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CARRIER
review | DREAMCAST
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Publisher: Jaleco.
Developer: Jaleco. Released: July 2001 (Europe). Genre: Survival Horror. Posted 25th August 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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It’s safe to say that Jaleco did not try to hide its intentions with Carrier. Hoping to cash in on the survival horror boom of the late nineties, this Dreamcast exclusive would debut at the turn of the millennium with a lot of the tropes gamers had come to expect from the genre, as well as some interesting additions. While the console would be flooded with survival horror games, leaving Carrier to languish in obscurity, genre aficionados may glean a good dose of value from this fully 3D horror game, though it comes with a multitude of issues.
In the future, after a slew of economic disasters have contributed to strained relations between the northern and southern hemispheres, a powerful US carrier known as the Heimdal goes silent after being sent on an operation in the south. With an initial team also reported missing, SPARC send in a second squad, which is shot down by the ship’s defences, stranding and separating several members of the crew. Players must guide Jack, a member of this team, to safety while navigating several terrors that have befallen the ship. It’s a simple plot, beset with terrible voice acting and a dodgy translation, and it’s not the most memorable either, with a bland lead and very little character development.
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Carrier mixes 3D environments with classic survival horror cameras and controls
Carrier follows the survival horror checklist, almost to a fault. Jack can be steered utilising tank controls, along with a quick-turn function, he’s forced to navigate deeper into the ship while opening up the environment using a myriad of key items. There’s repeated backtracking, seeing you trek through parts of the ship a number of times, even after reaching new floors. Mutated creatures pester you at every turn, requiring the micromanagement of ammo and healing items to ensure your survival, while also contending with save points that are spread quite far apart. Though rendered fully in 3D (a rarity for the time), static cameras and limited lighting ensure jump-scares are more likely. It ticks all the survival horror boxes, and as such, will prove familiar to anyone with experience in these types of games.
There are some unique kinks, though. Aiming works a bit differently, allowing you to adjust your vertical shot to target specific parts of the enemy’s body. This allows you to execute headshots and amputate limbs with greater ease. Jack gains access to an infrared scope early on, which adds some neat functionality, like scanning for key items, revealing special invisible creatures and detecting infection within a slew of survivors you come across throughout the game. Explosives are also a huge part of Carrier, with different types allowing for bigger explosions. These are used to clear objects blocking progress, but can also be handy in combat for blowing up nasties on your tail. Each planted bomb gives you five seconds to flee, adding yet another element of tension. Though Carrier’s additions aren’t groundbreaking, they lend the game a some distinction from its peers.
There are some unique kinks, though. Aiming works a bit differently, allowing you to adjust your vertical shot to target specific parts of the enemy’s body. This allows you to execute headshots and amputate limbs with greater ease. Jack gains access to an infrared scope early on, which adds some neat functionality, like scanning for key items, revealing special invisible creatures and detecting infection within a slew of survivors you come across throughout the game. Explosives are also a huge part of Carrier, with different types allowing for bigger explosions. These are used to clear objects blocking progress, but can also be handy in combat for blowing up nasties on your tail. Each planted bomb gives you five seconds to flee, adding yet another element of tension. Though Carrier’s additions aren’t groundbreaking, they lend the game a some distinction from its peers.
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The problem is that, Carrier lacks the standout qualities of the genre’s best. Survival horror often requires an interactive, memorable environment to navigate, taking some of the tedium out of backtracking, such as the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil 2. The Heimdal feels more like a tin can, with samey-looking locales offering little in the way of distinction, bar one flooded area and another being overrun with plants. This makes navigation both confusing and a chore. A handful of bosses rear their heads throughout, but they all feel a bit on the cheap side, with powerful attacks that will leave unprepared players frustrated, especially when you factor in the lack of save points. On the other hand, basic combat feels too easy, with Magazine rooms bequeathing plenty of ammo and with a pistol, machine gun, grenade launcher and tons of explosives proving easy to find, these bosses prove the most difficult bit.
Carrier looks the part, even though its art direction is less impressive. The game, despite a fair few frame rate stutters, does tend to remain high, giving it a smoother feel than the litany of PlayStation horror titles. However, characters and environments look fairly uninspired, and disappointingly, there’s only a handful of monster designs. It looks acceptable, though hardly noteworthy. The sound is in the same vein, with a sparse soundtrack that lacks impact, average sound effects and horrific voice acting that isn’t too far from what was offered by the earliest entries in the genre. Poor delivery, laughable direction and odd pronunciations make for a silly vibe that’s a poor fit with the serious, world-threatening plot.
Carrier looks the part, even though its art direction is less impressive. The game, despite a fair few frame rate stutters, does tend to remain high, giving it a smoother feel than the litany of PlayStation horror titles. However, characters and environments look fairly uninspired, and disappointingly, there’s only a handful of monster designs. It looks acceptable, though hardly noteworthy. The sound is in the same vein, with a sparse soundtrack that lacks impact, average sound effects and horrific voice acting that isn’t too far from what was offered by the earliest entries in the genre. Poor delivery, laughable direction and odd pronunciations make for a silly vibe that’s a poor fit with the serious, world-threatening plot.
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Carrier isn't subtle about its inspirations, but at least it's taken its cues from the best
Carrier will take the average player eight hours to complete on an initial run, depending on how much trouble you’re given by the big nasties. A second story is unlocked after initial completion, following the exploits of Jessifer Manning in parallel to Jack’s campaign, though this segment only amounts to a couple of hours. Outside of some unlockable costumes, there isn’t a whole lot else on offer, with no extra modes, endings or incentives to return, making it feel a touch bare next to competing games.
Despite how brazenly it wears its inspirations, Carrier’s dedication to genre tropes gives it a solid grounding, though it rarely captures the imagination like the best in class. It features a few, surface-level tweaks which seasoned survivalists will appreciate, but the combination of a lacklustre setting, tedious backtracking and frustrating bosses put a dampener on the experience. For genre enthusiasts looking for something outside of the Silent Hill or Resident Evil pool however, Jaleco’s effort proves more than satisfactory.
Despite how brazenly it wears its inspirations, Carrier’s dedication to genre tropes gives it a solid grounding, though it rarely captures the imagination like the best in class. It features a few, surface-level tweaks which seasoned survivalists will appreciate, but the combination of a lacklustre setting, tedious backtracking and frustrating bosses put a dampener on the experience. For genre enthusiasts looking for something outside of the Silent Hill or Resident Evil pool however, Jaleco’s effort proves more than satisfactory.
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VERDICT"A survival horror that wears its inspirations brazenly on its sleeve. Carrier’s dedication to genre tropes gives it a solid grounding, though it rarely captures the imagination." OVERALL: 6/10 |
GAMES THAT INSPIRED CARRIER REVIEWED
Resident Evil 2 (1998, PC)
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Metal Gear Solid (1999, PlayStation)
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