills in most, if not all, of the plot holes from the series and provides a very engaging and entertaining ride.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
There has been only a handful of times when I’ve been absolutely spellbound by a game. Be it for graphics or gameplay or a straight up solid game. In this category of acclaim, I would have to list "Mario 64," "Soul Calibur" (DC), and now Resident Evil: Zero.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
A fantastic achievement and a must buy for any Resident Evil fan. The new gameplay additions may even sway those of you who couldn’t get to grips with Remake.
Read Full Review >Nintendophiles
There is just enough of a story for Resident Evil fans to play the game and find out new information, but there certainly could have been much more in terms of the story.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Some of the new play elements miss the mark, but overall Zero is a long, rewarding night of fright.
Read Full Review >GameCube Europe
The messiah RE fans have been prophesising...Do not expect to be sustained eternally however, an experienced gamer will burn through this game which can be completed on lower difficulties in the same amount of time as "Luigi’s Mansion."
Read Full Review >Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
It's still got that old Resi magic and is a great game, but the series is starting to show its age and plod like an old zombie. [GamesMaster]
Read Full Review >Gamezilla!
About as beautiful a videogame that you are ever going to see. Yes, it even looks better then the remake that came out earlier this year.
Read Full Review >GameBiz
The controls will drive you mad, the camera angles will frustrate you, and some of the design ideas will have you wondering what the hell Capcom puts in their water.
Read Full Review >NintendoWorldReport
As a Resident Evil fanatic, this is probably the best game in the series. Personally, it’s battling "RE2" to become my favourite RE game of all time.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Even if the game is largely formulaic, Capcom still pulls it off better than anyone else out there. [Jan 2003, p.190]
Gaming Age
The complex inventory and quick enemies might have you screaming, but most of the time it’s in a good way.
Read Full Review >IGN
The control is worse and the puzzles are possibly even more stupefied. That's not cool.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
As high quality as the series has ever been, with superb dramatic sensibilities, a decent storyline, improved acting, high calibre FMV cutscenes, and some dynamic camera work.
Read Full Review >Gamestyle
The ‘zap’ system and the loss of item chests (the main difference in this episode) is a welcome addition indeed and makes Resident Evil 0 a definite purchase to any fan of the series.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
The truly frightening part is it's a bit shy of must-have status due to pressing issues with artificial intelligence, item collection, and game balancing.
Read Full Review >Total Video Games
It’s not quite the game that we have all been hoping for, however the new character switch adds a new element of fun that most of us should enjoy.
Read Full Review >GamerWeb Nintendo
The new character swapping system works really well but the new item system is as problematic as the old one.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Those who have stuck with the Resident Evil series despite its dogged insistence on not changing its ways will find that Resident Evil 0 still has a lot to offer.
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
This one is actually a brand new game, with significant changes. [Feb 2003, p.96]
Cincinnati Enquirer
Visually speaking, Resident Evil 0 is the best-looking game in the series to date. Players can expect photo-realistic environments, smoothly animated characters and creepy lighting effects.
Read Full Review >Electric Playground
I didn't find it very scary. Maybe after so many games we're on to its tricks, but there seem to be far less boo! moments than in other RE games.
Read Full Review >Gamer's Pulse
The game is not incredibly long but still should take about 10-12 hours to beat the first time through.
Read Full Review >GameNow
Creepier than any of the earlier games, and as an exercise in horror, it's terrific. Just get ready for a high frustration factor. [Jan 2003, p.60]
Game Revolution
It's not quite as pretty as GameCube's "RE," is flawed by the two-character gimmick and still features a screwy inventory system.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
The control in RE is completely unforgiving and ruins what should have, could have and would have been a great game.
G4 TV
The same formula that was once termed as ground-breaking now become tired and old.
Read Full Review >GameCritics
The bottom line is that Resident Evil Zero's title perfectly describes the content and play value of the game itself.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 54 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
some guy gave it a10:
Great gameplay and fantastic graphics to boot. The simultaneous control adds a new dimension to Resident Evil, with two person puzzles and gameplay being a breath of fresh air. This game doesn't lose any of the atmosphere of previous Resident Evil games, either, and the brilliant pre-rendered graphics only add to this.
Eric P gave it an8:
Resident Evil 0 lends itself to some truly breathtaking graphics due to the trademark fixed camera angles the series has been known for. I had to stop plenty of times and take in the surroundings. The Gamecube showcases alot of things in this game. I really enjoyed the music in this game. It added to the overall creepiness of the game. Controlling 2 characters was a welcome addition but I think they utterly failed with the inventory system by taking away the item boxes. It was great to be able to just "drop" an item (which is actually more realistic) but good luck organizing your items and taking them with you as the game progresses: it becomes a real chore due to the lack of inventory space available. While the plot is nothing earth shattering, it is done in typical Resident Evil fashion. 10% plot - 90% everything else. The interaction between Billy and Rebecca just left me not caring as there was never anything of interest being discussed. It was always a flashback here or a tangent there, and it never went anywhere or did anything to impress me. The back story behind the Progenitor Virus is located within this game so any true fan to the series has to play it.
a guy gave it a6:
after the survival horror masterpiece that was the resident evil remake this is a major disapointment it just feels like a complete step back for the series with no crimson heads and no defensive weaponry to mix up the survival horror format it just feels so average there is nothing here in either the gamplay or the story to justify making a resi prequel. rebecca and billy are nowhere near as iconic as jill and chris and the charecter switching dynamic just plain doesnt work because its so akward. im probably being a little harsh on it as it doesnt do anything really wrong but theres so many better survival horror titles already out there that i cant really recomend this
Jason C. gave it a7:
A solid entry in the series, but not terribly innovative in light of Resident Evil 4's greatness.
Simon Y. gave it a9:
Although i have only just bought this game i am in love with it. The atmosphere is amazing. I prefer it to the original.
Michael D. gave it a10:
This game is easy. I recommend it for beginners!
Jesse S. gave it an8:
A great game in a great series, but easily the worst in the series. The graphics are even better than in the remake of the first game, if you can imagine that. Gameplay is the standard fare for Resident Evil, however, there are a few important new features. One would be that you control two characters simutaneously, by 'zapping', or switching between the two. However, this feature gets tiring after a while, which would be the main 'con' for this game. The other important feature is that now you have the ability to drop items and pick them up later, but this also can be a pain at times. You also have a lot less inventory space, and weapons take up more space. The story is fairly well, but you are left with the feeling that there could have been a tad bit more. Overall, a great game in its own right, but like I said, probably my least favorite in the entire series.
