So who's playing this new masterpiece? Who checked out the demo previously? Surprised we weren't talking about it anywhere here that I saw.
I love having two incredible versions of a game... Capcom has done it again setting the bar high for an amazing remake.
While I loved a lot of RE7's ideas, I didn't care for the new direction character/story wise much at all. Who here ever thinks about Ethan? Granted, he was maybe supposed to be an avatar of the player in that hellish swamp with the new perspective. But man I'm so glad to be back to third person RE. And while I liked Revelations 2 a fair bit and I don't even hate RE6... this is finally the RE we've been waiting for for nearly a decade or whatever now. It is everything I could have dreamed of and more, only Zelda tends to make me feel like a kid when I get ultra excited for a big new release, but RE2R had me just as giddy too. I even bought the deluxe edition at Gamestop! That's extremely rare when I can usually just wait on Amazon orders nowadays haha...
So basically this is like the ultimate merger of all the best parts of RE old and new. The classic exploration/light Metroidvania elements are back with the awesome police station and an amazing map system (I don't recall RE7's being this good either). And while the camera is now the RE4+ over the shoulder style, the combat still falls back to the classics I'd say. Because zombies aren't running at you with big melee weapons or throwing axes your way, this is less combat heavy than RE4 and that style in ways. Instead, it's back to how the classics were and the real issue is being GRABBED by zombies and then taking a bite. Whelp, these zombies are damn tough to take down and never ever underestimate how far they can lunge to grab you... or if something grabs you immediately while entering a door through an area you once tracked through and have to return to. And just like the classic style, you could easily argue that the claustrophobic environments are the "enemy" just as much as the zombies/monsters themselves. There's also now broken windows that you can board up with, well wood boards when you find them. So you really do have to plan things out accordingly when you're back tracking through some hallways and areas, the game seems to throw just enough ammo at you to barely keep you sane. But there's no way you're going to happily walk in anywhere and mow everything down. You have to be stealthy and fast at times instead.
Finally, the atmosphere is a bit more in the vein of RE7's modern styling, with excellent lightning and blacks/shadows. Man I freaking love this new RE Engine.
I still think that fun cheese is in there in ways too with some of the characters and writing, I think Capcom knows it as well. This is far more serious than the original of course, which honestly isn't even that scary at all and got more action heavy. But yeah, I think Capcom has finally realized "fun" should be the main objective here. I think it's great that this could easily be a first entry for new fans but it also has so many delicate nods to the classic for old fans as well.
Right out of the gate I'm running Leon A (yes the scenarios are back!) and I'm playing on Hardcore mode, which has Ink Ribbons, no auto save points, and tougher enemies. Let me tell you... it's BRUTAL so far. I replayed RE2 Classic again this week and can always cruise through it and the originals on Normal difficulties, maybe that's some nostalgia/experience with them talking, but this remake is pretty challenging so far. It seems to take 1-2 zombie bites to put you in the red danger status. And it takes like 10+ bullets just to put a zombie down temporarily. I still can't tell how to kill them permanently other than getting a rare critical (explosive) headshot at times.
It's gorgeous on a PS4 Pro but I'm a little bummed I don't have an HDR/4K TV. I played the demo on this and my PC, but it ran terribly on my PC. Might be because I'm still on Windows 7 and an older CPU, so I also don't have DX12 which might hurt a lot. I hear it's been very demanding for a lot of people too. But you can customize the options a lot. I'm super happy with the console version though, which is where I play all my RE's anyways.
I'm just a little past the demo portion so far, used up the Spade Key and have a few new areas I can explore now.
Pure bliss so far. Playing this game feels like my first time playing some of the classics, RE4, Silent Hill 2, Dead Space, etc all over again... it's really good to play another incredible modern survival horror game.
I know it's been mentioned over the months here and there, but the rumors of them remaking RE3 are still floating around haha. Considering that they rebuilt a lot of Raccoon City in this, have this beautiful RE Engine, and the reception has been amazing, I definitely think it could happen. Not to mention Capcom can cook up multiple RE games at once when they want at times, so I'm sure if they all double down on another big remake they could easily do it. Last I heard they want to take RE8 into new directions though... so on the flip side, I could maybe see them experimenting with RE8, and then giving us RE3 Remake as well to cover the classic formula. Anyways I don't want to be too greedy haha... still can't believe this remake for 2 exists and I will be playing much more tonight!
