The Near-Complete Version of the Cancelled Resident Evil Game Boy Color Game Surfaces Online
The Return of an Unfinished Classic
For Resident Evil fans, there's a fascinating piece of the franchise's history that has recently made its way to the limelight. A version of the Resident Evil game for the Game Boy Color, which was nearly finished but ultimately cancelled, has been shared online. This project, which attempted the mammoth task of porting a PlayStation 1 game onto a Game Boy Color cartridge, was led by HotGen studios back in 1999. Despite being showcased at E3 1999, delays, cold feet, and internal setbacks led to its cancellation.
What Was The Game Like?
Despite the limitations of the Game Boy Color, HotGen managed to create an 8-bit Resident Evil that mirrored the PS1 and Saturn title. This wasn't a simplified version of the game. The original locations, puzzles, angles, and narrative remained the same, albeit with sprites that were scaled down to work within the constraints of the Game Boy Color. This port pushed the handheld console to its limits, with scaled sprites that tried to reproduce the same 3D feeling as the home console games.
A Closer Look at the Cancelled Game
Now, thanks to the website Games That Weren't, fans finally have the most stable and finished example of the game that we've ever had from the moment before it was cancelled. The version that has surfaced online is the most complete one since the ROMs for this ambitious project were released to the public in 2011. Even though it's not fully complete, it's the most playable version we've had of the original game to date.
Why It's Important
The surfacing of this almost-finished game provides a fascinating look into the development process, challenges, and what-could-have-been scenarios in the gaming industry. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the HotGen team who attempted to work around the limitations of the Game Boy Color to deliver an ambitious port of a beloved franchise. For fans of Resident Evil and retro gaming, this is a unique opportunity to explore a piece of gaming history.
Where to Find It
Interested in taking a trip down this memory lane? You can get more information and download the Game Boy Color version of Resident Evil to play on your preferred emulator on the Games That Weren't Resident Evil page. While it may not be a fully finished product, it's certainly a fascinating glimpse into what could have been a unique addition to the Resident Evil franchise and the Game Boy Color library.