Introduction

The Resident Evil franchise has long been a veritable smorgasbord of zombie mayhem, and in 2012 it rolled out Operation Raccoon City. This title was poised as a squad-based twist on the traditional survival horror. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and in this case, it feels like the developers ate a whole pie of responsibility before getting out of bed. So, let's dive right in and see how many undead folks we can shoot before realizing this game's mechanics might be a bit lacking.

Gameplay

Operation Raccoon City attempts to take the Resident Evil formula and spice it up with some team-based action. You can step into the shoes of various characters, each with their own special ability. Want to cloak like a stealthy ninja? Go with Vector. Prefer blowing things up? Beltway has got your back. The game offers six playable characters on the Umbrella Security Service side and six on the opposing team, making it somewhat of a tactical skirmish rather than your standard survival horror romp. The gameplay itself is a mixed bag, though. Sure, battling through hordes of zombies and other mutated monstrosities can be thrilling, but there's a distinct lack of polish that makes even the simplest encounters somewhat infuriating. Team AI behaves like they were programmed while the developers were watching a fast-paced sitcom, making you rethink your life choices faster than a zombie can chomp on a citizen's skull. In addition to its single-player option, the game flirts shamelessly with four-player co-op mode. This adds a layer of chaotic fun-as long as you're not stuck with friends who just want to watch the world burn... or get eaten by zombies. The introduction of the Zombies as bait and players turning into flesh-hungry creatures is an interesting mechanic, but lemme tell you, the execution could use as much work as a zombie in need of a good brain.

Graphics

Now let's talk visuals. To be fair, the graphics aren't absolute trash. They do boast a certain grimy aesthetic that fits the franchise. It's a post-apocalyptic world, after all, and there's plenty of decay to go around. However, some character models feel as if they were still living in 2006, and other elements like lighting and animations can swing wildly between looking great and looking like the developers were trying to recreate the visual splendor of potato graphics. So it's like a bit of a nostalgia trip, mixed with the excitement of playing on a slightly rusty console.

Conclusion

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City ultimately serves as a weird, chaotic, and sometimes hilariously frustrating experience. It might entertain if you rally a group of friends willing to join you in shooting digital zombies, but solo players might find it less daunting and more demanding of patience. The squad-based approach and interesting premise were almost enough to save it, but, much like a zombie trying to get into a locked building, it just couldn't get through all the barriers in place. Give it a shot for the laughs and stress relief, but remember: this isn't the crown jewel of the Resident Evil franchise our hearts were hoping for.

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