Resident Evil 3 (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): April 3, 2020
- Release Date (EU): April 3, 2020
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Genres: Survival horror
- Also For: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Game Features:
It’s somewhat meta that when booting Resident Evil 3, we come across news reports of “a pandemic spreading faster than any disease in modern history”. The tragedy of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis shares many similarities with apocalyptic scenarios all too common in video games that many of us would never think we would live to experience; a worrying number of infected people; increasing mortality rates in some areas; deserted towns…
While the current pandemic we’re experiencing is very real, the one in Resident Evil 3 is fictional and the elements that make it up are there to prove it. From zombies trying to eat you up through shady organizations posing as good-willed Big Pharma (ok, maybe this one isn’t totally fictional) to the towering titular character from the original game - Nemesis.
We play as Jill Valentine, member of the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) team of Racoon City, experiencing recurrent nightmares linked to her past experience in the first Resident Evil game. One night, waking up from such a nightmare, Jill gets a call from her colleague Brad Vickers urging her to get out of her apartment. As she attempts to do so, a humongous disfigured giant breaks through Jill’s room and attacks her. Unarmed and taken by surprise, our protagonist has to escape the creature, a pet project of Umbrella named Nemesis out for blood, hunting S.T.A.R.S members. Just like that, Resident Evil 3 puts us right into the thick of things, setting the pace for the game: outgunned and outnumbered in a zombie-filled town with the looming threat of the quasi-omnipresent Nemesis.
Nemesis, as your very own nemesis, is as resilient as Jill, coming back from the pits of hell time and again, only stronger. Throughout the game, the thought of the towering giant appearing out of nowhere lingers, even after it is seemingly defeated, and is what sets Resident Evil 3 apart from other Resident Evil games. On top of that, the music score and eerily quiet rooms and back alleys kept me on the edge of my seat, so much so, that Jill’s shadow would even startle me at times. Because you never know when zombies or whatever monstrosities Umbrella Corp. concocted might come at you, the horror element prevails. This is not to say that Resident Evil 3 relies on jump scares. Far from that, the environment and setting does the job to set the survival horror mood.
As a complete remake developed on the excellent RE Engine, Resident Evil 3 stands out visually. Jill Valentine, Racoon City, the undead and, of course, Nemesis are rendered photorealistically. Gameplay seamlessly transitions to cutscenes, while breathtaking scenes abound, with wallpaper-worthy shots for every taste; be it the brightly-lit shops of Racoon City or the horror-inducing zombie escape sequences. However, the assets are blatantly reused from Resident Evil 2 remake, for those who've played it but still stand out as visually striking.
Storywise, the remake is faithful to the original. We come across the same characters like Carlos Oliveira with whom we’ll take turns to control. The latter, a member of the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service (U.B.C.S.), teams up with Jill to evacuate the citizens of Racoon city. However, Carlos is as clueless about the true nature of his mission as you and I. As the story unfolds, we’ll learn more about the happenings behind the current T-virus outbreak zombifying the citizens of Racoon City. The plot, far from a mere placeholder, deals with themes of empathy, selflessness, as well as selfishness in times of crises.
However, don’t expect a shot-by-shot remake. I played Resident Evil 3: Nemesis when the PlayStation and polygonal graphics were current-gen galore. And what I remember from the game that time is a gripping survival horror game with one of the most iconic villains in gaming history. The remake stays true to this formula and reiterates it in current-gen platforms without feeling like a mere visual upgrade following the same template.
Just like the visuals, the controls also have received an overhaul, with the fixed camera angles of traditional Resident Evil titles being a thing of the past. This remake plays like a contemporary title, and if you think the lack of fixed camera angles would take a layer off the horror genre, you’d be wrong. The twin-stick scheme now adds a layer of interactivity, albeit limited, with the environment. When outnumbered, you’ll have to resort to finding an explosive barrel to kaboom! every zombie or shoot at an electric source to temporarily immobilize your enemies. You’ll also have at your disposal an armada of weapons to defend yourself. If you've played a Resident Evil game before, you'll know what to expect, ranging from the trusty knife to the badass grenade launcher.
Similar to other Resident Evil games, this opus is mostly linear, with some puzzles getting you to roam around and some extra weapons and ammo for the keen-eyed. Some puzzles from the original have even been left out and the ones included aren't that challenging. Moreover, the path is mostly laid out, with inaccessible areas clearly blocked off. I wish there were more free-roaming and interactivity allowed with the breathtaking environment. Hopefully that's for another Resident Evil game.
As a current-gen game, Resident Evil 3 feels short. It took me 5.5 hours to complete it on my first run. Of course, this will vary from player to player, as well as the difficulty level set. But the length strikes as a downside of the game, given that certain sections could be elaborated upon. After completion, you will unlock the “Shop” where you can buy equipment to aid in your zombie fight and even find new character skins. You can go back to playing the game with new equipment on a new difficulty level if that’s your thing but the plot won’t differ.
While the remake gave me my dose of survival horror, others might understandably crave for more, given how fluid the gameplay is and how beautifully the environments are rendered, making players want to stay longer in Racoon city. Alas, this won't be possible, so might as well take it in while it lasts!
On the plus side, Resident Evil 3 comes bundled with the asymmetrical-multiplayer Resident Evil Resistance, which is a whole other experience in itself. Set in the world of Resident Evil, this online game pits four players against zombies in an attempt to escape while using their unique abilities, while a 5th player - the Mastermind - operates remotely, setting traps and controlling zombies to impede the others' escape. This gives more value for what you pay and as an online game, you'll have considerably more to play with than just the main game.
Resident Evil 3 - Launch Trailer
Verdict
- Visually stunning remake
- Enhanced controls make for a seamless gameplay
- Online game Resident Evil Resistance bundled to add replay value
- Length
- Lack of challenge in puzzles
