Previews

Hey, buddy, your breath’s really rotten...

More close-in action promised in Resident Evil plus tricky mini-games and multiplayer

Hey, buddy, your breath’s really rotten...

A deserted mansion, mysterious rustling in the woods, an odd drip, drip, drip that sounds like it’s a fluid thicker than water. And then SOMETHING SUDDEN AND SHOCKING...

As the introduction to the ‘Revenge of the zombie-come-fleshing-eating slasher psychos’, it’s a setting that's as traditional as well, another Friday the 13th film, or the re-return of Sam Raimi to the Evil Dead series.

Good thing, then, that as Capcom adds the finishing gory touches to its reworking of the original Resident Evil, this time for the touchscreen, stylus and wi-fi environment of DS, it’s also taking time to add a smattering of new features.

Some we’ve known about for awhile. Screenshots have been released of the first person perspective mode where you have to wield a knife using the stylus for example. But now we know how the mode will be triggered. As you enter certain rooms, the view will switch, plunging you in to clear out all the zombies. Only then will the view return to normal. The stylus will also be used to solve puzzles - one screenshot shows an Aliens-style knife-between-fingers time challenge. And, even more bizarrely, you’ll be able to blow into the DS’ microphone to revive injured teammates.

Other changes include the addition of a quick 180 turn that’s become a standard in recent Resi games and a promised focus on a more action-oriented style of play. This means that as well as being provided with more ammo, the zombies will be more intelligent and - shock, horror - they’ll be able to open doors, too, so clearing a room won’t mean you’re necessarily safe.

The final addition is multiplayer. In the co-operative mode you’ll have to work together to escape from the mansion, while in competitive play it will be a race to see who can kill the most zombies, as well as other creatures, in a given time.

Still stumbling around the dark, dark forest, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence is expected to shamble into stores during March.

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.