When it comes to Resident Evil, I’ve always held two games in particular close to my heart; Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Yes, yes, I know the latter is not nowhere near as highly regarded as the rest of the games in the series, but still, for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the theme, and the story. Resident Evil 2, on the other hand, well, that’s an entirely different story altogether. This game is widely regarded as one of the best in the series, and for good reason too. It was deep, compelling, dark and massively engaging.
I’ve not always been impressed with the series as a whole. When Capcom decided to shift from fixed camera to third person, I was somewhat slightly skeptical. The end result, Resident Evil 4, made for one of the best canon titles ever. Sadly, things only went downhill from there with Resident Evil 5 and (ugh) Resident Evil 6. This pushed Capcom once again into reinventing the franchise with Resident Evil VII, a shift from third person to first person perspective. Not quite as impressive as Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil VII did well nevertheless.
We’ve no idea where Capcom will go with Resident Evil VIII, but what we do know is that they’re working on a Resident Evil 2 Remake, and boy howdy, it’s shaping up to be the best game they’ve ever crafted. Moving once again from first person perspective to third person perspective, the Resident Evil 2 Remake looks to be a true return to form. I cant say that I was sold on yet another shift in perspective, but after seeing several hours worth of play, I have to say that I’m now on-board and counting down the days until its January 2019 release.
Capcom seems not only very intent, but vastly dedicated to ensure that the remake sits inline with the original version. They’ve gone on to say that although the game will feel familiar, it’s going to feel fresh and revitalizing at the same time. Items and encounters that you remember from the 90s will still be present, but they’ll be situated in different locations and will trigger in different circumstances – making for a game in which returning fans will know what to expect, but wont quite know when to expect it, which is vastly intriguing if you ask me.
I’ve read a few tedious reactions from fans that question some design choices, such as why the hell Ada is wearing sunglasses at night time, or why both Claire and Leon look like catwalk models, but outside of these niggling concerns, the Resident Evil 2 Remake is shaping up remarkably. Resident Evil 2 introduced characters who would go on to become some of the most iconic and beloved heroes in Capcom’s history, the aforementioned Leon and Claire. Both Leon and Claire have their own separately playable campaigns, allowing players to see the story from both characters’ perspective.
With Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine powering a new photo-realistic style, the characters themselves appear sharper than ever and the grotesque hordes of zombies are brought to life with a horrifyingly realistic wet gore effect. Zombies now react in real time as they take instant visible damage, making every bullet from the player count. Stunning lighting brings the familiar rooms and corridors of Raccoon City Police Department to new life. Players will feel they’re in the shoes of heroes Leon and Claire, terrified to step out of the light for fear of what flesh-eating nightmares might await them in the darkness.
As both Leon and Claire embark on their own campaigns independently, their collective experiences piece together a comprehensive story uncovering the malicious motives behind the nightmare engulfing the city, the truth behind the nefarious Umbrella Corporation, and the Birkin family’s role in the tragedy. Those of you that played the original will already know the answers to these questions, but I think it’s fair to assume that Capcom will take this opportunity to flesh out the story in a way that the original version couldn’t achieve. There may also be some new beats included too…
Now, I know I’m not alone in this, but if Resident Evil 2’s remake sells and performs well, there’s a good chance we could see a remake of Nemesis. This makes a lot of sense because it will be the only canon entry in the series that’s not readily available on current gen hardware. We’ve got Resident Evil 0 HD, Resident Evil HD, Resident Evil 2’s remake on the way, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil VII, yet no Resident Evil 3. I know I would buy into an anthology collection, that’s for sure. Furthermore, Capcom could use many of the remake’s assets to build Nemesis.
Both Resident Evil 2 and Nemesis take place in the same locations, at roughly the same time, so it all fits. Whatever the case, that’s a discussion for another time. Resident Evil 2’s remake looks absolutely sensational. It’s not only restored my faith in a third person Resident Evil game, it’s restored my faith in the entire series. Hopefully the game plays just as well as it looks come a few months time. Check out the trailer at the head of the page to get a close-up of the story and as always, hit the comments below to put forward your thoughts.
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