The Resident Evil franchise is without a doubt one of the most successful horror franchises ever created. Thanks to its amazing first game and the stellar sequel, the franchise was considered a classic rather instantly. It’s an important franchise for Capcom and although they lost sight of what’s important in the past, the publisher is doing everything possible to put the franchise back on track. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard was a step in the right direction but this RE-make of Resident Evil 2 is the ultimate fanservice and homage to the classic horror genre.
A classic story
Since this is a remake of the original Resident Evil 2, the story stayed the same. Raccoon City is the center location of your story. Once a peaceful town but now transformed into a zombie wasteland. Umbrella is the one to blame. If you played Resident Evil games before, the name Umbrella will certainly ring a bell. This fake pharmaceutical company ‘accidentally’ released the deadly T-Virus on the inhabitants of Raccoon City, transforming them into deadly zombies almost instantly. There’s a lot going on in the city and a lot of different characters play a crucial role in finding the cure. In this game, you’ll follow both Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy.
Clair went to Raccoon City in search of her lost brother Chris, while Leon started his career as a police officer the moment the virus broke out. Both our heroes briefly meet but an accident forces them to separate paths once more. Although both are separated, they want to survive this disaster at all costs. Again, if you’ve played to original this is nothing new, and yet, it looks nothing like the game you played years ago.
Amazing visuals
The moment you start the game, you’ll be blown away by its visuals. Capcom really went all out and catapulted a classic game into 2019 with the help of stunning visuals. The RE Engine really shines and it’s even looking better than Resident Evil 7. The atmosphere is key here and you’ll never feel at ease thanks to all those small little details. From dust settling down to headlights blinding you, it’s all adding to the overall expierence.
Of course, graphics alone aren’t everything and if you played the original game, you might remember the fixed cameras and clunky controls. Well, those are gone too. Resident Evil 2 plays as a third person shooter where you’re able to move the camera freely. This in combination with modern controls really works well. Never does this feel like an old game, it’s a game that can easily be put next to other great third-person shooters of this generation. But, if you think these camera and control improvements will make the game easier, think again!
Unforgiving
Resident Evil 2 game is a horror game pur sang, meaning you’ll never have a moment to catch your breath. Yes, navigating through the madness is easier but surviving isn’t. The game is extremely scarce on ammo and health, meaning that every encounter with a zombie can result in your death. The zombies and other monsters are truly deadly and won’t go down easily. Shooting them in the head won’t stop them for good so you’ll need a couple of bullets for each and every monster that’s coming your way. Being thoughtful on where and when you’d best use your bullets is key to survive this insanity. As if this wasn’t hard enough already, our main characters aren’t that strong and a couple of attacks will easily take them out for good. The healing Green Herbs form the solution to this problem but then again, you’ll have to find them before it’s too late.
The game forces you to always be careful and to always approach the enemies with caution. This results in an unsettling feeling that will never let you go while playing. You’re always on the lookout for new danger and you’re never sure nothing will happen when you open that one specific door. To make this even worse, the game introduces Mr. X, a giant who’s constantly following you through the game (similar to the movie ‘It Follows’). Constantly having to worry where he’ll appear next while you’re hearing his footsteps in the distance only makes you want to turn on all the lights even more.
A lot to offer
When it comes to gameplay, Resident Evil certainly got you covered, with some extra levels of difficulties and great unlockables for both Leon and Claire, you’ll be motivated to keep on going. If you clear the game, you’ll unlock new modes and characters to make it even harder or to go for the best clearing time possible. It’s truly a game that keeps challenging you and although I’m not the kind of person who often replays his games, I certainly see myself clearing this one multiple times. It’s the perfect game for those who are looking for a challenge with enough freedom to keep pushing your boundaries.
There’s only one major downside about replaying and that’s the lack of consequences. Back in the days, the original Resident Evil 2 innovated a lot. One of its biggest innovations were the consequences of one playthrough. For example, if you forget to take down the alligator as Leon while playing through the game, this fierce beast will attack you when you’re playing as Claire the second time around. This was called zapping but got removed from the remake, a shame really. I was already fantasizing about the possibilities of a system like this with modern technology of current gen games. Although it’s something I truly missed, it’s the only main issue I have with this REmake.
Conclusion:
Resident Evil 2 is the perfect example of a remake done right. It keeps everything that made the original game this good and elevates it to new heights. The atmosphere and unsettling atmosphere result in a journey that you’ll never forget once you completed it. It’s not the longest game out there but there are plenty of reasons to give it a second or even third run. If you’re a fan of horror, this is an essential game without any doubt.
