Code Violet Review – All the Inspiration, None of the Bite

Code Violet Review

Dino Crisis has made a lasting impact on the industry since its release in 1999. With its thrilling combination of horror and dinosaurs, Capcom was able to expand its signature survival-horror flair into new territory. More than two decades later, and fans are still searching for something similar that positions prehistoric predators as a genuine threat. Taking inspiration from the legendary title, Code Violet aims to capture that spirit and repackage its essence for a modern audience. But will it manage to recapture the same sense of dread and innovation that made Dino Crisis a cult classic, or will it struggle to escape the shadow of its influence?

Set in the 25th century, the world faces extinction after a series of events render Earth uninhabitable and humanity infertile. In desperation, pioneering scientists at Aion create a time-travel device to abduct women from the past as surrogates in a bid to save the future. Taken from one time period and thrown into another, you play as Violet Sinclair. Confused and scared, you awaken in a futuristic complex swarming with fierce dinosaurs. Fighting to survive, you must contend with a range of threats, uncover the truth behind Aion, and find a way to escape.

A Brave New World

The environment is used to develop the story, as struggles of past inhabitants leave scars on the world. Remains give a glimmer of the atrocities that took place, adding a sombre and unnerving atmosphere, which enhances the horror. While the narrative progresses with cutscenes and data logs scattered throughout, it serves more as a premise rather than a memorable tale. The subpar voice acting and ambiguity further prevent the story from ever fully resonating.

Code Violet is an ode to survival horror games of the past. Limited ammo, inventory management and crafting help to build tension as you scour each area for resources. As the amount you can carry is limited, you must continually evaluate what to pick up and leave behind. Its implementation is similar to games from the past, requiring you to discard and move items to fit in with others. Although a common system, including modern elements such as auto-fit, would allow you to spend more time in the world rather than the menu.

Dinosaurs burst from the shadows, requiring you to unleash a flurry of bullets to take them down. What should be a terrifying notion, prehistoric predators stalking their prey, instead appears awkward and clumsy, undermining any real sense of danger. Small reptiles are just a nuisance, chomping at your ankles as you swing your blade in defence, whereas others patrol and run towards you on sight. As the camera is quite intimate, everything can cluster, resulting in messy action sequences.

Lock and Load

Combat is basic, with most encounters taking place in tight corridors or large rooms. At a distance, these fights are serviceable, but because enemies can close the gap so quickly, they often spiral into chaotic, awkward scrambles that feel more frustrating than threatening. Taking cues from legendary titles in the genre, enemies can leap through panels to deliver jump scares, causing you to panic and unload your weapon. While these moments can startle, they feel cheaply executed, and the sight of a large dinosaur crashing through a panel often borders on comical. Ultimately, the game never quite grasps the art of horror, opting instead to pay homage to its influences rather than carve out its own path.

Small puzzles add variety to the adventure, enhancing the game’s pacing. Most puzzles are logical and don’t take too long to decipher, giving a suitable challenge for most gamers. Interspersing these are some Dino Crisis-style chase sequences and other cinematic moments, which help to make segments feel frantic and intense. Although at first, these are exciting, they don’t vary enough to make them truly memorable.

A Questionable View

The game looks impressive at points, with deep lighting with contrasting colours to create an atmospheric experience. However, some rough edges are notable, especially when heading outdoors. Although the character model is highly detailed, it is done so in a sexualised manner, which is further enhanced through the array of revealing costumes that you can dress her in at save points. The music is strong in parts, but also cuts out unexpectedly, leaving an awkward silence. Bugs continue to riddle the game, from graphical glitches to erratic enemy movement and more. On the base PS5, the game runs at a steady 30FPS; however, this contributes to a sluggish feel, with movement often coming across as stiff. While the game runs at 60FPS on the Pro, it’s disappointing that TeamKill Media didn’t include a performance option for both consoles.

Code Violet falls short of its inspirations. Although the concise adventure has some strong moments, with some great interior environments, it fails to create menacing enemies that evoke fear in the player. Bugs hinder the experience, often leading to clumsy moments that break the immersion. Unfortunately, fans of Dino Crisis will have to keep waiting for that spiritual successor they’ve been hoping for.

***PS5 code provided by the publisher***