The survival-horror genre of the late 1990s had few icons as distinctive as Dino Crisis. A game that blended Resident Evil’s claustrophobic tension with Jurassic Park’s prehistoric chaos, it thrived on its time—until it didn’t. Now, nearly three decades later, Capcom has brought the original pair back to Steam, but not without controversy.
Both Dino Crisis* (1999) and Dino Crisis 2 (2000) are now available on the platform for $5 each—half their typical standalone price—marking their first Steam release. The versions are essentially identical to the GOG ports released last year, with one critical exception: Enigma Protector DRM. This choice has already sparked backlash, echoing past frustrations with Capcom’s handling of DRM in titles like Resident Evil Revelations, where performance issues and crashes forced a rollback.
Enigma’s presence here isn’t just a technical hurdle. It’s a signal. Capcom’s recent crackdown on modding—sparked by a high-profile incident at a Street Fighter 6 tournament where a nude Chun Li mod accidentally aired—has set a precedent. While Dino Crisis never developed a robust modding community, the inclusion of DRM suggests a broader shift toward restricting player freedom, even for older titles.
For fans eager to revisit these classics, the $5 price tag is a rare steal. However, the DRM requirement introduces unnecessary friction, particularly for those who prefer DRM-free experiences. The Steam forums are already flooded with complaints about launch delays and registry checks—including a typo-riddled error message that reads ‘Chack Registry.’
- Games: Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2*
- Platform: Steam (Windows)
- Price: $5 each (50% off)
- DRM: Enigma Protector (controversial, linked to past performance issues)
- Modding: No native mod support; DRM may limit compatibility with tools like Classic REbirth
- Performance: Likely optimized for modern systems, but DRM could introduce overhead
For those who remember the original PlayStation era, this is a chance to relive the adrenaline of dodging T-Rex attacks and solving puzzles under pressure. But the DRM decision casts a shadow over the release, raising questions about whether Capcom is prioritizing anti-piracy measures over player convenience—especially for games that have been out of print for decades.
Availability is immediate, but whether this marks the start of a broader DRM push for Capcom’s retro catalog remains unclear. One thing is certain: the $5 price makes it an easy addition to any Steam library—just don’t expect a seamless experience.
