File 'O Crap

I had the patience to nearly finish Resident Evil Outbreak , but the fucking sequel has managed to embarrass and belittle its heritage at its own expense, as well as the player's.

Were they under the impression that the original Capcom game was entertaining on a purely adrenal level?
Because a lot of us enjoyed the quiet times we spent inspecting levels cleared of threat. The intricate decor alone was a substantive replay feature. But this last title is nothing but a (very) loosely strung together quintet of practice missions. There can be no casual examination of clues once the immediate threats are eliminated, because every minute or so is interrupted by an automatically generated zombie breaking down the door of a room or corridor that you proudly swept clean a moment ago...

That kind of constant pressure might be fine for a military cadet learning combat simulation, but for a gamer who appreciates the effort and talent of the background rendering staff, the incidental musicians, and the puzzle-crafters, frenzied pacing is a cheap substitute for a haunting, replayable atmosphere.

I've only finished the first three missions, so my judgment might sound premature, but... I've read the reviews. They are uniformly middling.

The recent RE4, for the X-Box, in contrast, is getting stellar reviews.

Are we Sony owners just suckers, or what?