Resident Evil 3 Remake retains everything we loved about Resident Evil 2 and improves on some of the niggles

Released in January 2019, the Resident Evil 2 remake was everything a remake should be. It improved the visuals, made the gameplay engaging and was a treat for fans and newcomers alike. It also cemented the franchise as the king of the horror genre, a title it lost to games like Dead Space for some time. 15 months after the release of Resident Evil 2, we have with us the Resident Evil 3 Remake. It runs on the same RE engine as Resident Evil 2 and has largely the same gameplay mechanics. Is it a worthy sequel or more of the same?

Story

Here’s the thing. I never played the original Resident Evil games on the PS1 (please don't judge me). I did, however, get my hands on the Resident Evil Origins Collection and wasn't impressed, especially considering the bar games like Dead Space set for me. The turning point came when I got my hands on Resident Evil VII and it kept me up for many nights after I finished the game. Resident Evil 3 Remake does that as well. You don't have to play the previous game to know the story, as the gaps are kinda filled in the journey, although it does help if you’ve played the RE2 Remake. The timeline of the events in Resident Evil 3 Remake happens around the same time as the events of Resident Evil 2, but you won't know that unless you've played the game. You don the role of Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira and the story plays out from these two perspectives. Jill is a Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) operative while Carlos is a mercenary hired by the Umbrella Corporation. The Umbrella Corporation is the organization behind the virus outbreak that's turning humans into zombies. It is up to you to find the doctor who can create the antidote and at the risk of spoiling anything, we are going to stop there with the events of the story. 

The story of Resident Evil 3 remake is one that is very well told and when the perspective is divided, it helps answer a lot of questions. In RE2 Remake, you could play the game a second time to get a different perspective and I'm happy in RE3 it happens simultaneously and not one after the other. 

Gameplay

Resident Evil 3 Remake is a third-person game with the gunplay feeling very similar to RE2. So let's break down the differences. The knife you have in the game doesn't break like RE2, so you always have that to rely on. You can use the right shoulder button on the controller to dodge and a well-timed dodge results in the protagonist rolling to safety – a much-needed addition to the gameplay. The rest of it is pretty much the same as RE2. The camera looks over the protagonist's shoulder, you explore areas, have access to a map and need to hunt for supplies with the occasional puzzle thrown into the mix. The puzzles can be as simple as finding the key to this door to a little more complicated as finding the battery and detonator to a bomb. 

At times, the gameplay becomes dense with zombies overwhelming you and you need to rely on more than a trigger finger to get out of the mess. Not to mention the Nemesis that keeps chasing you at every given opportunity and you have to find clever ways of taking him down. Inventory management is important this time as well and you need to combine elements to make healing items and ammo. 

Overall, the gameplay fundamentals are the same as the RE2 remake with much-needed tweaks and niggles. The game has a multiplayer component as well, but we haven't gotten around to trying that just yet. 

Graphics

Boy-o-boy does the game look gorgeous. Playing it on an LG B9 OLED TV the HDR in the game shines and stands out! The visuals of the games are detailed making you wonder why we need to move to next-gen. Then I got to see some low-resolution textures here and there and low details on shadows and I wonder what the game will look like on next-gen. However, these are mere niggles in an otherwise gorgeous game. From the immensely detailed Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira, whom you control, to the zombies that move so fluidly, they send a chill down my spine. There are some traditional jump scares thrown into the mix and because the game does such a good job of spooking you, I enjoyed every minute of it. When the Nemesis drops into the game to hound you, there is a tense environment that is established and the visual design of the levels immerse you in the heat of the moment. 

Fire and rain are two elements that deserve special mention as they are extremely well rendered in the game. Overall, if you have a TV that can exploit the enhanced consoles, then this game is visually stunning. 

Sound

From the creepy sounds of the zombies to the road, or the roar of Nemesis and even the high octane music that kicks off when you get into a battle with the Nemesis and even the somber moments of solving a puzzle, the sound design of the game is excellent. Some of the voice acting of characters, who I don't want to mention at the risk of spoiling the game, is something I didn't appreciate. They sound too over the top and in some cases overacted, making me laugh more than draw me in. There are some supporting characters though whose voice acting is spot on. 

The sounds of the guns you have, from the rapid-fire echoing from an assault rifle to the thump of a shotgun are what we loved from the RE2 remake and are held true here. 

Bottom line

If you love the Resident Evil franchise, you won't be disappointed by this game. If you love horror games, there is enough here to scare you and keep you on your toes. The puzzles in the game are smart, forcing you to think your way out, the combat is exhilarating and the story has enough twists to keep you engaged. Some of the voice acting feels overdone but that's something we can overlook. A lot may say that the gameplay is too similar to what we saw with the RE2 remake and they wouldn't be wrong. But what is here, along with the subtle changes, is enough to keep you hooked throughout the journey.

Skoar: 9

Moar:

Tested on: PS4 Pro
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, and PC 
Price: Rs 3,499

We played a review copy of Resident Evil 3

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Sameer Mitha

Sameer Mitha lives for gaming and technology is his muse. When he isn’t busy playing with gadgets or video games he delves into the world of fantasy novels. View Full Profile