Awful box art for such a good game. Reminds me of the Sega Master System game boxes. Blech. But yeah, this game was a visual feast when it came out. These screenshots undersell the game in that department, even today. More impressive in motion.
Capcom were already accomplished programmer by then. Rather, I think the tank controls were their input solution to dealing with movement in a game where the camera orientation is different on every screen. Not that that makes them less cumbersome for some people. I accept the idea that controls in a video game may require learning, like controlling any other system or a vehicle. Maybe RE isn't the game that is right for that, but the rewards outweigh the inconvenience imo.
I think you've pointed out legitimate flaws though, and your defense of the save system is full of understanding, unlike the pro reviews I've read. They don't review what the game is, but what it's not compared to what they think it should be, which is a totally different kind of game then what Capcom intended. I'm getting tired of the notion, put forth by reviewers and their readers who don't think, that all games that fly under a certain genre label should conform to the same spec in level design, control scheme, save system, etc. Besides RE2, other survival horror games did not replicate the specific design of RE1. And even RE2 started the series going away from that.
Being aware you're playing a game and feeling tension are not in opposition to each other. The tension comes from the presence of a fail state, your vulnerability and the threat that the monsters pose, combined with the mood created by the audio-visual assets. I'm just speaking of general game design though. Tank controls are not necessary to create the tension effect in this game.
You have nothing to lose by doing so (MotN I mean). It's not a long game, and it's good from the very first stage.
These guys are on their way to be coming the next Bullfrog Productions (Syndicate (the old one), Dungeon Keepr), maybe even the next Blizzard (before they became a mega developer), of small studios.
I've been telling people that the play mechanics look to have the best execution in the series. The animation is top notch, the controls responsive and mapped out intelligently, the systems are interesting.
I bought a GC for REmake as well, and Metroid Prime. Those were the days.
Maybe the boss battles will be super intense and you won't have time to sit back and heal.
I didn't notice the health system. It got instant health regen or something?
If you only have time or patience for one of them, then Snake Eater all the way.
