Resident Evil (1996)

Resident Evil (1996) remains a landmark survival horror title that introduced players to the iconic Spencer Mansion, tank controls, and atmospheric tension. Despite being over 30 years old, its core gameplay, puzzles, and storyline continue to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers. The Steam release brings the original PC port with uncensored full-color cutscenes and some modern conveniences like door skip and higher resolution support.

However, the Steam version has notable technical and usability drawbacks. It includes unnecessary DRM which hinders performance and compatibility, particularly on Steam Deck and Linux. The port lacks modern features such as achievements, cloud saves, Steam overlay, and native controller support. The graphics, while improved from the original, still show compression artifacts due to low-res pre-rendered backgrounds. The game is easier than the original PS1 release and missing some content present in Director's Cut or other editions.

Overall, the game is a classic survival horror experience with enduring charm, but the Steam port feels rushed and under-optimized, detracting from the otherwise excellent gameplay and story.

Highlights

Players praise the classic survival horror gameplay with its tense atmosphere, challenging puzzles, and resource management. The storyline and setting remain engaging, with iconic characters and plot twists. The uncensored full-color cutscenes and ability to skip door animations improve pacing. Fans appreciate the nostalgia and the opportunity to own the original game on Steam. The game supports up to 4K resolution and runs well on PC, retaining the original's unique tank controls and fixed camera angles which contribute to the horror experience.

Criticisms

The Steam release is criticized for unnecessary DRM that causes performance issues and prevents Steam Deck compatibility. The port lacks achievements, cloud saves, Steam overlay, and native controller support. Graphics show compression artifacts due to low-resolution backgrounds. The game is easier than the original PS1 version, and some content from Director's Cut or other editions is missing. Controls can be clunky and require adjustment, especially on modern controllers. The launcher is intrusive, and the game demands registry edits on some platforms, complicating Linux and SteamOS play. Overall, the port feels rushed and under-optimized.