Now Playing: Resident Evil 2 Remake

With the Resident Evil and Resident Evil Zero remakes completed, it was time to jump into the more recent remake of Resident Evil 2. I played Resident Evil 2 when it released on the Dreamcast in 2000 but honestly, I’m not even sure if I finished it. I do remember parts of it, but it hasn’t stuck in my mind the same way the original has.

Then again, unlike the original, I haven’t played it in 19 years, so I guess it’s not a surprise I can’t recall it very well. Which means that this review can’t really serve as a comparison of the original versus this modern remake. I just don’t remember the original enough to judge this remake on those terms – what it’s gained, or what it might have lost during the transition.

 

What I can say though is that the Resident Evil 2 remake is a fantastic game, as enjoyable and engaging as the Resident Evil remake – perhaps, dare I say it, even more so. Set a couple of months after the first game, the action picks up in Raccoon City, now infested with zombies and other mutated nasties very eager to bite your face off. 

You can choose to play as Leon Kennedy, a rookie cop, or Claire Redfield, who has come to Raccoon City in search of her brother. Like the original game with Jill and Chris, Leon and Claire’s stories kind-of-but-not-quite run in parallel.

Both characters will progress through largely the same areas, puzzles and enemies, but each has their own unique sequence of story events, and there are some areas / gameplay sections which are only accessible to one character or the other.

 

It’s not exactly a perfect system if you want to believe that both stories are occurring simultaneously, because it doesn’t really work like that. But there is enough story, location and gameplay variation to make playing through with both characters worth your time. And when you complete the ‘A’ playthrough for each character, you’ll then unlock a ‘B’ run which mixes up various items and progression for each character to give you a familiar, but fresh experience.

Visually, the Resident Evil 2 remake is fantastic, with excellent use of lighting and shadows to create a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere. With modern controls and camera angles, Resident Evil 2 is quite a departure from the more ‘traditional’ Resident Evil and Zero remakes. It seems like nearly every area of the original has had a modern overhaul to one degree or another – the way your inventory works, for example, or the lack of ink ribbons to save – at least on difficulties below Hardcore.

 

There’s a nice progression of weapons and enemies as you go, and the infamous Mr. X really cranks up the tension whenever he appears. Your initial entry point in the police station is very reminiscent of the mansion of Resident Evil 1 – with secret passageways and various keys required in order to open new areas. And overall, I’d say Resident Evil 2 does a better job of varying up the environments as you go, although as you might expect, you’re always going to end up in an Umbrella lab beneath the surface.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing through this remake with both Leon and Claire. I don’t know if a Resident Evil 3 remake is in the works, but I hope one is, because that’s another game I played many years ago but can barely recall, and I’d love to complete the set.

If you’re a fan of the Resident Evil series then this is a must buy. And it’s not a bad place to jump in if you’re new to the series, combining the best of classic survival horror with a modern gameplay twist.

8/10