To say that the remake of Resident Evil 2 has some big shoes to fill is probably a pretty big understatement. The original Resi 2 is generally regarded as the strongest of the original ‘tank control’ series of games, is seen as something of a benchmark in the survival horror genre, and routinely finds itself in ‘greatest games of all time’ lists. The remake of the first Resi game (2002’s REmake) breathed fresh life into a genre that many thought was deader than the zombies that frequent the series. It showed the world exactly how a remake could and should be done and, seventeen years later, it is often still talked about as the pinnacle of horror videogames. With all this in mind, could the new Resi 2 live up to those incredibly lofty expectations? Or will it be more rotten than the Spencer Mansion’s meat locker? Let’s have a little look and see.
After a near three and a half year wait (the game was initially announced by Capcom in August 2015), Resident Evil 2 impresses almost immediately with its presentation and attention to detail. You just know that any game that is this meticulous when it comes to screen and brightness configuration has had some serious care and love put into it.
Just like the original, players can choose between Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield and, also like the original, the two stories are similar but branch off in different directions at points. The beautifully rendered opening cutscene sets the tone and will be immediately familiar to anyone who’s played the original, but is different enough to feel fresh. Right from the get-go there is an air of authenticity and it’s clear Capcom are trying to find that happy medium between satisfying Resident Evil fanboys and creating a new experience with broader appeal. Once the cutscene ends, there is an extremely smooth transition to the over-the-shoulder camera and we’re on with the gameplay!
The first thing you’ll notice is the graphics and sound design which are both absolutely stunning. Incredibly detailed backgrounds, rich textures, great character models and silky smooth framerate are complimented by the immersive sound effects and foreboding ambient soundtrack. As there are no fixed camera angles like the original, it wouldn’t have made sense to use a fixed sound source, so Capcom have gone all out with the surround sound. Creaks, footsteps, terrifying groans and bloodcurdling screams come at you from all angles and increase the tension immeasurably. Good sound design can go a long way, particularly in a horror game, and Resident Evil 2 is testament to that.
When it comes to gameplay, the immediately obvious comparison to make is with Resident Evil 4. The over-the-shoulder perspective is more reminiscent of Capcom’s 2005 classic than anything else, but that only tells part of the story. RE2 blends the modern game engine of RE7 with the viewpoint and shooting freedom of RE4 and the puzzle-based exploratory gameplay style of the original RE1 to create what we at Starburst believe to be the ultimate hybrid survival horror experience. It seems Capcom have learned from all the other entries in the series and made what could only be described as the best of both worlds.
Although the story does follow a similar path to the original, there are enough deviations, twists and turns to make it feel like a new experience – far more than just a fresh coat of paint. Add to that the fact that there are two entire campaigns to play through, a New Game+ mode, alternative endings and a whole plethora of secrets to discover, there’s also a lot of value here. It might only be January, but we could be looking at a game of the year contender already. Go buy it now.
RESIDENT EVIL 2 / DEVELOPER: CAPCOM / PUBLISHER: CAPCOM / PLATFORM: PC, PS4, XBOX ONE (REVIEWED) / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
