Resident Evil Outbreak was an interesting concept that never went anywhere. While a bulk of the blame could be attributed to the game’s lack of communication features (which makes no sense, when communication is a major part of the experience), nothing about the game seemed to gel. Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 adds one or two new features to the experience, but doesn't fix any of the first game's glaring problems.

File #2 captures the look and feel of the Resident Evil series perfectly. Dark, gritty, rundown environments, slowly-stalking zombies, mutants… all are the norm. Character models are nicely detailed, as are most of the zombies and mutants you’ll encounter. In particular, the mutants really stand out – especially the animals in the zoo. Environments are a mixed bag. Some, like the asylum or zoo, make for creepy experiences while others feel very generic.

The aural experience would be great if it weren’t for the constant, and annoying, cries of help from your group. Not a moment goes by where you’re not hearing someone ask for help or refuse to do something. By the middle of the first scenario you’d swear that the AI was based on the habits of the typical 6-year old since it’s just as mouthy and about as useful.

After witnessing the franchise's future in RE 4, File #2 feels like a step backwards; and, in many ways it is. Tank-like controls, bulky inventory – if you complained about it in past RE games, you’ll find it here.

The premise behind File #2 remains the same. You, as one of eight ordinary people, are trapped in Raccoon City after a viral outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation. Survival is your only goal as you try to escape the zombie-ridden town before the virus, or flesh-eating zombies, get to you.

File #2 is split up into four scenarios (five if you count the bonus). In a twist on previous RE games, you have the aid of different people, each with their own skills. Some are built for combat, while others are more for puzzle solving. If you played the original, you should already be familiar with the line-up in File #2 since, except for a few ability tweaks, it remains unchanged from the last game.

Any of the scenarios can be played offline (with the AI picking up your partner’s slack). However, the game is really meant for online play. File #2 delivers the same experience as the past game; there are, of course, a few changes, but overall there is no change. The biggest problem is the inability to communicate with your teammates outside of the pre-set macros. The experience is different if you’re playing with friends who work well together; team up with strangers and it’s a miserable experience, usually due to everyone wanting to either do their own thing or be the leader.

Scenarios follow the traditional RE format. Enter a room, kill a zombie or two and run away from the rest while collecting items and solving puzzles. If you’re a fan of the old-school RE ways, this is the game for you. Those who have become accustomed to the new, action-oriented style of RE found in part four won’t like it.

Whether you’re in single or multiplayer, you’re in for a rocky ride. While in multiplayer, the main obstacle you’ll face is the lack of communication with other members of your group. The end result is gameplay that feels like trying to lead a group of deaf mimes through a dark room. In single player games, your blind and mute party members are replaced with useless, uncooperative A.I., leading to a frustrating experience for even the most patient of souls.

Communication is the biggest problem File #2 faces. Instead of doing the smart thing and allowing for players to communicate through the USB headset, they are instead forced to rely on preset commands given through the pressing the D-pad. I could have easily handled having to use this system, at least offline, had it actually worked properly. Considering the number of games that use a similar system, there’s no excuse for File #2’s second-rate system. What makes the situation worse is that this isn’t a new problem. Lack of communication killed the first Outbreak game and drew scorn from both the media and gamers, so someone had to have known the system didn’t work. Chalk this one up to laziness, a rushed development schedule or both.

On the positive side, File #2 finally adds a much-needed mechanic to RE’s standard control scheme – the ability to shoot while walking. It’s amazing to see how much one little thing can change the experience completely. Another addition is that you can now crawl to safety, which comes in handy as you’re desperately trying to reach that medicine to stave off the virus. It’s really not the most useful of options, but better to have it just in case.

Anyone expecting the PS2’s answer to Resident Evil 4 will be greatly disappointed with Outbreak File #2. If that’s the experience you’re looking for, it’s better to get a GameCube or wait for the PS2 version of RE4 later this year. Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 is only recommended if you’re one of the few people who found the first one entertaining. If you didn’t enjoy the first one, you won’t like this one either since little has been improved.