The game begins with an introduction to the games rather clichéd story. An experiment has gone wrong on a deserted island and you and your team are being sent in to figure out what happened. However, they seem to have forgotten one important part: the island is being overrun by giant reptiles, sometimes called dinosaurs.

A change in the standard Resident Evil formula involves the addition of real-time backgrounds. This allows the camera to pan, sweep, and zoom in for more dramatic effects that pre-rendered backgrounds just can't do. The downside is the noticeable drop in graphic detail, especially in the resolution of the characters. The frame rate remains steady throughout, even when the outstanding looking dinosaurs show up on screen. Their frighteningly real movements evoke fear into players, unlike the slow, plodding movements of zombies.

Since the camera is always trying to the action in focus, this does lead to a few minor control issues. A new "danger" feature has been added. These occur in predetermined situations and require rapid button presses to survive. The rest of the controls will seem familiar to any RE vet. Those looking for an entirely new experience might be disappointed, as the core gameplay is strikingly similar. From the storage system, control scheme, and the usual "find the key to progress the story" puzzle system, the game on a whole is just too much like the game that spawned it.

While the sound consists mostly of ambience, the pounding soundtrack is always there at the appropriate moments. Faster paced music always kicks in under stressful conditions, such as the "danger" scenarios mentioned above. The voice acting is also above par, a definite improvement from Resident Evils Z-movie acting.

With it's multiple endings, fast pace, and seemingly endless action sequences, Dino Crisis is a game that everyone needs in their collection. With only the minor control issue and familiarity going against it, you really can't go wrong. Capcom has once again raised the bar for the genre they created. Those who haven't quite been grabbed by the survival-horror bug might not be grabbed by this title either. Otherwise, go for it.