Dino Crisis
Last updated: 2026-02-14
- Technical performance and graphical improvements praised.
- Dinosaur encounters and AI highly engaging.
- Exploration and survival gameplay well-received.
- Challenging puzzles and nostalgic atmosphere appreciated.
- DRM issues and concerns heavily criticized.
- Launch and performance issues reported.
Emotions
Players are frustrated primarily due to technical issues such as DRM problems, performance issues, and compatibility challenges. Controller and keyboard issues, along with game crashes and freezing, further exacerbate the frustration.
Players feel nostalgic as the game brings back cherished memories from their childhood. The classic status of the game, its old-school feel, and the music contribute to this sense of nostalgia.
Disappointment stems from the game's poor port quality, dated mechanics, and lack of improvements. Technical issues, DRM problems, and limited content also contribute to this sentiment.
Players are excited about the game's dynamic gameplay elements and the hope for future remasters or releases. The intense dinosaur encounters and the game's strong design and atmosphere add to this excitement.
Satisfaction comes from the game meeting expectations with a good port and sharp textures. Performance options also contribute to a positive experience.
Verdict
Mostly negative
Summary
Positive 50% · Negative 50%. Score: 50 / 100
Verdict
Broken
Summary
The game faces significant issues on the Steam Deck, primarily due to DRM problems, poor controller support, and registry/launcher issues. These technical barriers severely impact the user experience, making the game difficult to launch and play without additional tinkering. The lack of cloud saves and Steam overlay further adds to the frustration. Score: 85 / 100
Top points
- DRM Issues - High
- Controller Support - High
- Registry and Launcher Issues - High
- Lack of Cloud Saves and Steam Overlay - Medium
Positives:
- The game runs perfectly and launches fine, with good controller support and high-resolution textures.
- Many players express that the game is good, works great, and is worth purchasing and playing.
- The game includes graphical improvements such as enhanced 3D models and sharp textures, retaining its pre-rendered backgrounds and cinematic framing.
- The game features intense and terrifying dinosaur encounters, with dinosaurs that are fast, reactive, and capable of pursuing the player.
- The game emphasizes exploration and survival elements, with puzzle-solving being a core part of the experience.
Negatives:
- Multiple reviews highlight the presence of invasive DRM, specifically the Enigma DRM, which is criticized for being unnecessary and problematic, especially for a game from 1999. The DRM is seen as overly restrictive and causing performance issues.
- The game is criticized for its poor visual quality, including low frame rates, ugly graphics, and lack of upscaling. Users also report issues with textures, animations, and visual bugs.
- Many users report that the game does not launch properly or crashes frequently. Specific issues include the game not starting, crashing on startup, and freezing when alt-tabbing.
- The controls are described as rough, horrible, and clunky. Specific issues include tank controls, stiff movement, and problems with analog controls. Some users find the controls unplayable on PC.
- Controller support is frequently mentioned as being subpar, with many users experiencing issues such as non-functional controllers, poor button mapping, and lack of initial recognition of controllers.
Gameplay:
- The game is a survival horror experience similar to Resident Evil but featuring dinosaurs instead of zombies.
- The game uses old-school tank controls, which can feel clunky and rough to some players.
- Players face limited ammo and resources, adding to the challenge and requiring strategic use of tranquilizer darts.
- The F9 key is used to exit the game to desktop, which can be unintentional if pressed accidentally.
- The gameplay emphasizes avoiding dinosaurs rather than engaging in combat, with companions aiding in exploration.
Performance:
- Many players report that the game does not launch properly or at all on Linux systems, including Steam Deck. This is a significant issue affecting the game's playability on these platforms.
- Players have noted that the game has poor graphical quality, with issues such as low frame rates, bad optimization, and blurry textures. Some even suggest that the visuals are worse compared to the PS1 version.
- DRM is causing performance issues, particularly on platforms like Steam Deck, leading to launch issues and other problems.
- Certain technical issues require specific fixes, such as registry edits or directdraw error fixes, to get the game running properly.
- Players have reported issues with minimizing the game and problems with windowed mode, including the game not popping back up after minimizing and issues with fullscreen mode.
Recommendations:
- Many players recommend purchasing the game on GOG for a DRM-free version.
- The game offers nostalgia for longtime fans with improved accessibility and provides insight into survival horror design for newcomers.
- Some players find the price of almost 60 reais to be high, but consider it a good deal when on sale for R$ 28.50.
- Players suggest that it is better to spend $5 on the PC version compared to $150 on the PS1 version.
- There are suggestions for quality-of-life improvements to enhance the gaming experience.
Miscellaneous:
- Players mention the specific key (F9) used to exit the game, which could be useful information for other players or developers.
- Some players express long-standing affection for a character named Regina, indicating a personal connection or nostalgia associated with the character.
