Resident Evil 3 Remake is here and it starts off with probably one of the best introductions to any video game. Capcom showed off their amazing skills when they delivered Resident Evil 2 Remake last year and this year, they have done it again. Resident Evil 3 Remake is probably one of the best games released in 2020.

  • Gameplay Story Graphics Music

  • GraphicsMusicGameplay

  • Story

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 take part in the lore of viruses surrounding Racoon City. There are tons of references to last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake, however, this one is more out in the open which is a direct contrast to 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 want through all her efforts cannot 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 of those only Carlos, Tyrell, and Nikolai are of any importance. These are the characters that drive the narrative and even though there is a good mix of characters sprinkled around, Resident Evil 3 Remake feels a bit lacking at times. There is less of a horror vibe going on there 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 are going to bump into or when the Nemesis will attack, but 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. At times 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 took a massive decision during the development of Resident Evil 3 Remake and decided to not have many puzzles, you still need to solve a few but that’s about it. One thing that truly feels disappointing is the fact when Carlos enters the RCPD 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 to it which helps alter your perspective about the same room quite a bit. This helps Resident Evil 3 Remake create a labyrinth of zombie-infested stages in the hospital, RCPD Headquarters and the sewer.

Story

The story only begins once you get all the characters in one spot, early on in the game from here starts a story of Jill being stalked and chased, 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, it feels like the story doesn’t hold you into it. You probably won’t have nightmares; this is 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 lets 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 there is so much more than this game offers in return.

Music

Every horror-based game has to have a 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 that is comparable to last year’s title. The music is bang on, it is subtle enough to not distract you from the main task at hand and it helps heighten the feelings you are supposed to feel while playing the game.

Sound design is impeccable, every element that you see in the game has a designated sound, every bit of glass you walk on creaks and there is a constant ghoulish theme around Racoon City, no matter what part you are in.

Duration

Sadly though, Resident Evil 3 Remake didn’t last as long as I wanted it to. You can easily get lost in the game and even though I did a couple of times, I was able to finish it in 6 hours. For a AAA title and one with lore that of Resident Evil behind it, it is criminally short. The game ends just as you are getting into the rhythm of the game.

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

Each and everything in Resident Evil 3 Remake looks perfect and out of a painting. Every time you decide to take a look around there are tons of things that can draw your attention. In the sewer scene where Jill is forced to go to, you see her reacting and interacting with almost every element present there actively or passively. From the wetness of her hair to her spoilt clothes, everything small detail has been laboriously perfected.

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 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 really fun short little game that does not last long enough, neither does it haunt you like Resident Evil 2 Remake, but for that it does good. It delivers some of the best that we have seen in the series. Though a few things 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 one of 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 that of what you delivered a year back and this is the only thing that holds the game back.

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 hands down.