Resident Evil (1996) Reviews

I can see why this game became a genre defining game back in 1998. Even in 2026, the gameplay and atmosphere holds up very well. Of course you can't expect too much from graphics and story, however, that's not to say the story is bad. The dialogue is unnatural but the story told through those cutscenes, along with the files you find throughout the game is very intriguing and immersive. And the revelation near the end is shocking even though I've played the future games so I'm already somewhat familiar. Glad I finally got to experience it in totality as an adult with proper understanding. As for gameplay, the game is actually rather easy. I finished the game with a ridiculous amount of health and ammo that my item box was legit full at one point and I HAD to combine herbs to make space. Despite being easy, it was still fun nonetheless. May have been even more fun if I played more reckless. So far, I beat the game as Jill and only have one of the... I think 8 overall endings? So there's some replayability if you're into like 100% games but from what I understand, the things you have to do to get each ending... I wouldn't say you're missing out too much if you don't bother replaying to get them but that's up to you. A tip for newcomers in pay very close attention to dialogue, files, etc. otherwise you WILL get lost and/or not know what to do. If you take long break between sessions take notes because the game doesn't outright express to you what you objective is so if you just don't remember by the time you come back then you're cooked. As a side note, I will admit in like one or two areas I did get a little stuck and it wasn't easy even going online to find out what to do next. Surprisingly, there isn't too much documentation on this game, primarily the remake is what you'll find so that's a shame but I managed to make it through.

it's older than me but yeah it's pretty good people ♥♥♥♥♥ way too hard about the controls i didn't even notice them

Game where it all started Pros:- -Pure original experience of the very first Resident Evil. -Original enemy, -Historic value as the game that started the series. -Original soundtrack and atmosphere. Cons:- -Harder controls and aiming. -Less replay value.

Surprisingly enjoyable & coherent for what is essentially a 1996 adventure game. I used to think RE1 remake rendered the old title redundant, but there is a lot of historical significance in this 1996 original. Plus it's cool seeing the old layout of the Spencer Mansion for fans of REmake. Now please bring OG Code Veronica to PC.

feels like a guessing game, scared the ♥♥♥♥ out of me multiple times, couldn't remember the map to save my life, enjoyed the cutscenes more than i thought i would, 10/10, would not play again.

At the beginning, I thought this game was awful. When I got used to the tank controls I started having a blast. Resident Evil's tank controls combined with the fixed camera angels didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. This game is very overhated

My second favorite Resident Evil of all time! Unpopular opinion but I prefer the original Resident Evil over the remake version!

Resident Evil from 1996 is still a masterpiece. The remake is the better game overall, but that does not take anything away from the original. For a game from the mid-90s, it is honestly impressive how well it still works. The fixed camera angles, the mansion, the music, the puzzles, the limited resources and the constant feeling that something could be waiting in the next room all come together perfectly. What I love most about it is the nostalgia. The old visuals, the sound effects and the strange atmosphere give it a feeling that no modern game can really recreate. Even the voice acting, which is obviously bad, only makes the game more entertaining now. The dialogue has become part of its charm rather than something that ruins the experience. The controls may take a little time to get used to, especially for someone who has never played an older survival horror game, but I still find them fun. They fit the way the game is designed, and once you understand how movement and camera angles work, everything feels natural. There is not much I can criticize here. The remake improved almost every part of the game, but the original still has its own identity and deserves to be experienced. It is not only important because it started Resident Evil. It is simply a great survival horror game by itself. 9.5/10

People who complain about the tank controls have the patience of a snail. You can master them in less than five minutes if you actually give them a chance. Honestly, I kind of miss games like that. The tank control allows a lot of cinematic camera angles with today's technology? They'd look absolutely amazing. Tank controls allow for a lot of cinematic camera angles, which would look absolutely amazing with today's technology. They also provide a unique kind of immersion that modern control schemes rarely manage to capture. It's a gameplay mechanic that was abandoned over the years to make games more accessible to people who have little patience for learning anything new. If you give it five minutes, it becomes second nature. I barely started replaying it, and I'm already having a great time. I love the mystery and horror atmosphere of the first game. I would only recommend it to people who can appreciate older games and understand the limitations of the era, as well as anyone curious to experience the origins of this iconic franchise and see how it all started. If you're expecting the same level of polish and gameplay as modern games, this probably isn't the game for you.

Runs like Butta'! Beautiful and amazing and still thrilling! This takes me back to when I rented it from Home Video in Texas on a stormy ass night! I had this and the Demo Disc with Bushido Blade and FFVII on it! I'm so happy they kept the original opening with color and blood and guts! This game gave this old man happy memories. One of my favorite games of all time.