Original Resident Evil Trilogy to Become PSOne Classics

After announcing a new Resident Evil game for the PSP in early June, Capcom is giving the system more survivor-horror titles. Dino Crisis, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis are heading to the Playstation Store of the PSP and Playstation 3.

The Resident Evil (known as Biohazard in Japan) games have always been synonymous with the Playstation platforms. Without the Playstation, the survivor-horror series wouldn't have become as popular as it is today. The same holds true for Playstation video game systems without the influence of Resident Evil games.

All of the mainline Resident Evil games have appeared on Playstation systems, starting with the first game in 1996. Even games that were exclusive to other systems, Resident Evil Code: Veronica on the Sega Dreamcast and Resident Evil 4 on the Nintendo Gamecube, eventually ended up on a Playstation video game system.

So it should be no surprised that Capcom is releasing the Resident Evil titles on the Playstation Store of the PSP and Playstation 3. Resident Evil: Director's Cut, the first PSOne Classic in the series, was released earlier this year on May 28.

The Resident Evil trilogy on the original Playstation will soon be completed. Resident Evil 2, probably the most popular game in the trilogy, took the series into a more action-packed setting. With an apocalyptic city in ruin, Resident Evil 2 redefined the survivor-horror genre.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis follows Resident Evil 2 as a PSOne Classic. While it may not be as revolutionary, the third game further amps up the intensity by introducing a intimidating enemy that will hunt you down the entire journey.

Along with the mainline Resident Evil series, Capcom also developed a spin-off title on the original Playstation. Dino Crisis replaces the undead with dinosaurs and the pre-rendered backgrounds with 3D polygons. The Jurassic Park meets Resident Evil mash up resulted in yet another successful franchise from Capcom.

After the original Resident Evil trilogy, Capcom decided to move the series into a different direction with Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. As a result, the new titles play more like a third-person shooter than a survivor-horror adventure. Resident Evil is no longer as scary as before as you can often overpower the undead. Therefore, most fans in the series prefer the early titles.

While the release dates are unknown for Dino Crisis, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, all three games will arrive as PSOne Classics on the PSP and Playstation 3 Playstation Store by the end of 2009.