#SwoopersTop50SaturnGames
Number 35: Resident Evil
The game that breathed life into a genre, the first Resident Evil remains a superlative experience
Equal parts iconic and gripping, exclusive Saturn features elevate this port
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Who could forget their first experience in the mansion?
I adored the original PS1 game and was over the moon when it came to the Saturn.
At the time there seemed to be nothing else like it and for those that experienced it, they'll all have their own tales to tell.

Playing it now, it's amazing how many iconic moments appear even in the first half an hour of the game.
It really set the scene for a horror adventure that seldom let up on the tension
Yes, it's full of many horror tropes, but we hadnt seen them executed so well in a game before

For the uninitiated, Resident Evil coined the term "Survival Horror", it sees you play as Chris or Jill, whose team has been stranded in a monster infested mansion.
With limited supplies, your objective is to solve the numerous puzzles and escape the house of horrors.

The classic tank controls take a little getting used to, but in reality they're very responsive, and help in maintaining the tension in encounters.
The puzzles too are satisfying to solve, despite how abstract they feel, though they make more sense here than future game locations

Graphically I feel the game has held up surprisingly well. The character models are fine, with more detail and definition (but worse lighting) than the PS version.
But it's the digitised backgrounds that look beautiful at times, especially on a CRT screen.

Sound design is amazing. Music is suitably atmospheric, but also memorable, with some wonderful pieces.
Gunshots, grunts, moans all other other sounds are delivered well.
The voice acting is infamous, but surely you wouldnt be without lines like "Jill Sandwich"?

The Saturn has a few exclusive features, such as a new monster, an additional boss character, new costumes and a Battle Game.
This is unlocked upon completing the story and sees you tackle waves of enemies. Theres additional bosses here to, like zombie Wesker and Gold Tyrant.

When I started the game for these screenshots this week, I literally couldnt stop playing it. Theres something about Resident Evil in it's original form that draws you in and never let's go. A poignant mix of fear and accomplishment.

Despite sequels, remakes and other genre entries bettering the formula, the original Resident Evil is still an essential experience.
If you've never played it, you owe it to yourself, and the Saturn port in my opinion is the definitive version of it in its original form.