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Another look at the "Resident Evil knock-off"

Here we are at the final 3 for this year’s Halloween gaming list! It’s been a busy year this year with so many games to choose from. But it’s during this time of year I really enjoy choosing those particular titles that may not have caught the attention of most gamers or they were games that they considered not to be that great. Though I do try to add the obvious heavy hitters or well-known titles in gaming, there are moments when I’d like to use this blog series as a chance to give certain games it’s time in the spotlight. Not only to show the game off for what it is but to shine a different light on it to perhaps show that the game in question wasn’t as bad as people may have written it off as. Though I know this game choice for number 3 may raise some eyebrows, more so since Resident Evil 2 was number 5 on this year’s list, but I couldn’t help it that I actually enjoyed this game more than Resident Evil 2 this go around. Chalk it up to playing that game to death and wanting to try something different but I’d like to think I played this game with a fresh perspective on it after seeing what has become of the Resident Evil series. And upon reading about this game choice perhaps you’ll give this game a second chance too if you’ve written it off in the past. The game I speak of is none other than my number 3 pick for this year: Carrier for the Sega Dreamcast.

Now wait, wait, wait just a minute. Before you pick up your pitchforks and try to burn me at the stake, especially after putting this game at number 3 and Resident Evil 2 as number 5, hear me out on this. There is a method to my madness in picking “Carrier”. At the time of its release back in 2000 I recall many people calling this as nothing more than a “Resident Evil” rip off during the time when Resident Evil was at its peak. I remember game reviewers and video game store clerks advising people to hold off in buying this game and wait for Resident Evil: Code Veronica that was due on the Dreamcast a few months later. I even remember picking this game up at a Hollywood rental store but put it down in favor of Power Stones. But I never forgot about this game after I played the Official Dreamcast Magazine Demo Disc sending that offered a timed demo of this game.  What I played did have a survival horror them but it didn’t give me a “rip-off” vibe. If anything years later upon seeing the plot points and enemies used in the recent Resident Evil series it makes me wonder if Capcom didn’t remember this game and ripped off from it!

“Carrier” tells the tale of a world slowly starting to fall apart. About a world that begins to suffer energy and food shortages to the point that different lines of sovereignty are drawn for nations and the rise of terrorism comes to the fold. The military forces of the Northern Hemisphere begin to mobilize against the terrorist group, The Southern Cross, based in the Southern Hemisphere with their newest military force along with their latest super aircraft carrier the Heimdal. After a successful attack on the terrorist’s base the ship begins its trip home after picking up an ancient organism for study by the Northern Hemisphere scientists. As you can guess the ship mysteriously goes silent, a strike team is sent in to investigate only for that team to go silent as well. It’s then up to you as the player characters Jack Ingles and later Jessifer Manning to figure out the mystery before the ship reaches the Northern Hemisphere’s territories.

 

So why does this game deserve to be in the number 3 spot on the list? If I had to describe this game I’d have to say its one part “Resident Evil” and one part “The Thing”. But from there you’ll start to find startling similarities between this game and the recent crop of Resident Evil titles. For starters “Carrier” takes place on a boat, long before Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil: Dead Aim came up with their game’s settings. The game also deals with the possibility of an ancient parasitic life form being used by terrorists, a plot point that was slowly being developed in Resident Evil’s 5 and 6 respectively. Even the humanoid enemies that are infected by this life form look like primitive concepts for those that suffer from “Las Plagas”. And even though RE2 did the monster creation with the G-Virus, “Carrier” has its own brand of big, bad monsters in the form of sea slugs done prior to the slug enemies in Resident Evil 0. The game even goes one step beyond and uses the Dreamcast’s VMU to display a heart monitor much like how the RE re-releases on the DC had. Yet despite the fact that this game does have a RE feel to it, they do their best to try to make it stand out. That can mostly be seen by character movements and methods of attack. In this game you actually have the ability to aim for specific body parts of enemies, something that wasn’t done until RE4 with the third person view. Also you have the option to use explosives that put a twist on the standard grenades you use in RE4 and 5: instead of them being handheld toss able explosives, you had to set them down methodically like a blast charge to either help you clear areas you need to get over or use them when a group of enemies approach. And though not exactly groundbreaking your character in the game actually goes thru the leg motions when turning instead of the “tank control” motions that used to be associated with the RE’s of the past.

 

The areas of the ship are very extensive and actual have a logical feel for them in how exactly a ship that size would be like. A concept that prior RE titles had a hard time trying to justify with police stations requiring special keys to unlock doors or fancy gems for a clock door unlock in Raccoon city. But one of the most unique items you get in this game has to be the BEM-T3 Scope. Basically they are a special set of thermal binoculars that would make Sam Fisher or Leon Kennedy green with envy. Besides the usual features that thermal binoculars would have, they also have the use to scan individuals to see if they are infected with unknown parasite, scan for areas you can use your blast charges to blow thru walls and be used to help search for helpful items. It’s here that the game starts to have “The Thing” feeling when you have to be careful with other NPC’s in the game. Some might be totally fine while others could be infected and go “Las Plagas” on you without a moments warning. Though those infected do show signs before becoming completely transformed, it doesn’t hurt to have the trusty BEM-T3 scope on you. It can even be used to zoom ahead any given path to see if there are any threats given how some areas of the ship can be really dark. The only downside to the scope is that you are immobile while using them.

It just amazes me that back in 2000 people were ready to forget about this game. Sure it does have its downsides. The game can be VERY DARK. And I don’t mean by theme. Like Doom 64 on Nintendo 64, you’ll be finding yourself jacking up the brightness on your TV just to see some areas at times. I’m sure this was done to give the feeling of claustrophobia and justify the use of the BEM-T3 scope but too much darkness can be an annoyance. Also the game is nice enough to give us enough backstory to help us get situated in the world, it leaves very little for a mystery as to what is happening. You pretty much know that the ancient parasitic sample has gotten lose on the ship. It’s nice that the game gives us a wide variety of characters but I found myself getting confused with most of them and why I should care about them. And love it or hate it but voice acting and in-game character interaction scenes are laughably bad. Like original Resident Evil bad. People get shot in the guts only to act like they were just kicked. Over the top, cheesy voice acting with actors that don’t fit their character counterparts.

 

I can see why people back then made an issue with those downsides to “Carrier” and move on to RE3 and Code Veronica. But after seeing what’s become of the Resident Evil series now kind of makes the downsides to “Carrier” look tame in comparison. The game’s controls are solid, the graphics don’t look half bad, the plot is strong and engaging with a fully fleshed world view and there are some genuine moments where elements of survival horror shine well in this game. And upon seeing what Resident Evil 6 has become, it’s nice to go back and see other company’s attempts at the survival horror genre. It’s why this game is worthy to be placed above Resident Evil 2 on this year’s list as number 3. It may not be able to hold a candle to the RE series but it did enough for me to make itself different while at the same time borrowing elements from the master of survival horror. And after seeing how Capcom may have borrowed a lot of ideas in return with their future titles, it makes the term “Resident Evil Clone” that “Carrier” was branded with back in 2000 seem not as harsh. It’s why I don’t feel guilty that I can play RE2 one night and switch gears to “Carrier” the next. It just so happens that Carrier gets a bit more game time this Octoberween.

I was able to find this game used for $5, complete with instructions, so who can pass up a deal like that. If you’re tired of past RE titles you might want to give this one a try. It still holds up well even after all these years and would fit great for any Octoberween evening of retro gaming goodness.

My Top 11 Halloween Games for 2013

#11) Resistance Retribution – PSP: $8 used.

#10) The X-Files Video Game – PSOne: $10 used.

#09) Corpse Killer – Sega CD 32X: $14 used.

#08) Doom 64 – Nintendo 64: $14 used.

#07) Castlevania Judgment – Nintendo Wii: $5 used.

#06) The Last of Us Folklore – PS3: $20 used.

#05) Resident Evil 2 – Nintendo 64: $14 used.

#04) Calling – Nintendo Wii: $20 used.

#03) Carrier – Sega Dreamcast: $5 used.