What Gamers Can Expect From The Resident Evil 2 Remake
The Resident Evil 2 remake is the latest entry to Capcom’s famous survival horror franchise, but is it worth a buy? After checking in with demos and playing for a few hours, here’s our take on this game!
In this article:
- Camera Angles
- Lighting
- Shooting
- Reloading
- Defense Items
- Enemy AI
- Scarcity
- Healing Items
- Voice Acting
- New Layout
- Updated Graphics
- Reviews
Resident Evil 2 Remake: Comparing the 2019 and 1998 Versions
What is Resident Evil 2? The second game in the Resident Evil game series by Capcom, it was first released in 1998 for the PlayStation. It centers around cop Leon S. Kennedy and student Claire Redfield as they navigate the fictitious Raccoon City during a zombie apocalypse, and has been remade this year and released on January 25, 2019.
Camera Angles
The remake features moveable over-the-shoulder camera angles, while the original uses third-person fixed camera angles that can’t be adjusted. This is an improvement from the old third-person fixed angles, which left players with multiple blind spots.
The camera change was advantageous because it mostly follows you around so you don’t really have to adjust it to get a better view. While it’s natural to miss the third-person camera which lets you see what’s behind you, it could really take you by surprise sometimes.
One of the major benefits of the new camera angles is easier shooting. It’s a lot easier to aim for enemies weak spots, which can make the game easier.
Tip: Listen to the sounds to get a warning of what’s ahead, like the dreaded footsteps of the approaching Mr. X.
Lighting
The original game was very well-lit, even in supposedly dark areas, which prevented players from truly being immersed in the game. The remake, on the other hand, is darker, decreasing the player’s visibility and adding to the horror.
The new lighting really adds to the horror of the game. The flashlight helps, but it can still leave you vulnerable to ambushes if you’re not careful.
Shooting
With the over-the-shoulder camera, shooting an enemy’s weak spot is easier. Aim for those to conserve ammo.
Going for headshots is important, but sadly one headshot isn’t enough to take out a zombie. Headshots stun the zombies and help conserve ammo, which comes at a premium in this game.
The new game’s shooting is easier because of the over-the-shoulder camera angles, but the character’s hands may sway a bit, blocking your view. Moving while shooting also decreases your accuracy, so be sure to stand still while firing to avoid wasting ammo.
Reloading
The original version allows for instantaneous reloading, but in the remake, you have to reload in real time. Thus, it’s a great idea to get some distance from enemies before you reload.
The reloading in this game is realistic and changes based on the gun used. An example: the use of a revolver requires individually putting every single bullet, which can leave you vulnerable to attack.
Tip: Be aware of what gun you’re using and its ammo capacity. Also, put some distance between you and the enemy to prevent mishaps.
Defense Items
The original game didn’t have items that can prevent you from taking damage or dying. However, these changes in the remake.
The remake gives the players grenades and knives to help prevent damage and break free from instant death attacks. You’ll want these because instant death attacks are aplenty in this game.
These items prevent your character from taking damage or dying from enemy grabs. which could injure or otherwise kill players. Grenades can be used manually and thrown at groups of enemies to save ammo.
Knives can be used to unlock certain areas. A knife can also be used as a melee weapon to save ammo.
You’ll have to do a risk analysis of how best to use these items to survive.
Enemy AI
Enemies have been vastly improved — the zombies move erratically and can be difficult to shoot. They may also break through doors, which, when combined with the darkness, can take you by surprise.
There are fewer zombies overall, but they are more vicious than the ones found in the original.
- Lickers, which are blind, are designed more realistically so they won’t attack you if you move slowly and keep quiet. Be on your toes because they usually come in packs and can ambush you.
- Zombie dogs can use hit and run tactics and may come in groups. Try taking them out when there is an obstacle between you to prevent taking damage.
- Mr. X pursues you relentlessly from room-to-room, similar to Nemesis from Resident Evil 3. He even moves faster and just won’t go down.
- William is worse in this version as he can destroy steam pipes to obscure visibility and jump on top of an unsuspecting player. He also has an instant death attack that requires a knife or grenade to get out of, so save those items as much as possible.
Tips:
- The sound of heavy footsteps signal Mr. X’s presence, so when you hear them, run. Shooting or making noise can lure him to you so be careful. Shoot him in the head to stun him and run away.
- William has very powerful attacks and grabs, so save your defensive items for him. His attacks also cover a big range, so be ready to run. Shoot him in the eyeballs to stun him.
Related: Video Game Release Dates To Look Forward To In 2019
Scarcity
The game provides fewer items compared to the original, which means resource management is key. The game seems to provide fewer resources overall while increasing enemy durability.
- A single zombie can take up to four headshots just to kill, so it may be wiser to just run.
- You can find yourself using a handgun against a boss because you ran out of grenade rounds.
Tips:
- Remember to conserve as much ammo and resources as possible.
- Wooden boards can be used to cover windows, so be sure to pick them up and use them to prevent more enemies from coming at you.
- Expansion bags also make a return, so try to find as many as you can to increase your inventory size.
Healing Items
Healing items in this game also see a revamp, featuring more healing herb combinations than previous games.
Tip: Check a guide to learn all possible combinations and what they do for better resource management.
Voice Acting
The voice acting aspect of the game sees a major improvement compared to the original. It sounds amazing and made the characters feel like real people.
They were able to realistically convey emotions, thanks to the tone of their voice and the corresponding facial expressions. The lines were also better constructed to remove the awkwardness from the original and help player immersion.
New Layout
Even if you’ve played the original game, it won’t give you an advantage in the remake. The key items are scattered in new places, and the puzzles have been changed.
The layout is new, but some areas still look familiar, which is a treat to old fans. Items and puzzles are revamped for a new challenge in this version.
Updated Graphics
The game looks way better than the original. The blood and gore are ramped up — enemies show damage when shot and look worse as they take more damage, and even the player’s character might show bite marks when injured.
Character models also see a redesign from the bottom up. Real people were used as models for the major characters to create realistic appearances and facial expressions.
The graphics of the game have been vastly improved from the original. The blood and gore look real and make the enemies look more disgusting and unnerving. Enemy designs look realistic and have a movie feel to them.
The environment also looks great because they added small details such as grime and dirt in the environment for realism.
Reviews
This is our take on the Resident Evil 2 remake, but if you’re also wondering what other gamers think about it, here are some user reviews from Amazon:
The game was everything we expected and wanted from a Resident Evil 2 remake, and it’s no wonder why the series still continues to be one of the hottest PlayStation games. The graphics are better, the gameplay streamlined to fit today’s demands, and there are new features taken from previous games that make the game better.
Watch the Resident Evil 2 trailer in this video from Resident Evil:
Granted there are some story adjustments from the original, but none of them destroy the overarching narrative previous games have built. All in all, we really liked this Resident Evil game, and give it a 9/10.
What did you think of the new Resident Evil 2 remake? Tell us in the comments section below!
