After years of waiting, the anticipated game has finally arrived. Resident Evil 2 Remake left franchise fans uncertain for several reasons. Some thought it had even been canceled; others believed classic horror would never return after designer Shinji Mikami's departure. In the end, we were wrong, and the final result is incredible. This January, players have already received a quality title with the potential to compete for the best game of 2019. As a franchise fan, it is still too early for me to say whether this is the best game in the series, but I can guarantee one thing: in my eyes, it easily ranks among the top three.
Below are comparative images of the classic and modern versions of Resident Evil 2.
Resident Evil 2 (Remake) is a survival-horror action game developed and published by Capcom, inspired by its original 1998 version. It was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on January 25, 2019.
Below is the Resident Evil 2 trailer shown at E3 2018 (note: remember to turn on subtitles).
Note: I recommend reading the previous reviews of Resident Evil Remake HD and Resident Evil Zero before this one for a better understanding of the story and the differences between the games.
Trivia: Just before the 1998 release of Resident Evil 2, fans had the pleasure of watching a game commercial directed by the biggest name among 20th-century zombie-movie directors, George Romero. Now, in 2019, amid this wave of nostalgia, we have once again received a live-action trailer encouraging us to buy the title. Below are the trailers from 1998 and 2019, respectively.
Behind the Scenes
Believe it or not, planning for the remake of Resident Evil 2 began soon after the remake of the original Resident Evil was released for GameCube in 2002. The project is said to have been canceled at the time because of the difficult development of Resident Evil 4 and the departure of franchise creator Shinji Mikami from Capcom. According to reports, original Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya continually pressed the company to bring an updated version of the survival-horror classic back to the market.
Then, when nobody expected it, the remake was publicly announced as being in production in August 2015, after which mystery and silence surrounded the title once more. That lasted until E3 2018, the high point of the show in my opinion, when a deeply nostalgic trailer drew gasps from the audience. Leon and Claire would soon return to the classic zombie-infested police station.
This image kept fans excited for a long time. The shirt says: We are doing it.
According to game producer Tsuyoshi Kanda, creating a truly frightening game is harder today because zombies have overrun games, comics, movies, and television series. The fixed camera, now considered outdated, also contributed to mystery and scares, while high definition makes us fully aware of everything surrounding us during gameplay. Even so, the original developers worked to deliver a claustrophobic atmosphere that evoked the same tension as the original game. I think they succeeded. Do you?
The strongest push to make the remake apparently came when news leaked in 2014 that the Italian studio Invader Games was creating a Resident Evil 2 fan game.
Trivia: I do not know whether any of you noticed this detail, but did anyone realize that Raccoon City's classic police station did not have a single restroom? In this remake, that curious detail was corrected and these indispensable facilities were added to the environments.
Introduction to the Story
Next, we will cover some facts that led to the catastrophic events in Raccoon City so readers and players can better understand the circumstances surrounding the game. There are spoilers, but nothing significant enough to disrupt the experience of anyone who has not yet finished it.
After the events of Resident Evil Zero and 1, the surviving members of S.T.A.R.S. try to expose Umbrella and make its human experiments public. Unfortunately, their story sounds so fictional that most listeners cannot believe monsters and zombies existed nearby. Worse still, there is no evidence because the facilities exploded. Raccoon City police chief Brian Irons decides to shelve their statements, even ignoring the deaths of several S.T.A.R.S. members.
Old environments have been given a new look.
Outraged by how events unfold, Chris Redfield becomes highly aggressive and is suspended. Chris takes advantage of the situation and travels to Europe to investigate Umbrella's laboratories on the continent, while publicly claiming to be going on vacation to avoid suspicion. Meanwhile, Jill Valentine searches for clues in Raccoon City, and rumors of new cannibal attacks begin emerging around the city center.
On September 10, 1998, the first transformations appear at Raccoon City Hospital. In desperation, Umbrella deploys USS and UBCS agents on the mission known as Operation Raccoon City. Their priorities include rescuing Umbrella executives, helping civilians, and containing the mutants already emerging in the streets. Meanwhile, the USS Alpha Team led by Hunk has a different mission: enter the laboratory beneath the Raccoon City Police Department and retrieve the G-virus in William Birkin's possession. During the operation, after several important events, the T-virus in the laboratory contaminates the city's water distribution system, causing an almost instantaneous epidemic.
The game uses plenty of blood and body parts to establish its atmosphere.
On the night of September 29, 1998, rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy arrives in Raccoon City for his first day of work, while Claire Redfield travels there in search of her brother. As they approach the city, they find themselves amid apocalyptic chaos and decide to meet at the police department. This is where the campaign of Resident Evil 2 begins.
- R.P.D. (Raccoon Police Department): The famous police station where much of Resident Evil 2 takes place. Its basic floor plan was preserved in this remake, but there are many new things to discover. You will certainly find yourself studying the details and thinking, "that was not there," among other reactions. The station was once a museum, which explains the many works of art still present in its corridors and the puzzles.
Did you also miss the 'cozy' police station?
- G-virus: After years of terrible experiments on test subject Lisa Trevor, Dr. William Birkin develops a more stable form of the G-virus in 1998. The main symptoms in someone infected by this parasite are increased muscle mass, regenerative ability, accelerated cell division, resurrection of dead cells, destruction of brain tissue, and the formation of a large eye on a particular part of the body, the virus's most distinctive feature.
Trivia: The developers of Resident Evil clearly like the British band Queen. Several references to its songs can be seen during the games' campaigns. Claire's jackets in Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica display the titles "Made in Heaven" and "Let Me Live," while Billy in Resident Evil Zero has a tattoo reading 'Mother Love'.
Technical Analysis
First, we must mention what draws the most attention: the drastic camera change from the fixed viewpoint of the classic version to an over-the-shoulder perspective. Many people complained when the change was revealed, not only because a large portion of fans learned to love the franchise through its classic style, but also because we all know how wonderful the remake of the first game was. The issue truly comes down to player preference. I personally liked Capcom's decision very much, as it strikes a perfect balance among the best elements from every generation of the franchise. Perhaps the developers could still produce DLC with a fixed camera for a new campaign, pleasing everyone.
In the campaign, we can choose between Leon and Claire, who have significant gameplay differences. Finishing with the first unlocks the option to play the second act with the other character. Unfortunately, one feature that distinguished 1998's Resident Evil 2 is absent here: the influence that certain actions in the first act could have on the second. This slightly reduces the title's strategy and replay value, but does nothing to diminish this great game.
The visceral dismemberment increased the tension during gameplay.
Graphically, the game is not among the most beautiful of the current console generation. The RE Engine used in Resident Evil VII appears to have been refined here, however, producing detailed environments and well-animated characters. What stands out most is the darkness throughout most of the gameplay. Seriously, it makes you want to search for a light switch so you can see what is only a few meters away.
In the fifth and sixth generations, this technique was used to hide texture and environmental rendering problems. Here, its main purpose is to heighten the horror and conceal enemies from our sight, often allowing them to surprise us when they are already at our necks. When the producers needed a feature that could preserve the horror created by fixed cameras, darkness was certainly their main tool.
It rivals Resident Evil 1 as one of the best remakes ever made.
The soundtrack is practically nonexistent. The game uses silence to heighten tension and support the disturbing atmosphere maintained throughout the campaign; only a few tracks appear at key moments, such as when certain enemies arrive. This may displease longtime fans. Those who bought the deluxe version, however, can use the classic 1998 soundtrack. The sound effects, on the other hand, deserve nothing but praise: creaking wood, frightening sounds from enemies, and the sense that they are about to catch us are incredible. That alone may make more fearful players drop the controller.
The difficulty is in line with the classic franchise. If you reason well enough to identify the next step, you will probably succeed without major frustration. A few observations are worth making, however. I cannot say whether the enemies are stronger or the weapons weaker, but fleeing becomes a constant tactic. Zombies require several pistol shots before they finally die; weapons that once gave us great confidence, such as the shotgun, often fail to defeat even the weakest enemies here. If you are thinking of sweeping zombie-filled corridors as you did with the shotgun in the 1990s, forget it.
Marvin was given much greater prominence in this remake, to excellent effect.
The main question anyone should ask is: Is the game scary? The answer is yes, very. From the beginning, we have little ammunition and are surrounded by enemies. The monsters' sounds send chills down our spines, not to mention the moment Mr. X begins pursuing us relentlessly; merely hearing his footsteps makes us look around, wondering where he is coming from.
The zombies' ability to open doors and move constantly through the environments keeps us perpetually alert, since an enemy may soon appear in a place that was safe moments earlier. Speaking of that, the beloved safe rooms from the older games are almost nonexistent, places where we knew nothing could harm us. Here, we often need to press pause just to catch our breath.
Still on this subject, the dark environments, strategically placed enemies, and deliberate scares certainly complete the recipe for one of the most frightening games in the entire franchise.
The campaign length is around 10 hours for each of the two playable characters, assuming the player dies a few times, gets lost for a while, becomes stuck on puzzles, and reads the files carefully. The game also brings back the classic Hunk and Tofu bonus modes, contributing to its replay value.
A curious detail in the classic Resident Evil 2 was the ability to slice a zombie in half with a point-blank shotgun blast. This has been greatly refined here, with genuine mutilation and dismemberment depending on the area struck during combat. As we can see, the game is extremely violent, with blood and death throughout its environments.
The fondly remembered police station has been remodeled for the remake. Its floor plan resembles the original, and we spend the campaign marveling as we search for similarities to the old version. Everything appeals strongly to our nostalgia. The same is true of the good old puzzles. They occupy similar places and resemble the originals in form, yet remain new. It all contributes to veteran players' delight in this excellent game.
I lived to see Leon made a fool of in high definition.
One gameplay addition came directly from the zombie mode in Call of Duty. We can build barriers that delay enemies from entering the rooms we occupy, adding a useful strategic element to the franchise's style. Other details include crafting ammunition from gunpowder, carried over from Resident Evil 3, and defensive counterattack weapons originating in Resident Evil 1 Remake. One particular highlight among the new weapons is the hand grenade: the programmers intended to include it in the classic game but later abandoned the idea. Twenty-one years later, here it is.
The controls balance what we saw in classic Resident Evil and Resident Evil 4. The camera, combat, and fluid gameplay come from the fourth entry and its successors, while the inventory, "magic" item box, and puzzles evoke the older games. The combination is excellent, bringing together the best of those two phases of the franchise. We hope Capcom recognizes this as well and makes more titles with these characteristics. I have only one complaint: the characters could have had a dodge button, especially because we need to escape enemy attacks constantly. Perhaps in the franchise's next game.
Supporting characters from the original game, such as gun-shop owner Robert Kendo and good police officer Marvin Branagh, received greater attention in this remake, deepening the story and narrative of Resident Evil 2.
Defensive and counterattack weapons return from Resident Evil Remake. Just remember that knives remain lodged in enemies, who must be killed before the weapons can be recovered.
Trivia: Ada Wong, who debuted in the classic Resident Evil 2, was inspired by actress Anne Parillaud in her starring role in the 1990 action film Nikita. The photos below show that Capcom makes no effort to hide it.
Bestiary
Curiously, some enemies were removed from this remake of Resident Evil 2. Even so, the game has many adversaries, and they cause plenty of headaches. I chose five enemies for this bestiary: four commonly encountered during the campaign and one boss. As usual, I will not list them all to avoid larger spoilers.
Zombie: The franchise's signature enemy. Some are slow, while others are slightly faster. In this game, they roam freely through the environments and are tougher than ever, making headshots almost mandatory to conserve ammunition. Their staggering gait makes us miss shots easily, and they often travel in groups. They frequently deceive us by falling after a shot to the head, only to rise again later. They are humans who came into direct contact with the T-virus, mainly through the bite of an infected person.
Zombie
Cerberus: Doberman dogs from the police station that were somehow infected with the T-virus. They are not very resilient and fall after only a few shots. Unlike humans, however, they do not lose their mobility. Their agility makes them extremely difficult to hit in Resident Evil 2 Remake, so avoiding them is often the best option.
Cerberus.
Licker: Called "butchers" in the Brazilian translation, probably because a literal version of Lickers would not sound good, these are zombies that underwent another mutation after renewed contact with the T-virus and evolved into this form. The transformation is believed to be stimulated when a zombie also goes too long without feeding, forcing the parasite to turn its host into a better hunter. Physically, they resemble humans who have been skinned alive.
They can walk on walls and ceilings, are agile, and possess an enormous tongue capable of tearing flesh easily. Their defining trait is blindness, since the brain grows disproportionately, bursting through the skull and destroying the eyes. As a result, their hearing and sense of smell are highly developed and acute. Braver players can sometimes slip past these enemies unnoticed.
Licker.
G-Mutant: Once the G-virus stabilizes in its primary host, it attempts to reproduce its embryo. Because genetic compatibility is extremely rare, the infected body generally rejects the parasite. This expelled living organism, incompatible with the G-virus, becomes the G-Mutant, a very strong, slow creature capable of poisoning those it strikes. The image below shows the large eye that symbolizes a carrier of the G-virus.
G-Mutant
Mr. X (Tyrant T-103): Its origins lie in what remained of the T-002 model destroyed by S.T.A.R.S. during the events of Resident Evil 1. The Tyrant is the ultimate goal of Umbrella's researchers, who finally achieved their objective here. It is an almost invincible and domesticated being deployed in Raccoon City to obtain the final G-virus samples and kill every witness in its path.
According to reports, his overcoat not only helps conceal his presence but also limits his strength. He is relentless in this game, persistently pursuing us almost everywhere we go. Weapons can only slow him down, and the best option is usually to lose him. Hearing his footsteps upstairs or in the room next door is terrifying and wonderful at the same time. He often appears amid the chaos: being surrounded by zombies and Lickers is not enough; he has to show up too.
This, then, is the enemy beneath the hat who became a protagonist of this remake.
Mr X.
Trivia: Mr. X is not actually the official name of this major Resident Evil enemy. The nickname by which everyone knows him originated in a 1999 novelization of Resident Evil 2 by S. D. Perry titled "City of Dead." Another reference comes from a character in the series The X-Files, also called Mr. X.
The boss battles are very good.
Trivia: One detail astonished everyone 48 hours after the Resident Evil 2 Remake demo was released. A fan posted a modification online that gave the demo the classic fixed camera. Everyone then realized that officially developing something like this for consumers would not require a tremendous sacrifice from Capcom. The video appears below.
Played on Xbox One.
