Resident Evil: Deadly Silence

Although it was far from the first survival horror game to hit the market, Capcom's classic 1996 thriller Resident Evil deserves to be remembered as one of the most influential. What better way to celebrate its 10th birthday than with a DS re-release? Deadly Silence is a near-perfect port of the original PlayStation game spiced up with a "Rebirth" mode that adds DS-specific features and wireless multiplayer.

Resident Evil's mixture of static backgrounds and 3D zombies can't have been particularly easy to translate to the DS, which, unlike the PSP, isn't exactly optimized for 3D graphics. Nevertheless, it copes admirably and doesn't look noticeably different from the PlayStation version -- just smaller. Controls, too, seem perfectly suited to the DS, and although it doesn't make great use of the touch screen, it's still perfectly playable. Having the map on the top screen makes navigating the mansion quick and easy, and all in all the game seems very much at home on the DS.

Grim though the game's dialogue was nearly 10 years ago, it seems even worse today. But it's probably a good thing it's unchanged -- it just wouldn't be Resident Evil without cheesy line after cheesy line from the ludicrously overacting voice cast ("You were almost a Jill sandwich!"). This -- plus limited saves, difficult inventory management, and old-fashioned tank-like controls -- mean this is a warts-and-all port with few concessions to modern standards.

Actually, one wart that's missing is the loading times that plagued the PlayStation version. On the DS, the door-opening scenes that played between rooms to cover the disk access time can be skipped through and don't hold you up. Sounds like a minor change, but it makes the game significantly more playable. You can also switch between your gun and a knife quickly, which is handy for saving ammo, and there's an added button combo to do a quick 180-degree turn. Welcome additions, to be sure.

Fire up the Rebirth mode, which mirrors the standard game but adds extra touch-screen functions and microphone support, and you'll find a similar experience. You'll be jumped by zombies from time to time, and have to get stabby with your knife from a first-person view, striking and slashing on the touch-screen.

You'll also have the chance to perform CPR on a fallen comrade by blowing into the microphone. Although there are more enemies and new puzzles, Rebirth mode features much the same plot as the standard game, so it's more of an added bonus than a significant new feature. Still, it's neat to see a new twist on this familiar tale.

Deadly Silence's wireless multiplayer mode supports between two and four players, and comes in both cooperative and versus modes. Other players only show up as colored stars on the screen, and you can't shoot them -- the versus mode is a speed contest rather than a death match. Each player needs their own cartridge, which is a bit of a shame for any game, but is particularly annoying for a limited-appeal one like this. Again, the multiplayer features are best regarded as a bonus feature and not a major addition.

Resident Evil hasn't aged particularly well. That said, if you enjoyed the game back in the PlayStation days, you're probably smiling at the thought of walking down those familiar corridors again. The game translates decently to the DS, and this port shows considerable sensitivity to both the source material and the uniqueness of the platform.

So here's the deal: new players will find a passe and not-scary survival horror relic, but old hands will enjoy the nostalgia of a fine old classic with a couple of new features. Take your pick.