Dino Crisis 3 is the 2003 release, exclusive to the Xbox and the latest in the Dino Crisis series. Microsoft and Capcom put a lot of marketing into this release, hoping to convince gamers that it was a killer app for the system. In Japan, a Dino Crisis skinned Xbox was even released (though this was done with many games in the hopes that unique system colors would boost the extremely low Xbox sales in Japan). Sure, Microsoft put a lot of effort into DC3's success, but was it a good game? We'll see.
I must be honest; the story in Dino Crisis 3 is full of cliches of the genre, the first being the infamous "dinos in space" joke, done by many a gamer that instantly dismissed this game right off the bat. The story is more Event Horizon/Alien that Dino Crisis. In fact, I can only recall one reference to the series in Part 3. It really seems like the Dino Crisis name was attached to this game only because Capcom thought it would help it to sell better.
Aside from that confusion, the story goes like this. It is the year 2548 (an oddly specific year). The spaceship Ozymandias has suddenly reappeared in low Jupiter orbit (2010 reference) after a 300-year absence. Your team of SOAR marines is sent aboard to investigate why the ship is back suddenly. Of course, you encounter a giant T-Rex looking thing that attacks you. Then the game gets a bit odder. Hundreds of these worm-like things attack and proceed to devour the T-Rex from the inside out. You don't really have time to wonder about this as the game begins.
Having first played DC 3 5 years after its 2003 release, graphics may be difficult to comment on. The spaceship interiors are vast, with huge room designed for exploration. A lot of the ship is bright and shiny, as if the developers liked that look a bit too much. It helps to give the game a unique look, so I like it. The characters are pretty stock, with one man, one woman, one black leader, and a sacrificial lamb for the first dinosaur. Pretty typical, I can't say that these characters are compelling in the slightest.
The characters don't really matter, as the stars of the game are the dinosaur-like things. I say that because these beasts, even at first glance, do not look like dinosaurs. They are more like dino mutations with tendons bursting from their skin and other undead looking characteristics, which probably helped to fuel the fire of the zombie dino jokes. You discover the truth of their existence as you play the game, so this is a great reason to play the game. There are far fewer kinds of these beasts, with the raptor things and the worm-things being your main foe for the beginning of the game. Later there are more enemies, but overall, the game is a bit lacking in basic foes.
When it comes to bosses, the ones in Dino Crisis 3 do a lot to make up for the repetition of the basic enemies. These foes are massive, very detailed and a lot of fun to fight, especially some of the last bosses. In fact, many of these feel like they served as inspiration for the memorable battles in Resident Evil 4. Capcom did a solid job designing these bizarre takes on classic dinosaurs.
The music takes its cues from the first Dino Crisis, which unfortunately means it is mostly ambient. Even when there is music, it is usually really quiet. Even basic enemy encounters don't offer much musically. The boss battle themes are better, but nothing worth listening to outside of the game.
Sound effects help to sooth the blow of the return of the mediocre music. The dino mutants all have lots of frightening sound effects for their movement and attacks. Regular enemies are kind of dull, but there is the very helpful warping in sound effect, so you know that you are not alone. In fact, that sound effect is a vital part of the player's strategy. I also like the sounds of the weapon blasts, the basic machine gun is nice as well as the lasers and the WASP mobile weapons.
Dino Crisis 3's gameplay takes a bit from the two previous Dino Crisis games and adds some unique bits to the mix. The most obvious thing to mention is the jetpack. This assists you in getting around the tough to reach areas of the ship as well as in combat. It also has a speed boost just so you don't have to walk everywhere.
In addition to your starting weapons, you can purchase mobile attack weapons called WASPS, there are many different kinds all useful in different situations. My favorite is the blue laser, as multiple ones can be used to juggle enemies. Speaking of purchasing, you can find credits to buy ammo and more WASPS. You can also get credits by defeating enemies, especially through the use of combos. Combos net you lots of credits, but often require maneuvering and quick kills to get the highest combos. You'll be glad for the first weapon's auto aim. This shop and combo system does a lot to add to the fun in Dino Crisis 3.
Now to address a common complaint in this game, the camera. I do not understand why people have problems with cameras in any game EVER. Often times it is just a matter of moving your character so it will readjust. Maybe I just haven't played enough of these "bad camera" games, or maybe their flaws are just exaggerated by people looking for an excuse. Rarely are enemies able to get cheap hits on you if you keep moving. I mean, of course, if you stand still in this game, you will die quickly. But what do you think the jetpack is for? Again, IF you take the time to use it, you'll be flying circles around the enemies easily and rarely getting hit. I went into Dino Crisis 3 expecting problems from the camera. It isn't perfect, but a skilled player can definitely deal with it, and it is certainly NOT something to base low review scores on.
DC3's challenge is adjustable with easy, medium, and hard difficulty settings. The differences seem to be mostly in how much damage you take from enemies, typical. Normal is actually more like hard in the beginning, as you are still getting used to the jetpack and combat nuances, plus your lifebar is kind of low at first. I recommend starting on easy if you are having problems at first.
Some of the game's challenge does come from the camera in that enemies will often jump from offscreen and attack you. The best way to combat this is to allow your gun's auto aim to keep you aware of where the enemies are. Shoot and you'll find them fast, then move! If you use this in tandem with the jetpack, you can overcome this unfair advantage. As the game progresses, more life and better weapons help to eliminate this early handicap.
Replay value is also a hearkening back to the first installment, with some rather unimpressive bonus modes featuring different characters or different gameplay mechanics. For a bonus mode to be worth it, it has to fundamentally alter the way in which the game is played, or at least offer tangible rewards. Dino Crisis 3's bonuses have none of this. As with many, many games, a new game plus feature would have been cathartic, as having a maxed out life bar and the strongest weapons would allow you to pay back those early enemies for the misery they caused you early on.
In summation, Dino Crisis 3 is a bold new step for the series and a game in which its fun gameplay far outweigh its slight negatives. I urge any gamer that may be on the fence due to negative reviews, to try playing it for at least an hour. I believe that you will be able to learn the controls and discover a great game hidden under the initial camera difficulties. Combat is fun, boss battles are epic, the weapons are great, and the look of the game is something unique.
It is not as good as Dino Crisis 2, but few games are in their outright emphasis on action. It must also be said that Capcom used many ideas from this game for their more recent games, like Resident Evil 4. I've played most of their games and it is clear than purchasing items and accumulating credits were definitely inspirations for RE4. This makes it likely that gamers who enjoyed RE4 (which is practically everyone) will favor this game as well.
- Ugly Bob
article id: 408 | poster: uglybob
