Resident Evil

Resident Evil arrived on the Sega Saturn as a port of the genre-defining survival horror game that Capcom originally released on PlayStation. In the role of a member of the S.T.A.R.S. special unit, the player finds themselves in a mysterious mansion on the edge of a forest, facing zombies and other mutated creatures, solving puzzles with a limited inventory, and trying to survive with a minimum of ammunition and healing items. The static camera and fixed viewing angles create the characteristic, claustrophobic atmosphere the series became famous for, forcing the player to anticipate what's lurking around the corner the camera can't see.

Compared to the original release, the Saturn version contained minor additions and adjustments, among other things in the form of extra enemies and altered sequences, which set it apart from the PlayStation original. Technically the game used pre-rendered backgrounds combined with three-dimensional character models, which placed specific demands on graphics processing on the Saturn that developers had to contend with, especially when working with transparency effects and lighting. The sound design, from creaking doors to sudden musical stingers upon encountering an enemy, remained a key part of the tension in this version too, and together with the limited means of defence it creates a constant sense of threat.

The choice between two playable characters, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, also offered a slightly different course through the game and a different arrangement of items and puzzles. Resident Evil fundamentally influenced the direction of the entire games industry and helped define survival horror as a genre in its own right, followed by a whole series of later games. The Saturn port allowed owners of Sega's console to experience this groundbreaking title as well, albeit with less impact than on the PlayStation, for which the game was primarily built and promoted. It remains an important milestone to this day, its tension and sense of vulnerability holding up despite the years that have passed since release, and despite controls that today's players often consider archaic.

Why play: For survival horror fans who want to experience the genre-defining title with a choice between Chris and Jill, even though today's players often consider the controls archaic.