It’s no secret thatCapcomhas truly hit the mark with modernResident Evilremakes. Despite being very different games, Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 share one common thread — they’re all immensely fun to play. The series has become my go-to for revisiting once in a while, and it never disappoints. Capcom has found a perfect rhythm, length, and blend of mechanics, resulting in games that are a sheer delight to replay over and over again.
The same holds largely true for the series’ new mainline games,Resident Evil 7andResident Evil: Village. The reason I lean towards the remakes is that I find more enjoyment in the third-person camera perspective in survival horror (even though such an option was added to Village) and don’t like Ethan as the protagonist.
Runs Of Raccoon City
TakeResident Evil 2 Remake, which stands out as the most survival horror-oriented among the three. With its unsettling atmosphere of Raccoon City falling apart and a constant sense of danger lurking at every step, it’s a game that compels you to carefully plan your next step, save resources, and avoid direct confrontations as much as possible — especially if there’s a licker nearby.
There’s great satisfaction in replaying this title more efficiently than before, gradually increasing the difficulty and experimenting with new approaches when switching between the two separate campaigns of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, each wielding their distinct set of weapons.
Nemesis Is The Best-Worst Thing Resident Evil Ever Did
Few video game characters give me the terror sweats like Nemesis.
Resident Evil 3 Remakeis a whole different story. It might be considered the weakest of the recent remakes, largely due to its brief duration (seven hours) and initial high cost. However, when snagging it at a discount, as I did, you’re in for a real treat. Much more dynamic and action-oriented than its predecessor, RE3 is a gorgeously paced game that sees Jill Valentine repeatedly facing Nemesis, who grows stronger with each encounter.
The game’s short length could also beseen as an advantage, allowing for a swift run that extends just over an evening if the mood suddenly strikes. RE3 promptly shifts the dynamic, making you feel less like prey and more like a hunter. It provides powerful firearms and plenty of resources to deal with every threat, serving as an excellent warm-up before your next venture.
One Evil To Resident Them All
Resident Evil 4 Remakeis simply the king here. Taking one of the greatest and most iconic games ever made and making it even better was a Herculean task; one that Capcom managed to pull off successfully. Every aspect of this remake is honed to perfection: from inventory management and the enigmatic merchant with new iconic lines, to the expansive upgradeable arsenal, exciting treasure hunting, and unforgettable boss encounters.
When combined, these elements produce one of the most hard-to-put-down single-player experiences on the market, with a perfect length and pacing, a delicate balance between puzzle-solving, traversal, and combat, and that intoxicating “just one more stage to clear” allure. Don’t even think of launching this game for a quick hour before bed — you’re likely to come to your senses some five hours later, wrapping up the village chapter. Trust me, I’ve already put this to the test.
15 Best Survival Horror Games, Ranked
From Resident Evil 2 Remake to The Last Of Us, here are some of the very best survival horror games ever made.
One of RE4’s greatest achievements lies in the continuous evolution of each new section that constantly throws new enemies, situations, and challenges into the mix, keeping you on your toes every minute of its 20-hour-long campaign. Coupled with the near-perfect enemy behavior in combat and their reactions to gunfire in the Remake, it’s easy to see why the game has garnered such acclaim.
Each time I reach the credits, no matter which one I was playing, I’m left wanting more.
While RE2 and RE3 are fun to play, they may not feel as rewarding in subsequent runs. RE4 addresses this issue, serving as a blueprint for the New Game+ mode implementation in this series and beyond. With dozens of alternate guns to use and upgrade during your next playthrough, along with new treasures to collect and new rewards to unlock at the shooting range, RE4 offers unlimited options for those willing to stick with it beyond the initial playthrough, and I believe there are many fans who appreciate that.
And don’t forget the Separate Ways DLC — it’s the cherry on top. Ada Wong’s expanded campaign is almost as long as the entirety of Resident Evil 3, and even though it has a slightly refurbished feel to it, given how you mostly visit the same locations as Leon, there’s still enough fresh flair added to the experience to make it worth your while.
From Ada’s distinct traversal with a grappling gun to her spectacular combat finishers and special abilities, along with some new weapons to upgrade, there are enough reasons to place it on par with other entries. If only RE3 had similar DLC as well, maybe a full Carlos campaign, it could eliminate its only issue of a criminally short length.
Can’t Get Enough
With both Resident Evil 5 Remake and Resident Evil 9 potentially launching in the coming years, there will be plenty more reasons for me to revisit other games in the series while waiting, and I am already looking forward to it. The thing with REmakes is that it’s so hard for me to stop after beating just one of them. Each time I reach the credits, no matter which one I was playing, I’m left wanting more. So, there’s really no excuse to stop fighting against a biohazard and not start yet another playthrough of a different entry.
Is 2023 The Best Ever Year For Horror Games? Let’s Compare It To 1999, 2001 And 2017
It’s been a scary-good year for horror, but it’s got some serious competition to be called the ‘best.’
But it’s not just REmakes that keep pulling me into their grasp like Ouroboros. Whenever I finish a new survival horror game, be it Dead Space Remake, The Callisto Protocol, or The Evil Within, I keep asking myself: “After all, why shouldn’t I play some Resident Evil now?” And you already know how it goes—I’m not done until I beat them all. If it’s not gaming magic, I don’t know what is.
Ever since Resident Evil 4 launched this March, I’ve already run through every remake three times, and guess what I’m playing now, after finishingAlan Wake 2just last week? You probably guessed right.
