After witnessing the franchise's future in
RE 4,
File #2 feels like a step backwards; and, in many ways it is. Tank-like controls, bulky inventory – if you complained about it in past
RE games, you’ll find it here.
The premise behind File #2 remains the same. You, as one of eight ordinary people, are trapped in Raccoon City after a viral outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation. Survival is your only goal as you try to escape the zombie-ridden town before the virus, or flesh-eating zombies, get to you.
File #2 is split up into four scenarios (five if you count the bonus). In a twist on previous RE games, you have the aid of different people, each with their own skills. Some are built for combat, while others are more for puzzle solving. If you played the original, you should already be familiar with the line-up in File #2 since, except for a few ability tweaks, it remains unchanged from the last game.
Any of the scenarios can be played offline (with the AI picking up your partner’s slack). However, the game is really meant for online play. File #2 delivers the same experience as the past game; there are, of course, a few changes, but overall there is no change. The biggest problem is the inability to communicate with your teammates outside of the pre-set macros. The experience is different if you’re playing with friends who work well together; team up with strangers and it’s a miserable experience, usually due to everyone wanting to either do their own thing or be the leader.
Scenarios follow the traditional RE format. Enter a room, kill a zombie or two and run away from the rest while collecting items and solving puzzles. If you’re a fan of the old-school RE ways, this is the game for you. Those who have become accustomed to the new, action-oriented style of RE found in part four won’t like it.
