Capcom are bringing their first survival horror game to the portable world of the DS, including all new touch screen features and updated puzzles. The DS will get a direct port of the original Resident Evil, released all those years ago on the PS1, retaining all those duff FMVs, including that one of the zombie eating one of your fellow comrades that scared the bejesus out of you when you were eleven, but maybe not now.

Deadly Silence brings back all that retro horror for you to enjoy on the bus, but with some difference. Capcom have implemented some new gameplay elements to improve the experience players receive from a portable system, a conscious decision on their part to combat the reduction in atmosphere and scare tactics the shrinking to a portable screen creates. As part of this Capcom have opted for the more action orientated gameplay of the recent (and brilliant) Resi 4, including updates such as first person shooting and slashing (using the touch screen for accuracy) that enable players a fresh experience of the classic survival horror and will have them up-close and person with the zombie hoards. This should hopefully add a new element to the game and have the player slashing the screen with the stylus in a vicious, but fun, rage to fend off the rotting corpse approaching. Although it does seem Capcom have thrown it in there simply to make use of the DS features, it's a nice alternative to the constant blasting.

The game also seems to feature the more fluid controls implemented in the more recent instalment: there is for example now the ability by pressing the down and B buttons simultaneously to turn around in a 180 degree fashion - very useful for running away from oncoming zombies. Whether these additions will translate well to the DS control scheme will remain to be seen and could be an integral part to the gameplay as struggling to turn around and run away (whilst a zombie approaches at 2 mph) due to a clumsy control scheme could ruin the experience and have players flinging their DS across the room/bus/beach.

As well as the original game there is a bonus reiteration of the mission, sporting new enemy placements, new items and re-imagined puzzles, giving new gamers an additional challenge and those who have experienced the previous incarnation something different. This will offer players of the original some nostalgia value as well as offering a new challenge totalling an approximate game time of 12 hours. It is surprising that Capcom have managed to cram all this into a DS cart and should give Nintendo fans something to shout about to the PSP crowd.

There is also a four player multiplayer mode offering co-operative and competitive modes: the first generally requires the players all to make there way to one point in a sort of race to the finish. This all takes place in the creepy mansion as players mow down zombies and unlock doors to make it to their appropriate destination. Although this idea sounds interesting the players cannot see each other on the DS screen and instead are represented by stars which could take away from the horror experience somewhat if mid fire fight a star appears floating on your screen. It remains to be seen whether this multiplayer will catch on and hook gamers or be discarded as a tacked on and worthless extra.

The game is already out in America and has received a number of positive reviews, citing the games faithful reproduction of the 'classic gem' the older amongst us remember from a decade ago, but also pointing out a few issues with the controls and graphics being too clumsy. Resident Evil DS is released this Friday, so a full review will be creeping up behind you shortly. Knifes are the ready.