Capcom's Legendary Dino Crisis Series Roars Onto Steam with Surprise Launch

Capcom's legendary dinosaur survival horror game, "Dino Crisis," and its sequel, "Dino Crisis 2," have suddenly launched on the PC gaming platform Steam, generating significant buzz. To mark their release, both titles are available at an exceptionally low half-price of 500 yen each, drawing considerable attention from both veteran fans and new players alike.

This unexpected release caught many social media users by surprise. Exclamations like "Suddenly dropped on Steam!", "Dino Crisis?!", and "Dino Crisis on Steam in the Reiwa era!?" flooded timelines, with the sheer surprise amplifying the excitement.

"Dino Crisis," true to its name, is a survival horror game where players strive to escape a facility overrun by dinosaurs, often dubbed "Resident Evil with dinosaurs." The nostalgia factor is especially potent for those who played it on the original PlayStation, with numerous posts recalling fond memories like "I played it on the original PS!" and "I played the absolute heck out of it." Bolstered by the sale price, many users are declaring their intent to purchase, with comments such as "I'll download it when I get home" and "Instant buy." Nevertheless, some have expressed reservations about its distinctive control scheme, with concerns like "It might not be enjoyable in the Reiwa era."

Regarding the second game in the series, "Dino Crisis 2," some users commented on its unique gameplay mechanics, such as finding it "odd that you earned money for defeating dinosaurs to buy guns and ammo." Following the Steam release, there have also been ardent calls for the series to come to PlayStation platforms, with comments like "Bring it to PS too!" and "Will it eventually come to PS...?" Conversely, the third installment, "Dino Crisis 3," was an Xbox exclusive and is not included in this Steam release, leading to requests for its port as well.

This unexpected Steam launch has cast a new light on a series for which new installments and remakes have long been eagerly awaited. Many fans are sending passionate messages to Capcom, urging, "We sincerely hope for a remake!" There are high expectations that this development could pave the way for future entries in the series. The accessibility of these nostalgic masterpieces on PC in the Reiwa era is undoubtedly welcome news for the gaming industry.

The context

Dino Crisis: A survival horror game series developed by Capcom, first released in 1999 for the PlayStation. It was created by Shinji Mikami, known for directing the original Resident Evil. Often described as "Resident Evil with dinosaurs," the series features tense gameplay, resource management, and a focus on escaping facilities overrun by highly intelligent and dangerous dinosaurs. Its unique premise and atmosphere garnered a dedicated fanbase.

Capcom: A prominent Japanese video game developer and publisher, responsible for numerous acclaimed franchises including Resident Evil (known as Biohazard in Japan), Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter.

Resident Evil (Biohazard): Capcom's flagship survival horror franchise. Early Resident Evil games shared a fixed camera perspective and puzzle-solving elements that influenced Dino Crisis.

Reiwa Era: The current era of Japan, which began on May 1, 2019, with the ascension of Emperor Naruhito. When Japanese users mention "in the Reiwa era," it implies a contemporary context, often contrasting with older games' mechanics or graphics. For a game like Dino Crisis, questions like "Will it hold up in the Reiwa era?" refer to its ability to appeal to modern players despite its vintage controls and visuals.

Sale Price (500 yen): 500 Japanese yen is approximately $3-4 USD, making the launch price a significant discount and a very attractive offer for these classic titles.