The place I'm most pleased with Capcom's updating efforts is in the area of character control. Anyone who read my review of RE Code: Veronica X for the GameCube knows I was fed up with the RC-tank-like control of the Resident Evil games. Glad to say that Capcom has really given us what we've been jonesing for … real analog movement. Just push the left thumb stick in a direction and the character moves that way. Nothing could be easier. THANK YOU, CAPCOM!

Graphics are truly nice. Good detail and lighting that conveys the creepy and anything-can-be-around-the-next-corner atmosphere. Camera angels have also been significantly improved but could still use a little more work. As with all Resident Evil games, sound is a strong point. Good sound effects and a sublime music soundtrack. The acting is still wonderfully campy. No Oscars are going to be given out to this cast.

Resident Evil Outbreak is a solid survival horror and a nice evolutionary step for the Resident Evil franchise. The hardcore Resident Evil fans will be the ones who will ultimately tell us with their buying dollars if Capcom made the right decision to shave the story down to accommodate the new play mechanics. I for one found the game rather intriguing even with its faults. Perhaps in the next product iteration Capcom will add a little more inter-player communication to the game and really push it over the top.