[Score: Strong 9/10].
Jill Valentine’s Playthrough — 9/10
Overview & Design
Okay, I’ve played Resident Evil 1 before. Well…I played Jill’s playthrough and I think like 1/4 to 1/3 of Chris’s playthrough. I LOVE this game. It is SO well designed. Jill’s playthrough is the EASY mode in this game, yet I would recommend it for ALL first players. ESPECIALLY if it’s your first survival horror game. 95% of the puzzles are so interesting, and interconnected in such a fluid way, which means problem-solving feels fair and fun.
Resource Management
The resource management of health, ammo, and carrying general items is also so innovative. For example, let’s say there is a zombie in the hallway. I can either use my ammo to reliably take them down, or duck past them at the risk of them catching me and chomping down on my health bar. Do I keep my weapon and health items, keeping me safer, but disallowing me from solving multiple puzzles, OR do I leave the weapon and/or health items in the chest, risking my safety but allowing me to carry the puzzle pieces at the same time, and solve multiple puzzles in one journey? These were decisions I was always making, and it truly makes this game REALLY engaging with how much critical thinking you are consistently doing.
Story & Characters
I got the ending in which Jill and Chris escaped, but Barry died, and that’s due to me not waiting for Barry to get the rope and fish me out of that hole. Despite the so-bad-it’s-good acting, WHICH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE AND ADORE, I got emotional at the end that Barry died. Despite being in on the deal with Wesker, he really cared for us. He only risked his life and betrayed us to save his family, so the characters and a player are at a mutual understanding of his circumstances. Wesker is just a moustache-twirling villain, but considering this is a cheesy horror flick, I don’t really mind that much. HOPEFULLY, Wesker isn’t a recurring theme throughout the entire series…right? RIGHT? Because THAT’D BE REALLY STUPID TO BRING HIM BACK TO LIFE AND GIVE HIM MATRIX POWERS RIGHT? IT WOULD COMPLETELY DISINTEREST PEOPLE FROM THE GENERAL LORE RIGHT? Uhhh, yeah this game is legendary. Beautiful. So well designed.
Chris Redfield’s Playthrough — 9/10
This run took me about 7 hours to complete of full game time. Chris’s playthrough is definitely hard mode. The inventory system of 6 slots makes the game much more difficult to traverse. This is a double-edged sword, as yes, it does get me to think about what I need to carry more, but at the same time this mechanic causes me to backtrack due to not having enough inventory space, much more than I’d like to admit. Some sections also have more enemies, as to get to the lively plant in the fountain, you have to go through 3 ZOMBIES, instead of one like in Jill’s playthrough. It’s very much engaging for someone who has already played the game and is looking for more of a challenge. Also the rocket launcher at the end is PEAK ending, oh my goodness. Legendary game, and I can’t wait to play the remake of this masterpiece (which apparently makes EVERYTHING better).
Playthrough Details: 56 Hours, Jill Valentine’s Playthrough (Barry Dies, Chris Lives), Chris Redfield’s Playthrough (Rebecca Lives, Jill Lives)
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