While the sun had disappeared for several hours and the moonlight was shining through my curtains, I started up my Xbox One. I was a bit nervous, because I remembered what Capcom’s Resident Evil 3 Remake demo had to offer. However, this time I was nervous in a good way. Raccoon City was waiting for me, and I was really looking forward to returning to the zombie madness called Resident Evil.
Last year’s remake, Resident Evil 2, was exceptionally well received, and I certainly enjoyed it. Now that Capcom knows people can’t get enough of the massive horror franchise, it wasn’t long before Resident Evil 3 got its well-deserved makeover. Does it reach the same heights as its predecessor? Time to return to the nasty zombies, indestructible characters, and the cheesy one-liners. Here is my Resident Evil 3 Remake review for Xbox One.
CLUTTER IN RACCOON CITY
We start the story with Jill Valentine. She was part of the STARS unit, which witnessed the first crimes on Umbrella’s conscience. Of course, this powerful company don’t like any rumors about them, so they got to work on some terrible experiments. They all have the same end goal, destroy the witnesses. Jill is one of them and she needs to save not only herself but also the other survivors of her hometown.
Raccoon City has been hit hard by the T-virus and the chaos can be felt in the city. Small streets are overwhelmed by the undead, and you feel unsafe and almost claustrophobic. Raccoon City is where the game is also at its strongest. The city exudes atmosphere and is by far the most entertaining environment in the game. When Jill teams up with Carlos and heads out on the town, you feel incredibly vulnerable.
I noticed in my Resident Evil 3 Remake review for Xbox One, a monster can hide behind every corner and can’t wait to sink its teeth into you. You can also walk into various shops, and even find some extra items and Easter Eggs. The city feels very lively. Well, there was once life. Now the dead are walking around. The story is more about action than puzzles. There are still small puzzles, but not as much. This time the focus is really on the action.
Many touches with the various monsters make this happen, but it doesn’t lose the Resident Evil mood the fans love. The characters are all over the top, while conjuring multiple one-liners on your screen. This makes for a light-hearted story, which is funny when you look at the circumstances. Capcom’s Resident Evil 3 often resembles an action / comedy, in which characters take rocket explosions as if they were nothing.
Fans of the series will not be disappointed with the way Resident Evil 3 presents itself. Despite the corny story and the Russian soldiers with the most exaggerated accents of all time, Resident Evil 3 also manages to get under your skin often enough. It’s a magical combo and I don’t see anyone doing this as well as Resident Evil.
SUPERCOP JILL VERSUS NEMESIS
Jill Valentine is a bad-ass. Even though you sometimes feel vulnerable in the big city, Jill made sure I had the confidence to punch myself through it. She handles weapons extremely well. Just like in Part Two, the gunplay feels great. The zombies make bizarre and inhuman movements, so hitting three headshots in a row makes it feel very satisfying. Every gun in the game feels different and also has a different function.
It’s best to use the pistol when you have to take down zombies one by one, while the shotgun is better when you’re in trouble. Various upgrades that are hidden in the world make your guns feel even finer. Movement also gets a decent upgrade in Capcom’s Resident Evil 3. Jill and Carlos both get some kind of dodge. This dodge provides more tempo, and because you are more agile, there are also more zombies on your screen.
After all, you now have the means to dodge them, so it doesn’t feel unfair when many zombies in a small hallway are waiting for you. I noticed in my Resident Evil 3 Remake review for Xbox One, with the right timing, you can avoid all kinds of damage and this feels great when you escape in an intense moment. However, there is one big bad guy that you may never escape: Nemesis!
He’s reckless and won’t stop until you’re dead on the floor. The Tyrant (named Mr. X) in the previous part was bad enough as it is. Nemesis takes it one step further, by not only being super fast, but also having a full arsenal at its disposal. Every collision with Nemesis is different, and it keeps the player sharp.
You also have to stay sharp, because that monster wants nothing more than to make cotton candy from your guts. That’s why it’s so nice that Jill has a dodge and is good with her guns. You really get the chance to compete against Nemesis, and it never feels unfair. I can tell you this after playing Resident Evil 3 Remake on my Xbox One, just be prepared for the worst!
FEELS LIKE I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
Most components felt good when I was playing Resident Evil 3. It feels familiar and it plays great. Still, it bothered me now and then. I am someone with an eye for detail, and that actually thwarted my experience a bit. However, I think it is important to set the expectations of the many fans well and honestly. One of my concerns has become a bit of a reality. Many Resident Evil 2 assets have been transferred into Resident Evil 3. You often encounter the models of the same zombies.
I even saw two on the floor that I had seen several times, but they seemed to be twins. Things like this break my depth in this world. But all of this doesn’t stop with the zombies. I noticed in my Resident Evil 3 Remake review for Xbox One, the game feels the same in many environments after you progress further outside the streets of Raccoon City. Control-C and Control-V. That’s how some parts of the game feel. Is that the end of the world?
No, because Resident Evil 2 was already an excellent game at its core. In fact, if you’ve never played RE2, you’re literally not going to notice it. This is perhaps also a point that only the hardcore fans will get. Anyway, even the strongest points in Resident Evil 3 in terms of gameplay feel very similar to Resident Evil 2. They’re already throwing in more pace with the dodge option, but I was hoping Resident Evil 3 was a bit more improved from Resident Evil 2.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE?
You probably thought that this review was over. I also played the brand new multiplayer mode called Resident Evil Resistance! So with Resident Evil 3, you not only get a remaster of the single player campaign, but you can also get started with a 1 against 4 survival game mode. The Mastermind takes on four survivors, and how exactly does that work? Let’s first take a look at the battlefield from the Mastermind’s perspective.
I noticed in my Resident Evil 3 Remake review for Xbox One, he monitors everyone via cameras and spawns various monsters and traps. The Mastermind’s job is quite simple, make sure the survivors cannot escape in time. You can even take control of the various monsters you release as the Mastermind, which is definitely a fun experience. The survivors must work together to solve the puzzles and escape. Each character has a different specialty.
One can do more damage, while the other is good at healing. But they are definitely not bursting with character and are not particularly interesting. The various maps are nicely decorated thanks to Capcom, and it feels like a balanced experience. Some alarm bells rang when I saw the loot boxes. Fortunately, you cannot buy them with real money, but you can buy boosters to earn more. Shady? Yes, but it can get worse.
CONCLUSION
Raccoon City is beautifully executed, and the city feels detailed and chaotic. Nemesis and the other monsters ensure that you have a lot of fun, but that you also stay sharp. Thanks to dodge, there is a bit more tempo in the game, while it still plays wonderfully as we were used to from Capcom’s Resident Evil 2.
Resident Evil Resistance is a nice addition, but it is contaminated with strange elements. Resistance characters are also not really interesting and are missing that special touch. But this 1 against 4 survival game mode is still a great addition with various ways to solve the puzzles and escape.
Do you want to try Capcom’s Resident Evil 3 Remake? What do you think of my Resident Evil 3 Remake review for Xbox One? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Are you a real Resident Evil enthusiast and live for the zombie horror? Check out our reviews for Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 5, and Resident Evil 2.
