Hello! for today's post I'll be sharing a review of one of my favorite games ever that I made a bit ago. It's a little outdated but my general feelings for the game can be still perceived in these words. I am not including a spanish version, and may make a translated one at a later date. Enjoy!
Resident Evil is a franchise that has been going on for 20 years already. As its popularity grew, so did its products and it eventually branched to movies, spin offs, toys and accessories. The game that started everything back in 1996 on the PS1 may have not aged so well, but it is still considered a classic and fun to play from time to time, in one of its multiple variations or re-releases. Today, we'll take a look at the Remake that completely overhauled that old game and gave it a whole new flavor, even for veterans.
Released in 2002 exclusively for the GameCube, Resident Evil Remake started what was an exclusive deal between Nintendo and Capcom, spawning RE0, REmake and RE4 to first appear on the Nintendo console, as well as porting older games to it. The game is a remake of the PS1 original, and according to Capcom, they changed 70% of the contents of the game.
You'll be able to play as either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, members of the Raccoon Police S.T.A.R.S Alpha team, who got caught in an odd situation. Trapped in a mansion in the middle of the woods, crawling with Zombies and other creatures, Jill or Chris will have to uncover the secrets behind the mansion, the T-virus, watch as their comrades die one by one, and try to survive.
This game is known for its great graphics. Even if you play the low-res Gamecube version, instead of the updated version for modern-day High-definition consoles, you'll be in for a visual treat. Be wary of the TV you'll use, however. Steps on the old carpets bring dust particles up, the leaves in the forest outside sway with sound effects, the thunderstorm (that disappears randomly) lits the dim mansion for a few instants and shocks you at the same time, enemies are detailed, blood splashes on the floor can actually be seen, and the pre-rendered backgrounds look solid and real. The entire game will suck you into it with its lifelike graphics, which oddly were able to stand the test of time, something rare among realistic games.
The game's soundtrack, when compared to that of the original game, is less about presence and more about atmosphere. You'll recognize some tracks if you know the original game, but there are a bunch of new, eerie tracks here and there. The audio, however, always seems to fit, and the sound effects are perfectly arranged and can make the difference when you're exploring the tight corridors of the Spencer Mansion. You can hear zombies moan, Hunters as they run towards you, Crimson Heads groaning and the sounds made by the different guns you can yield are all satisfying. I miss the track "Narrow and Close" from the PS1 game, however.
The cringe-worthy voice acting of the original game is gone, and it was replaced by a much better voiceover for every character. Some lines are still odd, but overall it matches the quality of the rest of the game. Something interesting is that, if you play the HD version and use one of the special BSAA costumes for the characters which are in fact completely different models, they will have the same voices, as expected. This, however, doesn't fit too well, at least not in Chris' case.
The game's difficulty was increased from that of the original as well. Brand new and redesigned puzzles will confuse even the savviest of players. Trying puzzles from the original game may lead to a trap or something of the sort, so you should think twice about what you'll do with that red jewel. The game features difficulty levels that will suit all kinds of players, from very easy to very hard, as well as different modes to go out of the ordinary and play with invisible enemies or in a "True Survival mode" where item chests are not connected. These additions may be seen as too hard for casual players, but for RE fans who love challenges, or general gamers who love challenge, they'll feel fresh and interesting to tackle.
All in all, the Resident Evil Remake is a great game to play, and with tons of replay value, you'll keep coming back to be haunted by the Spencer Mansion's ever-changing threats and surprises. This is a game that won't disappoint these who decide to buy it, and it is also a perfect introduction to the world of Resident Evil. A great cast, threatening enemies, wonderful graphics with lots of eye-candy effects, an audio experience like no other and a good level of challenge make one solid package for a game that is 16 years old.
Thank you so much for reading! I would love to hear your opinion on my review as well as the game if you have played it. Until next time!
