Dino Crisis had two great games before falling off the edge of a cliff with the Xbox exclusive Dino Crisis 3. Fortunately, the dinosaur-themes survival horror franchise has managed to cement its legacy, with many fans clamoring for a remake of the first game. What about the second entry, though?
Dino Crisis 2 does not receive the same amount of love as its predecessor, even though it is a more unique PlayStation title. It deserves equal attention, and is in fact one of the more underrated games of its respective generation. Even though it sold well, it is not a part of the conversation in the same way other PS1 games still are.
10 It's Not A Resident Evil Clone
The first Dino Crisis was directed by Shinji Mikami, who also helmed the first Resident Evil from 1996. It makes sense for it to be a Resident Evil clone. The second game differentiates itself from the classic zombie series in several ways. While it retains the same graphics and gameplay, it is significantly more fast-paced. Resident Evil would not become this aggressive until Resident Evil 4.
9 Focus On Action
Survival Horror was in some ways made due to the technical limitations of the PS1. Only so many 3D models could be on screen at one time, so a game focused on resource management and puzzles worked better than mowing down hordes of undead. Dino Crisis 2 switches things up by being an action game through and through, despite running on the same hardware. Few action games on the PS1 play as well as Dino Crisis 2, which still holds up today.
8 Replayability
Dino Crisis 2 is an admittedly curt experience. A first playthrough takes about five hours, and subsequent runs can be as short as three once you know what you are doing.
However, like many Capcom games, it is easy to run through the campaign several times before growing tired. New unlocks make for new ways to play the story. It is reminiscent of the way items unlock in the Resident Evil 3 remake.
7 Multiple Playable Characters
Regina, the protagonist from the debut entry, returns in Dino Crisis 2, but she is not the only one players control. A new character, Dylan, is the second protagonist. The two have different abilities, and you switch between them during certain parts of the story. With slightly different arsenals, the switch between the two is not arbitrary, and you have to adjust your play style depending on who you are controlling.
6 Scoring System
Dino Crisis 2 utilizes an interesting scoring system that encourages one to improve their combat skills. Getting multiple kills without taking damage increases the combo and payoff, which in turn can be used to buy better items. While some disapproved of this arcade-like design, it is a precursor to systems future games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta would use to encourage skilled players to perfect the combat.
5 Story
While extremely short, there is still an interesting narrative compelling players through action sequences. Regina and Dylan head to an island to rescue survivors of a missing research installation. What follows is a conflict involving time travel, paradoxes, and saving humanity from complete erasure. A surprising emotional hook is introduced near the end. It ends with a cliffhanger which was eventually resolved in the light gun game, Dino Stalker.
4 The Store
Unlike other Capcom games of the time like Resident Evil and the first Dino Crisis, most of the items are bought from the store and not found. In addition to weapons, certain bonus items modify gameplay. Armor reduces the amount of damage enemies inflict, and one item even increases the amount of points kills give. After beating the game new items are available for purchase. Simply wanting to buy all the stock is reason enough to keep playing.
3 Extra Crisis
Even though the campaign is short, beating it once unlocks a few extra game modes. In Extra Crisis, players can either fight against several waves of enemies or go against another player in an arena.
The real kicker is the ability to play as several different characters, including dinosaurs. You have to buy many of the characters here, which simply encourages more grinding for points. It is reminiscent of the Mercenaries mode from Resident Evil.
2 It Is A Precursor To Stylish Action Games
So many of the points already brought up make Dino Crisis 2 sound more like Devil May Cry than Resident Evil. It really does feel like a precursor to stylish action games Capcom would later make. Even though you take out dinosaurs with guns, timing and knowing when to be defensive is more vital to success in combat than accuracy. The combo system and points used to buy items only further drive this point home.
1 It Came Out At The End Of The PS1's Life
This is not so much a point in the game's favor as it is a reason why it is underrated. Dino Crisis 2 released in the United States in September, 2000, just a month before the PS2 launched in the same territory. More so than the jump from PS3 to PS4 or the more recent leap between PS4 and PS5, many games from the PS1 just did not feel as exciting once the PS2 hit shelves. The graphical leap was so impressive, everything on the prior hardware looked worse by comparison. Graphics are not everything, however, and Dino Crisis 2 still plays well compared to a lot of PS2 launch titles.