Within gaming, zombie horror is ubiquitous, and the idea has become cliché to many. Despite the genre’s over-saturation, TheResident Evilseries has managed to stand out and survive for decades thanks to its ability to build up genuine suspense and a terrifying atmosphere while making players feel genuine dread by limiting their ammunition and resources. In recent years, Capcom has undertaken the project of re-releasing some of its classicResident Evilgames, leading to the critically acclaimed remakes ofResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3. To top it off, Capcom also extended the series withResident Evil 7, which switched up the traditional formula by making use of a first-person perspective that put players up and close with the horror.
This week, Capcom has released Xbox and PlayStation console upgrades for all three games, allowing them to take advantage of the features offered by the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S. While the upgrade will give gamers plenty of reasons to jump back into these great games,Resident Evil 3is perhaps the game that will benefit the most. Of the three games, it has the most explosions, which will allow it to take advantage of features such as haptic feedback. Furthermore, it received the coldest reception of the three titles upon release, and the upgrade might convince a few more players that it is worth playing.
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Resident Evil 3 Brings the Explosions
WhenResident Evillaunched in 1996, it caught the attention of gamers thanks to its ability to slowly build up tension using claustrophobia and limited resources to keep players on their toes.Resident Evil 2took this formula and enhanced it by allowing players to get lost in the halls of the Raccoon City Police Department where sharpshooting and smart puzzle solving is the only thing that can save players from the onslaught of zombies. Shortly afterResident Evil 2,Resident Evil 3: Nemesiswas released, which tracks the last moments ofRaccoon Citythrough the eyes of Jill Valentine, who is pursued by a walking bioweapon called Nemesis. The game, like its predecessors, excels at scaring players through slow-building terror, but it is notable for providing far more explosions and intense action sequences throughout its short runtime.
Resident Evil 3 Remake, released in 2020 keeps a similar action-packed tone, encouraging players to engage in combat instead of running and hiding. Unlike the prior remakes,Resident Evil 3has a dodge mechanic, allowing Jill to get up and close to zombies to stab them before quickly dodging any retaliatory attacks. The biggest difference, however, can be seen with the main enemy. InResident Evil 2, players are stalked byMr. Xwho marches towards players as they navigate the labyrinth that is Raccoon City Police Department. He carries no weapons and instead uses his hands to enact his terror. In contrast,Resident Evil 3features Nemesis, a monster who carries cannons that cause explosions.
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Although encounters with Nemesis are scripted, they are always action-packed events filled with fire, explosions, and loud bangs. With the upgrades, players will be immersed deeper in the action thanks to haptic feedback that allows players to feel every blast in their hands and 3D audio that makes every boom sound even more realistic.Resident Evil 3also gives players plenty of opportunities to test out adaptive triggers thanks to the game’s expansive arsenal of weapons, which include basic guns like handguns and shotguns as well hell-bringers like rocket launchers, assault rifles, and the mightyRAI-DEN gun, which can take down most enemies with one shot.
Resident Evil 3 Could Use a Little Attention
For the most part,Resident Evil 2 Remake,Resident Evil 3 Remake, andResident Evil 7were well-received, and they are considered some of the best horror games of the last decade. However,Resident Evil 3’s reception was a little less warm, and there are a few reasons for this. For some, the remake does not stay faithful enough to the original game. There have been several changes made, including numerous enemies that are omitted such as the giant spiders, and several locations have also been cut, including the Clocktower, the Graveyard, and City Hall, to name a few. Some minor changes have also been made to the story, allowing players to spend more time as Carlos.
Others complained that the game is far too short and that it does not give players reasons to play the game again after finishing it the first time.Resident Evil 2 Remakeavoids this problem by featuring an A and B storyline where players play as eitherClaire Redfieldor Leon Kennedy, whileResident Evil 3 Remakefeatures a single storyline with scripted sequences that are easy for players to memorize.
Despite the criticisms,Resident Evil 3 Remakeis still a fantastic game that continuesResident Evil’s classic horror formulawhile allowing players to explore the streets of Raccoon City. The upgrade, which includes high frame-rate support and impressive visual upgrades such as ray-tracing and 4K resolution, gives gamers a reason to jump into a game they may have otherwise overlooked. For gamers who have yet to playResident Evil 3, this is the best way to experience it, and for those who have played it before, the upgrade is reason enough to experience the horror again.
Fortunately, the upgrades are free for all players who already own the games, soResident Evilfans can dive into them straight away. First impressions have been mostly good, although some gamers claim theResident Evilupgradeshave made the gaming experience worse. Nevertheless, for gamers who may have givenResident Evil 3 Remakea miss the first time around, the upgrade presents the at its most immersive, taking advantage of next-gen features to ensure that the action sequences keep players on the edge of their seats.
Resident Evil 3 Remakeis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
