Capcom‘s PS1 library is home to some of the most important games of the 5th generation, including the title responsible for giving the survival horror genre its name. After a period of exclusivity to PS Premium tier subscribers, both Resident Evil: Director’s Cut and Dino Crisis have become widely available to all PSN users, with official PS4 and PS5 versions available to download through the service. As a bonus, users who purchased the games previously on the PS3 can download both titles for free, provided they’re still using the same PSN ID. It’s a surprise from Capcom, and it should just be the tip of the iceberg.
Both Resident Evil: Director’s Cut and Dino Crisis are seminal entries and foundational titles in the survival horror genre, but they’re also just a small fraction of the Capcom games that should follow their lead in escaping PS Plus Premium exclusivity to become widely available on PSN. Resident Evil: Director’s Cut paves the way for both Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis to become available to all PS4 and PS5 owners, while Dino Crisis opens the floodgates for the criminally overlooked Dino Crisis 2 to make its way to modern platforms.
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Resident Evil and Dino Crisis’ PS4/PS5 Versions Are More Than Simple Ports
Having both Resident Evil: Director’s Cut and Dino Crisis available as a standalone purchase is a win for fans of both games, with each title’s ports going above and beyond just simple emulation. The most obvious difference between the PS1 versions (and even the PSOne Classics versions of each title originally available on PS3) is the visual uplift. The PS4/PS5 versions of both games now feature upscaled textures to give them a bit of modern polish. The more significant addition, though, is the ability to create and load save states, as well as the ability to pause gameplay and rewind without needing to reload.
While it’s great to have Dino Crisis finally available as a standalone title following fan backlash against Capcom for its previous exclusivity, the real win here is for fans of the original Resident Evil. The version of Resident Evil: Director’s Cut available for PS4 and PS5 is a unique amalgamation of several different releases of the title. It features the classic Resident Evil soundtrack that was part of the initial release of the Director ‘s Cut while still retaining the analog stick controls of the later Dual Shock Ver. Between the new PSN versions and the PC remasters available as part of GOG’s Preservation Program, the newest iterations of Resident Evil are arguably the definitive way to experience the classic title.
Dino Crisis 2’s Arrival on PSN Could Gauge Interest for a Remake or Sequel
Initial reactions to Capcom making Resident Evil: Director’s Cut available as a standalone release on PSN are largely positive, with many fans expressing interest in readily grabbing Resident Evil 2 and 3 if Capcom follows through with bringing the whole trilogy to PSN. Equally exciting, though, is the possibility that Dino Crisis‘ release alongside Resident Evil could encourage Capcom to bring Dino Crisis 2 to modern platforms. Better yet, downloads of Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2 could help make a strong case for Capcom to look into either remakes or sequels in the franchise.
Dino Crisis 2 is an arguably underappreciated title that, despite its commercial success, remains a bit of an obscure gem in Capcom’s PS1 library. The most recent release of the title was back in 2011 as part of the PlayStation 3’s PSOne Classics catalog, and it has since remained unavailable on modern platforms. But with the release of both Resident Evil: Director’s Cut and Dino Crisis as a standalone product on PSN, Dino Crisis 2 could very well make its way onto players’ screens once again.
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