[h1]Dino Crisis 2[/h1]
[h3]Nice Arcade Classic[/h3]
[h3]Worth getting on sale[/h3]
Dino Crisis 2 is a short action sequel to the first game, leaning more toward a linear shooter game with a basic progression system, in which we can purchase new weapons and upgrade our equipment throughout the game. This sequel differs considerably from the gameplay style of the first game, which was a survival horror title defined by more limited resources, a longer story, puzzles and a greater emphasis on exploration.
Despite being very different from the first game, it stands well on its own thanks to its fast-paced and enjoyable gameplay. It's one of those games you can easily pick up at any time just to have some quick fun for a while.
[h3]Gameplay[/h3]
This sequel is essentially a 3D run-and-gun title with many different arcade elements, such as a score system for eliminating foes, a combo system, and short sections of minigames based on the traditional arcade shooter genre. This game places much more emphasis on skill than the first one, which focused more on logic and problem solving skills. For example, we can earn more points, which serve as the game's currency, by avoiding taking damage while maintaining a high combo.
The gameplay is simple and very easy to understand. However, there are some aspects that are somewhat problematic, such as the fixed camera and the weapon's rough auto-aiming. Sometimes, the camera makes it difficult to properly locate enemies within the screen, which can result in us being attacked unfairly without having any proper chance to dodge or counterattack. On the other hand, the auto-aim is also inconsistent. Sometimes it targets the enemy closest to our character, while other times it seems to lock onto a random enemy outside our immediate surroundings, even when a dinosaur is right close to us.
[h3]Art and World Design[/h3]
Dino Crisis 2 has some of the most impressive pre-rendered background designs from Capcom's classic survival horror era. After playing the first entry, the pre-rendered backgrounds in this sequel feel much more organic, despite incorporating more futuristic elements and a greater variety of city environments. The visual atmosphere is incredibly well done, the environments still feel immersive and compelling even after all these years.
When it comes to the characters, the game has an even smaller cast than the first entry. To be honest, the characters in its predecessor were not particularly memorable, with the exception of its protagonist. Many of these characters had some incredibly lame dialogue, bad voice acting, and smaller roles compared to its protagonist Regina, who was the only character that came back in the sequel, at least within the main story.
Speaking of the story, the game has an almost nonexistent plot that abandons much of what was established in the first game, including its characters, the espionage and conspiracy subplots, and the darker scientific tone it had.
[h3]Music and Sound effects[/h3]
Like many other things that were changed from the first game, the soundtrack also takes a different direction, leaning more toward action themes that honestly fit the game quite well. As for the sound design, this game has some interesting and unique sound effects for weapons, dinosaur cues and ambience noises. However, it also has some audio issues, such as cut-off or poorly compressed sound effects that sometimes overlap.
