Resident Evil: Director’s Cut PSone Available Tomorrow on PSN

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Resident Evil Director's Cut banner

What is up! I’m Matt Dahlgren, one of the product managers here at Capcom who gets to work on the Resident Evil franchise.

Today I get to blog about the PSone Resident Evil: Director’s Cut, which will be available for download tomorrow on PSN for $9.99.

I don’t think I’ll ever get to make a statement like this in a blog ever again.

The original Resident Evil is a game that defined my personality as a gamer for years to come. (I’ve got two others on my list of influential games, FF7 and Tekken, each for their respective genre – but I’ll keep this RE centered.)

Resident Evil Director's Cut Screenshot 2

The early experiences that you have in gaming set you up for what to expect in the future. If you have a positive enough experience, you attempt to find it time and time again – but I don’t think a game will ever affect me in the same way that this one did.

Going back and tinkering around with this game after so many years off got me thinking about how different gaming was 10 years ago in comparison to today. Games back then were hard. I remember dying at the first zombie while trying to figure out a weird control scheme, yet being mesmerized with the fact that I could control the outcome in a 3D environment. It took me a while to get the grasp of everything, and I died a lot, but I was so entertained by the experience that I refused to go to bed. I stayed up all night at a friend’s house, figuring out this weird mansion filled with zombies.

Controls then were not nearly as important as they are now. People were so mesmerized with the fact that they were experiencing something new, it didn’t matter that the graphics weren’t perfectly realistic and the acting was bad. It was a completely new experience, and better yet it could scare you. (ex. Dog + Window = Jump)

Resident Evil Director's Cut Screenshot 1

But what made this game cool is the fact that deep underneath the struggles you had to go through to progress, there was this gigantic intricate puzzle to figure out. How do you get to the next area with only 15 bullets? Which path is going to punish you, and which is going to let you survive? A lot of the time, if you chose the wrong path, you were just screwed, and you started over. If you didn’t have an ink ribbon on hand, or didn’t save recently, this could mean you have to re-do the last hour of gameplay. But it didn’t matter as much, because you learned from your mistakes and you could do things better the second time.

In addition, the environments were just sweet. I don’t think any game has re-created something as creepy as that first mansion. To me it is the ultimate classic scenario. So many questions to be had, and you fill them in piece by piece as you progress. Not everything may have made perfect sense, but either way, it was completely intriguing.

Playing as Chris Redfield and getting your shotgun is a great example. At this point, you have been playing for a while now, trying to survive with just a handgun. You go into a room, and see a shotgun on the wall. Sweet! Then you pick it up, and the ceiling comes down on you and makes a Chris pancake. (owned) Better hope you saved recently.

Getting that shotgun was a big time struggle. You had to find the broken shotgun, manage your inventory so you can actually hold it, figure out how to dodge or kill a ton of zombies through a long stretch of the mansion, so you can replace it on the wall and not die when trying to get a new weapon.

But when you get it…that shotgun is a score! You can now blow off zombie heads in a single shot, you just need to aim up. That weapon completely changes the gameplay experience from then on out. What makes that cool is once you finally figure out how to get the shotgun, there is such a strong sense of accomplishment. You earned your reward, it wasn’t just handed to you.

Nowadays if a key drops and someone has to spend 5 mins trying to find out where it goes, they just get pissed and stop playing. (Obviously over-exaggerated, but you can see the point I was making)

Resident Evil Director's Cut Screenshot 3

And the camera angles – sometimes you can’t even see down a hallway. That’s like putting you at a bigger disadvantage than being there in real life. Haha. I kept remembering that I wanted to kick a zombie in the chest because they were so slow. (If you played Outbreak, there’s one guy that could kick zombies in the chest. I always picked that guy. Heh) Not only was it difficult to see, even when I knew where the zombies were, they would get me ALL the time. It was difficult to move precisely. Very different experience than seeing a single enemy, lining up a headshot – done, progress. You were watching that zombie, trying to predict how he would move, how you could lure him to the side so you could sneak by. And you would still get caught.

But, if you played the original game, you have to admit that the control elements and camera angles helped heighten the experience. Resident Evil is all about putting you in situations that are hard to predict the outcome. It is a game that keeps you on your toes. Granted you may be frustrated that you can’t see the zombie, or even worse one of the “chop your head off in one swipe” hunters that is 5 feet in front you because the camera won’t let you, but those moments are pretty intense experiences because you don’t know what is going on.

(OMG – if you can aim up, shoot blind and hit a jumping hunter based on his sound alone, talk about satisfying. Haha)

Many people now would probably find this annoying. Games are so real, that if you can’t do anything you want, there’s something else out there that will let you. But for me playing this game as a kid, it defined me as a gamer. I wanted a challenge, because I felt I could do it, and other people couldn’t. Maybe that’s a bit arrogant, but isn’t that what getting ridiculous amounts of trophies or high scores is all about anyways? If anything didn’t give me that challenge – I was disappointed.

I think that sums up what Resident Evil is all about: Reward through harsh struggles. There’s a great sense of accomplishment when you can make it through the worst. I think Resident Evil does this to a “T”, and has continued to do so over the years.

(I also think they re-created a “this is completely new to me” experience when they did RE4, part of the reason I respect the franchise so much.)

I think there are a lot of gamers out there like me – many of them probably who hated on RE4/RE5 because it was different than the “old school” games. I disagree that the survival/horror element from Resident Evil is gone – it’s definitely still in there, it’s just evolved. And that doesn’t mean that the traditional survival horror of the early games is gone, it just means that the franchise has branched out to provide new experiences.

So, if you haven’t played this game, or want to go back and re-live a classic game you played as a kid like me, I highly recommend this game. If you are a current fan of Resident Evil, you can see many of the gameplay traits that evolved from this game. (You may not like the fact you can’t move and shoot simultaneously in RE5, but those controls are there for a reason, and help the game stay true to some of the classic elements of the franchise which are very evident in the early games.)

Also, if you were introduced to the series through Resident Evil 4 or 5, this game is a great opportunity to go back and experience the roots of the franchise. Both Chris and Jill, who appear in RE5, make their franchise debut in this game.

For those who don’t know what the Director’s Cut version is, this is the updated version of the original game which was released 18 months after the original. It features an “Arranged Mode” which essentially mixes up the item placement, camera angles, and enemy placement, to give people a different path through the game than found in the original 1996 version.

I think that is about enough for my “tribute” post. I can’t recommend this game highly enough – and that’s the gamer in me, not the marketing dude. Hope you enjoy.

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203 Comments

  • i still have this on PS1 : ) honestly, as i read the post, i thought he was going to say they changed the controls up. if they had done that, this would definitely be a buy for me. other than that, this game is just as scary to control as the dog in the window moment. this doesn’t mean i hate the game. i just can’t do those controls anymore. it’s like trying to write like you did when you were in kindergarten. T____T

  • Please people, stop complaining about the price. $9.99 for this game is a fair price. This is a day 1 buy for me without no doubt. Don’t you guys realize your complaining is a good reason why we don’t have many ps1 games. It’s not as easy as it seems to bring ps1 games to the psn store. So please keep the ps1 games coming at any price sony sees fit and also i look forward to seeing ps2 games for 14.99-19.99 in the future.

  • Sounds good, but I know I wont play it enough to justify $10, I would probably pick it up just for the novelty of playing it on my PSP if it was $5.

    Hopefully it sells. I have great memories of this game as well.

  • I wonder if there will be trophy support?

  • I wouldn’t care about the $9.99 price if Japan and Hong Kong got charged a premium for the game. They didn’t though, so I care.

  • RE 1 is my favorite game of all time. I still have it for PS1.

  • Great, but how about Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy VII.

    How about cross game voice chat.

  • Will buy! Now if only Mega Man Legends would be put on the store…

  • Nice article. Charging more outside of Japan just cause people will pay for it = no sale.

  • I’m very happy to see more PSOne hits especially Resident Evil. Bring on Dino Crisis next. I’m a little shocked at the price especially when other hits like Twisted Metal 2 is only $5.99 but that’s life. I rather have a digital download instead of going through my crate of games. Thanks!

  • tldr;

  • 9.99 makes me say bye, instead of buy…

  • finally! thank you! but i’ve got it already! ;)

  • Will the super long load times be simulated as well?

    RE was the reason I purchased a playstation.

  • Ah! I remember the first time I played RE. I jumped out of my sit when I tried exiting the mansion and the dog came through the door.

    Will we get RE2 platinum edition or whatever that “director’s cut” version was called?

  • finally a ps1 title i’m actually interested in, why are the survival horror games so slow to show up in north america?

  • @52….

    Please enlighten us all about what the process is for bringing games to the PSN and how that process impacts the price we pay. You seem to have insider knowledge.

  • Why would somebody pay 9.99 for a that, when you can buy the actual ps1 game for like 5 bucks.

  • nice to see some ps1 classics, although I can’t justify rebuying a game I still have on disc. I wasn’t aware that we’re being asked to pay more for this game than Japan. Definitely not cool.

    @KSPRYDAD Your homework for the evening:
    1. Google The Wiggles and their song “Where’s Jeff?”
    2. Change lyrics to “Where’s John?”
    3. You got rythym, Son!

  • dehumanizer_666

    I bought this game in the PS Store back in Nov. for the PSP. It never worked and i’m hoping that i’ll get this game for free. I called sony and told them about my problem but they couldn’t do anything and told me to call Capcom…

  • “$9.99”

    No sir, I don’t like it. Looks like I’ll be sticking with REmake.

  • OH YEAH… this is bought. I’ve been waiting forever like everyone here since seeing this on the JPN PS Store. Thanks for the support Capcom! Unbelievably, I have never purchased this for the PS1… I had rented RE1 and beat it. I do own RE2, RE3, RE4, both RE Outbreaks though for my PlayStations. (A PS3 RE:Outbreak would be awesome!!) This will help me on my way to completing my collection, and I love that we can play it on the PSP now too!

  • Gonna pick this one up. Only played RE2 and RE5 so far. Hope you guys release RE2 sometime aswell.

  • Zombie__Assassin

    All you guys complaining about the price are idiots. Almost 3 years of complaining about no PS1 titles and now you complain about the price. You all are truly thankless punks. You guys probably would find something to complain about if it was free. You can barely eat at Mc Donald’s for 10 dollars.

  • First thing, the first comment thing needs to stop. It’s annoying. At least show excitement for the topic.

    Buying this for sure. Wish it was 6 like most PS1 games on PSN but I’ll take it.

  • Oh crap why didn’t I see this earlier? Purchase as soon as possible… Hope to see other gems next in line (RE2, RE3, Dino Crisis, Soul Reaver, Tomb Raider…)

  • trophies for ps1 games would be great!

  • $10 makes my butt pucker… pass

  • 10$? no thank you, now bring some RPG´s if you want my hard earned money

  • AWESOME!!

    This is PSN exclusive yes?

  • Definitely a buy for me. Thanks Capcom…keep them ps1 games coming

  • get strider on the psn store NOW!

  • Strider would be SWEET

  • I have one question.

    Are you going to release it in the US & EU store or only in the US store?!

  • YES! I’m very excited for this to hit the PS Store. I’ve been dying for the PS Store to have more memorable titles like Resident Evil for download. Regardless, that I have this title and the remake, I will most likely get it hehe.

  • Finally but jesus what’s up with the price !!! $10 bucks ps1 classics should stay 6 dollars period. Companies knows people want this stuff then u guys wanna screw us on price

  • That takes me back :) I still got RE1[PS1] Not played ‘Resident Evil:Director’s Cut’ yet tho.

    More old-skool games on PSN please Capcom :)

  • Still have my original RE CD from the PS days. Popped it in the PS3 just before the release of 5…the hallway with the dogs (and spiders; 2nd pass) is still my favorite section of the mansion.

    R.E. and Tomb raider changed the way we game!

  • Is this the Dual-Shock edition of the Director’s Cut? Or just the normal Director’s Cut? Yes, it matters.

  • No HD remix? Not even atleast the gamecube version? I do love the original, but I also love an upgraded one.

  • It would be $5.99 not $9.99

    Tomorrow is my birthday and if you give me it for free I would be happy.

  • Thank you for releasing this. This was my first survivial horror game and my first ps1 game.. This title along with FF7 and loaded got me back into gaming after highschool as I as was around 19-20 when this came out, and stopped gaming on consoles at around 1993. I loved this game It has an evil dead vibe to it. This is what RE needs to get back to!

    To the whiners…I am conivinced that nothing will make you guys happy. No matter what you guys will cry like little babies. They are finally putting decent ps1 games on here, and you cry about 4 bucks? Don’t you people work? Or are you all really babies? Seriously 10 is worth it. They don’t sell ps1 games in stores anymore. Belive me I’ve looked, and the top teir games like this ff series, MGS, Castlevanaia SOTN are worth every penny! These are classics, please just be happy for once!

  • i miss these type of games capcom, tho i know why you guys did RE5 but these RE1.2.3 are my favorite =]

  • Not a fan of Resident Evil by any means(although RE5 was good), but I know a lot of other people are, so for them I’m glad for its release. I just hope it’s not the only PSOne Classic next week.

  • Cool, but I wish these PSOne classics had a standard pricing.

  • I’m very pumped that they finally put RE:1 on PSN, I hope they keep the Resident Evil Classics coming. I dont know why they still havent put Metal Gear Solid on PSN, I think they have forgotten that MGS was one of the most “Iconic” video games ever on the Playstation & for video games in general. For me MGS is my favorite and most memorable video game franchise of all time.

  • synchronizerman

    PLEASE add Klonoa: Door to Phantomile to the PSN tomorrow too! I’ve played the remake, and it pales in comparison to the original. I would love to play it this weekend, and I’m really looking forward to its release.

  • A little expensive for a ps1 game but still good, would love to see MGS.

  • thanks cappy, will be buying tomorrow.

  • almighty-slayer

    Lovely long post, good read :)

    I never played this game. Bring it to Europe soonish please and i shall buy it in a heartbeat

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