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vanmeers's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
typewriterdeluxe's review
3.0
I have to confess, my library only has #5 so I read this book way out of order! I was still able to enjoy it because I'm familiar with the games, and if I can get my hands on the other books in this series I look forward to reading those too.
This novelization lacks the hair-raising terror of the games, but I still found it a very enjoyable read. I'd call it more of a fun thriller-mystery. Writing a video game novel is hard, and I think S.D. Perry did a great job considering the parameters and restrictions she was given to fit into Capcom's Resident Evil universe.
Although it was campy and unrealistic at times (as the games can be too), I stayed up all night to follow the characters through their violent cat-and-mouse game. Some of my favorite bits of Perry's writing were how she adapted puzzle-solving gameplay to novel form; her inner dialogue descriptions of Jill and Carlos' never-uttered-out-loud attraction; and the detailed combat scenes.
The only thing that bugged me as I was reading was that, although the "Nemesis" S.T.A.R.S-killer is supposed to be the big baddy (and titular character), Perry didn't use him much. I imagine that he appeared earlier in the book series and I missed his build-up? All the more reason to start at #1, kids!
This novelization lacks the hair-raising terror of the games, but I still found it a very enjoyable read. I'd call it more of a fun thriller-mystery. Writing a video game novel is hard, and I think S.D. Perry did a great job considering the parameters and restrictions she was given to fit into Capcom's Resident Evil universe.
Although it was campy and unrealistic at times (as the games can be too), I stayed up all night to follow the characters through their violent cat-and-mouse game. Some of my favorite bits of Perry's writing were how she adapted puzzle-solving gameplay to novel form; her inner dialogue descriptions of Jill and Carlos' never-uttered-out-loud attraction; and the detailed combat scenes.
The only thing that bugged me as I was reading was that, although the "Nemesis" S.T.A.R.S-killer is supposed to be the big baddy (and titular character), Perry didn't use him much. I imagine that he appeared earlier in the book series and I missed his build-up? All the more reason to start at #1, kids!
xterminal's review
3.0
S. D. Perry, Resident Evil: Nemesis (Pocket, 2000)
Perry (thankfully) returns to Raccoon City for the fifth installment in the Resident Evil series. While most of the disgraced S.T.A.R.S. Team has left for other places (as detailed in books two through four), Jill Valentine is still in the city. She's planning to get out soon, but Umbrella, who are still monitoring the plague-stricken town, have other ideas, and a nasty new monster to stop her if they can. Meanwhile, Umbrella has sent four platoons of soldiers into the city, ostensibly to find and rescue any remaining survivors. One of those soldiers, Carlos Oliveira, was approached by the mysterious Trent just before the soldiers took off, and was given the usual cryptic instructions on what to do when things go bad (as, of course, they will). Unbeknownst to either, one of the squad leaders also airlifted into the city is a member of Operation Watchdog, the program Umbrella is using to monitor activity in the city—but he's gone rogue, and aims to collect all the data himself, selling it back to Umbrella for a profit. As usual, the monsters are less dangerous to our would-be good guys than the other humans on the game board. Not a bad book, this, stronger than the preceding volume in the series. If you've enjoyed the books so far, or if you're a fan of the game series, it's worth checking out. ***
Perry (thankfully) returns to Raccoon City for the fifth installment in the Resident Evil series. While most of the disgraced S.T.A.R.S. Team has left for other places (as detailed in books two through four), Jill Valentine is still in the city. She's planning to get out soon, but Umbrella, who are still monitoring the plague-stricken town, have other ideas, and a nasty new monster to stop her if they can. Meanwhile, Umbrella has sent four platoons of soldiers into the city, ostensibly to find and rescue any remaining survivors. One of those soldiers, Carlos Oliveira, was approached by the mysterious Trent just before the soldiers took off, and was given the usual cryptic instructions on what to do when things go bad (as, of course, they will). Unbeknownst to either, one of the squad leaders also airlifted into the city is a member of Operation Watchdog, the program Umbrella is using to monitor activity in the city—but he's gone rogue, and aims to collect all the data himself, selling it back to Umbrella for a profit. As usual, the monsters are less dangerous to our would-be good guys than the other humans on the game board. Not a bad book, this, stronger than the preceding volume in the series. If you've enjoyed the books so far, or if you're a fan of the game series, it's worth checking out. ***
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