Introduction

Welcome back to the Spencer Mansion, where the only things missing are good ideas and smart decisions. The zombies are back in town, and boy, are they hungry for brains-or at least a good laugh. Prepare yourself to experience 'Resident Evil: Deadly Silence' for the Nintendo DS, a game that proves that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Gameplay

You're thrown right into the middle of a zombie-infested mess where you get to choose between two characters: Chris Redfield, a guy who believes using a survival knife is a good idea, or Jill Valentine, who carries a lockpick because apparently, that's more useful than, you know, a weapon. Throughout the game, you'll be dodging zombies, solving puzzles that might as well be designed by your most sadistic math teacher, and managing an inventory that feels like a Tetris game on its hardest mode. Seriously, the DS screen becomes a mini scavenger hunt, where you'll be lucky to fit a few items at a time between the health herbs and ammo, because heaven forbid you encounter a monster without a plan. There are two modes: Classic, which is basically a nostalgia trip with some minor touch-screen enhancements, and Rebirth, which raises the stakes with more enemies and new puzzles that might make you question your life choices. And then there are the special Knife Battle sequences. Nothing screams 'survival horror' like fighting zombies with a knife and your breath (yes, you literally blow into the microphone to survive. No, seriously).

Graphics

Looking at the graphics, it's like a college student pulling a late-night all-nighter: it mixes some good efforts with a lot of sloppy mistakes. The improved textures are commendable, unless you have an HD emulator where everything starts to look oddly satisfactory. The character designs received a fresh coat of paint, although some models look about as lifelike as a cardboard cutout of a zombie-a genre classic if I've ever seen one. Sure, those gleaming eyes can be perceived as menacing in the right light, but more often than not, they look like they've just discovered the joys of a bright fluorescent bulb.

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks. 'Resident Evil: Deadly Silence' is like that well-intentioned friend who can't seem to get it right but keeps insisting they know how to cook. It's an entertaining venture into nostalgia with just enough new features to keep you from fuming over its odd quirks. If you love horror games, and your idea of horror is dodging awkward dialogue while frantically managing a limited inventory, then this game is for you. But if you're hoping for a fully polished experience that doesn't make you question every life choice, you might want to check out other modes of survival. Just don't be surprised when you end up laughing at how ridiculous some scenarios can be. It's a scream, both of terror and amusement.

See Prices for Resident Evil: Deadly Silence on DS on Ebay

See Latest Prices for Resident Evil: Deadly Silence on DS on Amazon