Ughhh. Aaaarrrrrgggghhh. No, I’m not a zombie. I’m a game reviewer using his keyboard to communicate the terrifying boredom that Outbreak File #2 has inflicted upon me. What the hell is wrong with Capcom? I’m not even being colorful – I really want to know! They fixed nothing in #2 – and trust me when I say number two is the perfect way to describe this game – that would have, could have, improved upon a concept that in theory should work, but in execution fails miserably. Problem #1. No online realtime communication with your partners except in the lobby. This was explained to us by Capcom last time and they suggested the game is scarier this way. It’s not scary this way. It’s limiting. It’s frustrating. It’s bushleague (thanks Ron Burgundy). Being able to communicate with your partners would have been very cool. Problem #2. It’s like Resident Evil….played with 3 other people. Is that a problem, you might ask? Yeah. Big problem. Think of it like this: The Resident Evil series up until the first Outbreak was a one player game. One person could handle it. Outbreak #2 is a four player game and there just isn’t enough for everyone to do. So you just stand around while one guy goes through doors or opens closets. If we could talk, that would be something. But we can’t. See Problem #1. Problem #3. It’s like Resident Evil….but online. This means that there are even longer load times when you go through a door or enter a new area. There are the same herbs to combine. The same zombies to shoot. The same keys to find. The same ridiculous puzzles to solve. At least if I could make fun of someone while they were trying to turn around on that big sloppy dullwitted axis that Capcom insists placing their characters on, that would be something to while away the boredom. But I can’t. See Problem #1. Problem #4. The graphics are beautiful. Why is that a problem? Because the game has never looked better, it fools my mind into wanting to play it. But my thumbs know better than my eyes, yet my eyes still keep tricking my hands into picking up the controller. I can’t even say to my online companions “Hey, check that out! Doesn’t that look cool?” because….see Problem #1. I know you might disagree with me but this game will only be done correctly on the next gen machines. No load times. Communication via headset. Expanded gameplay not limited by 5 year old technology. That’s the way it should be. So avoid until then or frustrate yourself at the limitations at every – slowpaced – turn. |