Soapbox features allow our writers and individual contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve researched. Today, as RE0 turns 20 years old, Ollie recalls one of the series’ best openings…
Resident Evil Zero got a pretty bad rap.
When it launched on the GameCube on November 12, 2022 — exactly 20 years ago — it was sandwiched right in the middle of the stellar remake of Evil inhabitant and the monster coming soon Resident Evil 4. It is understandable that fans as well as critics have grown quite tired of the franchise clearly not wanting to break away from its reliance on pre-rendered contexts and stale tank controls, and To many, Zero felt like the last straw.
Not only that, but the game also makes some pretty bad decisions when it comes to its gameplay. Zero introduced the ability to switch between the two main characters, Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen, with the former being able to mix herbs and the latter having more physical prowess. Additionally, item chests have been banished, introducing the ability to drop items anywhere you want. While both of these approaches are fun, they both cause unnecessary annoyances in practice, and it’s no surprise that neither has appeared in the franchise for a long time. .
However, those issues aside, Resident Evil Zero’s opening sequence involving a fancy, double-decker luxury train called the Ecliptic Express remains one of the most engaging and memorable sequels. of the series to this day. I’m sure love and cherish it. An hour or two in length — before you move on to the actual “meat” part of the game (“yum yum” – Generic Zombie) — the opening sequence is classic RE gameplay mixed with the more dizzying tempo of Evil 4; simply not a moment is wasted.
Quick recap if you’re struggling to recall the intro. You end the train ride after a brief cutscene sets the general premise: you, as Rebecca Chambers, are tasked with locating a criminal wanted for the murder of 23 people. But of course, we know that Billy Coen – with his hair pulled back and big arm tattoo – not the only danger that awaits. The ship is teeming with zombies, weird leech creatures and, of course, a giant scorpion. Because why will not A giant scorpion gets on a luxury train?
Of course, the great thing about trains is that there is very little room to maneuver; something that is annoying in real life during rush hour, but makes for some pretty interesting situations in horror. Take it Train to Busan, for example – if you haven’t seen the movie, do yourself a favor and finish it. When it comes to Resident Evil, one of the biggest pieces of advice players have shared since the series began is “save your ammo”. Conserve. Your. Bullet. The simple choice of avoiding skirmishes and saving your precious bullets for later more aggressive enemies has always been a staple of the franchise, but Zero’s train section rather adopts the approach. Approach this and stomp it to the ground, throwing zombies at you from both ends of the carriages and forcing you to take them down. You can probably Avoid them if you’re lucky, but it’s a big gamble.
Towards the end of the scene, the train starts to accelerate out of control and Rebecca and Billy have to apply emergency brakes before it plunges and ends the game. These ‘races against time’ are usually saved for the end of the Resident Evil game, but its introduction here, near the beginning, is a welcome change of pace and really flips. the whole opening is perfect. Furthermore, if somehow you do manage to avoid zombies in your way, you now have a whole bunch of them in your way while the timer counts down. It’s stressful to say the least – as it should be.
Best of all, the whole train sequence is a real feast for the eyes. It’s one of the most stunning environments in any Resident Evil game, with the train movement and accompanying rainfall creating some really nice lighting effects. It’s even better when you’re on the roof: the amount of rain and wind blowing through makes you feel like you’re actually on a speeding train; it’s actually quite remarkable for a GameCube game. It’s a natural evolution of what Capcom has achieved with the Resident Evil remake, and I’m really grateful that the company opted out. release the game on N64 as originally intended.
Perhaps more than anything, I really appreciate how unique this opening is. Trains in video games are often used to get the player to a goal or as a new means of getting from point A to point B, and even when they appear in a horror game – like Evil 6for example – their inclusion is often brief, serves as a transition, nominal space as you make your way from one core position to the next.
But in Resident Evil Zero, Ecliptic Express is the real star of the show, and it’s simply the perfect way to unfold what turned out to be an underrated title in the Capcom franchise.
More trains, please!
