Resident Evil 3 Remake is here, and it starts with probably one of the best introductions to any video game. Capcom showed off their unique skills when they delivered Resident Evil 2 Remake last year; this year, they have done it again. Resident Evil 3 Remake is probably one of the best games released in 2020.
Resident Evil 3 Remake Review
Capcom has shown that they are more than capable of bringing back their classic games, remade for the newer generation of audiences to enjoy and participate in the lore of viruses surrounding Racoon City. There are many references to last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake. However, this one is more out in the open, directly contrasting Resident Evil 2 Remake’s claustrophobic gameplay.
Gameplay
The tone of the game is set within the first five minutes; you play as Jill Valentine, a S.T.A.R.S. officer who wants, through all her efforts, not to leave Racoon City to save her life while she is stuck in the city; there is a constant threat of being hunted in this game. The main antagonist in Resident Evil 3 Remake will forever be on your heel, and you have to run, escape, and find your way around this problem.
While direct comparisons can be made with Resident Evil 2 Remake, then Mr. X had a threat to him, and you could always hear him come closer; this time around, there is no such thing. Here, you get jump scares in abundance. At times, Resident Evil 3 Remake feels more like an unstoppable force in the form of the Nemesis, the main protagonist in the game, versus Jill Valentine, the ever-relenting cop hell-bent on uncovering the facts of Umbrella Corp and stopping this menace.
Along the way, you meet a couple of characters, but only Carlos, Tyrell, and Nikolai are of any importance. These characters drive the narrative, and despite a good mix of characters sprinkled around, Resident Evil 3 Remake sometimes feels a bit lacking. There is less of a horror vibe and more of a looter shooter, which can be off-putting.
Setting
Throughout your gameplay as Jill Valentine, there is a sense of anxiety, and you never know whom you will bump into or when the Nemesis will attack. Still, instead of having two characters with separate storylines like last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake, you get a linear storyline with bits and parts of Carlos Oliveira. Carlos’ story gameplay mainly focuses on exploration and does not pose the same amount of threat. Sometimes, it feels like catching your breath and taking a break when you play as Carlos.
Both Jill and Carlos get good weapons early on in the game. This should make things easier, but instead, the zombies act like bullet sponges and absorb a ton of your precious ammunition, which, luckily, you will find around when you need it the most.
Capcom made a massive decision during the development of the Resident Evil 3 Remake and decided not to have many puzzles. It would help if you solved a few, but that’s it. One thing that genuinely feels disappointing is when Carlos enters the R.C.P.D. Headquarters (Just before Leon does), there is only a limited amount of exploration the game forces you to do, while Resident Evil 2 Remake made you go around in circles and gave a creepy vibe to it.
Repetition in Resident Evil 3 Remake is in the form of visiting the same place many times, and each time, you will have a different purpose, which helps alter your perspective about the same room quite a bit. This allows Resident Evil 3 Remake to create a labyrinth of zombie-infested stages in the hospital, R.C.P.D. Headquarters and the sewer.
Story
The story only begins once you get all the characters in one spot; early on in the game, a tale of Jill being stalked and chased starts from here. Resident Evil 3 Remake shows more of Racoon City than the previous entry in the series, but while doing so, it gets a lot of loose ends. Throughout the game, the story doesn’t hold you into it. You probably won’t have nightmares because everything explodes in the story.
There isn’t a moment to let things sink in and get the feel of it; not once does Resident Evil 3 Remake let you see the scale of the destruction being caused to Racoon City. It is only in bits and pieces. While these may be minor inconveniences, this game offers so much more in return.
Music
Every horror-based game has to have killer background music; this helps set the tone of the scene in the game and gives you a hint as to what to expect. Capcom has delivered an aural experience comparable to last year’s title. The music is bang on, subtle enough not to distract you from the primary task at hand, and it helps heighten the feelings you are supposed to feel while playing the game.
Sound design is impeccable; every element you see in the game has a designated sound, every bit of glass you walk on scratchings, and a constant ghoulish theme around Racoon City, no matter what part you are in.
Duration
Sadly, Resident Evil 3 Remake didn’t last as long as I wanted. You can easily get lost in the game, and even though I did it a couple of times, I could finish it in 6 hours. It is criminally short for an A.A.A. title and one with the lore of Resident Evil behind it. The game ends just as you are getting into the game’s rhythm.
The clock tower section from the original Resident Evil 3 has been omitted, and you get to battle the Nemesis just outside of it. Which was a bummer; with such an iconic location at hand, Capcom should have done more.
Graphics
Everything in Resident Evil 3 Remake looks perfect and out of a painting. Every time you decide to look around, there are tons of things that can draw your attention. In the sewer scene where Jill is forced to go, you see her reacting and interacting with almost every element, actively or passively. Everything small detail has been diligently perfected, from the wetness of her hair to her spoilt clothes.
Each gunshot leaves behind a trail of smoke from the barrel, which gives it a more realistic feel, and the lighting in the game is so good it can be compared to that of Control. The contrast of dark and barely lit places gives you the chills even before a zombie attacks you.
Graphically, Resident Evil 3 Remake cannot be criticized. It is perfect, and there is nothing that will prove it otherwise.
Conclusion
Resident Evil 3 Remake is a fun, short little game that does not last long enough, nor does it haunt you like Resident Evil 2 Remake, but for that, it does well. It delivers some of the best that we have seen in the series. Though a few things are lacking here and there, it does not dampen the gameplay experience; it just keeps you wanting more.
Do I think Resident Evil 3 is among the best games released in 2020 until now? Yes, and with conviction. Is it better than Resident Evil 2 Remake? The answer is No. You cannot create a sequel with fewer elements than what you delivered a year back; this is the only thing that holds the game around.
If the campaign could be stretched out with more elements and a bit of story, it could challenge and even possibly surpass Resident Evil 2 Remake.
