Does It Live Up To Resident Evil 2 Success With The Latest Remake?
Alwyn Phua
Resident Evil 3 Review Round-Up
After the Resident Evil 2 Remake immense success, Capcom once again repeat the same recipe by giving the classic PlayStation 1 sequel, Resident Evil 3 Nemesis the same treatment, with major gameplay mechanic, graphic overhaul & re-imagining characters as well as storyline. With videogame critics got their hands on the game early, let’s see what they have to say about Jill's stint at Raccoon City.
The Sixth Axis
Capcom have done a marvellous job with Resident Evil 3, reviving another of their beloved survival horror classics and making it feel completely fresh once again. Nemesis is back and he’s here to smash your face in.
Resident Evil 3 is loud. It is a snarling dog too close to your face, spittle flying everywhere. For some players, the intensity will be a turn off. The original version is the link between the earlier games’ simmering spookiness and Resident Evil 4’s bold action. It marked the first step in a tonal shift that arguably went too far: As the series progressed, the action grew too excessive. The remake threads a spectacular needle. The explosive boss fights and ever-present cat and mouse chases never feel out of place. Windows shatters as the zombie horde bursts in, giant lizards swallow you whole, and the Nemesis slams down behind you at the worst moment. The terror doesn’t fade simply because you have an assault rifle or grenade launcher. For good and ill, Resident Evil 3 takes last year’s Resident Evil 2 remake and hones it into something meaner. Embracing that chaos leads to an intense and confidently executed Resident Evil experience.
Like Resident Evil 2 before it, Resident Evil 3’s 2020 remake does an amazing job of recapturing the horror and tension of the late ‘90s original while completely modernizing its gameplay. It plays like a 2020 game because it is a 2020 game. The classic world is brought to life in glorious detail, and smart level design makes exploring it a delight and replaying it almost compulsory. If only all remakes could be this good; bring on the next one.
Resident Evil 3 is a play for our imagination as much as our memory. It understands that the fear we felt long ago didn’t fade; it took root in our brains and mutated into myth. And this is what it might look like.
I would absolutely recommend Resident Evil 3 and would not be surprised if a sizable portion of the fandom ends up preferring this remake. After all, it’s hard to top the excitement that comes with jumping back into the shoes of Jill. Regardless of which you may like more, it is so refreshing to see the Resident Evil franchise come back in such a big way. Here’s hoping Capcom can continue the momentum with whatever comes next.
More deftly balancing mobility and power with overwhelming horror, Resident Evil 3 still manages to find elements that cause tension and terror despite giving players more ways to fight back. Nemesis tends to be an annoyance more than a true element of horror, but his orchestrated roadblocks are few enough in number that it doesn’t drag down the overall experience. All said, Resident Evil 3 is a brilliant reimagining of the horror classic, with plenty of surprises in store even for the longtime fans. It’s a great partner piece to last year’s Resident Evil 2, helping to reclaim the origins of the series that were once trapped in static environments and blocky characters, lost to consoles past.
Resident Evil 3 is a great game nipping at the heels at its already great predecessor. The changes it makes to the existing formula are few, but if it isn’t broken then there isn’t really much to fix. Players from the original game should be happy to know that they’ll still be surprised by the way everything plays out, and new fans can look forward to a lot of stress, a little ammo, and a lot of fun.
On its own, the remake of Resident Evil 3 is another hallmark achievement for Capcom. It may not satisfy purists of the original, but there’s no reason that fans of what the RE2 remake accomplished won’t enjoy this. It is hard to compare the two, but RE3 does introduce more action elements much like the original version did and it packages the game up nice for a 6-10 hour campaign. Visually, the game supersedes the remake of RE2 in a few ways while it’s held back in others due to the frame rate issues at a distance. Both Jill and Carlos are well done and Nemesis is as frightening as ever. The emphasis on strategy is a big part of RE3 as the puzzles take a back seat. What wasn’t needed was the tacked on Resistance multiplayer mode, but the grind that it has to offer may entice some people to stay engaged. The technical issues cannot be overlooked, but Capcom states that the main game and Resistance are a complete package, so it’s hard to complain about what amounts to bonus content. The main focus is that Capcom did not miss a step on the remake of Resident Evil 3 as it’s just as astounding in its execution as Resident Evil 2.
Just as the 1999 original was a more action-focused Resident Evil game that arguably helped pivot the franchise towards the iconic fourth instalment, this 2020 reimagining feels like last year’s game in many ways, only sped up and thirstier for zombie blood. It treads the line between tension and action impressively, and Nemesis cements his legacy as one of the series’ most enduring creatures. If you’re stuck inside and looking for somewhere to escape, you’ll find Raccoon City more than accommodating.
Resident Evil 3 is fantastic. Nemesis never becomes frustrating, and that dread in the back of your mind never goes away as you’re always waiting for him to pop up again. It looks amazing, with every location packed with great definition and detail. Whilst it may only take around seven hours to complete (the original was similar), there’s still plenty of reasons to replay. The game is filled with collectibles that open up models and concept art you can check out in the main menu, and the shop lets you purchase weapons, outfits, and more to take with you the next time you play.
