E3: Capcom's raptors crash into E3

[05.15.99] » Closely resembling Resident Evil, Capcom hypes up the show floor with massive exposure of their latest adventure title.

   Capcom's E3 booth presence is, quite literally, centered around its new adventure title, Dino Crisis. With a tower of video screens to blast the sounds of gunshots and inhuman screams across the convention hall, the game is unmistakeably anticipated to be a huge summer hit.

   Shinji Mikami, known best for having produced the Resident Evil series, has left his unique stamp on this new creation. Dino Crisis boasts the same pulse-pounding tension of Resident Evil, as well as the 3D building exploration and array of weaponry to use against the baddies. Notable cosmetic enhancements include polygon-based backgrounds instead of pre-rendered, enabling moving camera angles a-la Metal Gear Solid.

   Also, fans of realism take note: not only do wounded players and enemies leave blood trails, but characters walk in a more cautious manner in frightening environments. As if the gameplay itself wasn't tense enough, seeing your character start to sweat definitely heightens the terror. Capcom president Bill Gardner noted: "Dino Crisis is absolutely terrifying. [It] is for the millions of fans who loved Resident Evil, and hungered for more."

   Initially, the game does closely resemble its zombie-sporting cousin. The controls and fighting system are basically the same as in Resident Evil, and the gun-blazing, puzzle-solving gameplay are also remarkably similar. However, there could be some substantial new surprises behind all the hype. It'll be taking a bite out of the American market in fall of '99 -- until then, we can only wait.