Resident Evil 3 Remake
Jill and Carlos present: Escape from Racoon City
Racoon City gone Undead.
Resident Evil 3 Remake Review
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom R&D Division 1, Redworks Inc, M-Two Inc. K2 Co, Ltd
Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PC, iOS, macOS, Switch via cloud
Continuing the ‘Retcon’ of making a single narrative and bringing their classic titles to modern audiences, Resident Evil 3 Remake is our next stop. With Remake 2 receiving both critical and commercial success, 3 was the next in line. In almost lock-step sequence like the original, it came out not long after 2. The original went through a few revamps from its initial concept of being on a boat starring HUNK, to not having any returning characters, even down to its name, 1.9/2.1. What we got is a parallel adventure to 2, with some interesting ideas such as making critical choices that affect the ending.
The remake eschews this for a tighter narrative and flow. They’ve kept the overall spirit of Jill Valentine’s city adventure featuring Carlos Oliveira and the rest of the U.B,C.S, and guest starring Nemesis, while adding the more action packed gameplay that 4 classic standardized 15 years prior. So how does this shake out, and is ‘STAARRRSSS’ still as foreboding, and fills you with dread like before?
Sound: Gold 'STARRSS'.
2 and 3 can almost be considered a duology in terms of close these two are. After all, story wise 3 technically comes first, but then continues after Leon, Claire and Sherry have hightailed it. For the sound, it still has that mix urban chaos as one would expect from Raccoon City now fully under seige by the undead and various T-virus mutated beasts. The voice acting again much like 2 has a new cast that goes for a more serious tone, though knows when to break up the constant dread. Nicole Tompkins, the English voice for Jill balances this tone well, as a troubled woman who doesn’t much time to breathe, but won’t get bossed around by dudes with bigger guns. Carlos (Voiced by Jeff Schine) specifically gets reimagined as not your stereotypical accented Latin-lover wannabe, but a young, determined man to carry out his mission who happens to low key crush on our Master-of-Unlocking. And by low key, I mean everyone in his unit sees it coming from a mile away. Speaking of which, the rest of the U.B.C.S turn in a performance that embodies that they are a motley crew of grizzled vets, cool, seasoned pros and Nikolai, a perhaps too-efficient leader who has no qualm killing his turned comrades and completing the mission.
The music is as diverse as ever, knowing when to be quiet, subdued, and when to turn up. The T-virus infected and company are just haunting and intimidating just like in 2, though with the addition of the killer stalker-du-jour, Nemesis. Whereas in 2, T-00 commonly known as Mr. X was the strong, silent type, Nemesis makes no bones about his mission to get rid of all ‘STAARRRS’ members. The weapons are just as authentic sounding, from your usual pistols, grenade launchers, to knife slashes if that’s your thing.
Graphics: RE Engine Workin' it.
Using the same RE Engine from Remake 2, art design, it extends that here without issue. Compared to its original counterpart which for the time was pushing the PlayStation 1 to its limits but could still count the polygons, it is a technical marvel to see Jill and the human cast updated, as well as our various monsters. Nemesis is closer to his original ‘99 box art look now, and the environments use a wide, wide color palette to bring this nightmare to life. New area such as NEST II give off that clinical, clean vibe despite the fact that so much wrong was produced there.
Control/Gameplay: Run-n-Gun-n-Dodge.
As mentioned previously, 3 puts us in Jill Valentine’s shoes, 3 months after the events of Remake 1. Frustrated that their reports went nowhere, Jill and Brad Vickers, the helicopter pilot who was circling throughout Remake 1, stayed behind to investigate some more. Chris Redfield went to Europe to investigate, Barry Burton takes his family, and nopes out of the series for the next 13 years. Little did they know that William Birkin’s mishaps would start the T-virus infection on the city months prior, only to come to ahead when we start. Setting the tone from the get go, we get a news report of what’s happening, and Jill trying to keep herself together as best she can. Not 15 minutes in, and Nemesis, Umbrella’s intelligent tyrant sent to get rid of every STARS member around begins his mission and hilarity ensues.
The action-oriented survival horror formula that blends puzzle solving, item juggling and gunplay is back, though for this one, we can now attempt to dodge zombie bites, monster pounces. Done correctly, this will mitigate the need to expend ammo and herbs and it works for the most part. Compared to Remake 2, this is more of the run-and-gun-and dodge of the two, which makes sense since a good of part this is happening as all hell is breaking loose. Partway through, you will take control of Carlos, part of the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service unit that on the surface is a Umbrella’s private military sent to aid Raccoon City’s distress. Though any Resident Evil vet at this point will see whos going to do what from a mile away, though those who didn’t play the original will figure out the why.
We’ve talked about Nemesis, who shows up more frequently, and much like Mr. X, its better to just run than waste ammo (aside from getting achievements depending on your platform.). Lickers, who weren’t present in the original, are here, and Pale Heads, who should be taken out with heavier weapons or just run all together. While in broad strokes, this tracks to the original, since Capcom decided to make a universal narrative, some areas and monsters did get cut, and some deaths happen in a different order. You’ll see familiar places like the Raccoon City Police Department before Leon and Claire make their residences. Instead of the clock tower, which you’ll gaze at longingly before a boss fight, NEST II will be your final area for example. There’s a new Umbrella researcher Dr. Bard that the UBCS is trying to rescue, give them something to do, and Raccoon City Hospital has an expanded basement.
Fun Factor: Classic Vibes, Current Mood.
Jill fans will be eating well here, as her urban survival adventure is given the proverbial bang and boom update that late 2010s tech can give. The shop system is here after completing one playthrough, where you get points for essentially doing achievements, can be used to get weapons, concept art and 3d models. There’s tougher difficulty modes to test your mettle Like Remake 2, you can switch out costumes, so if you want her original look, its there, and for Carlos fans, can swap for his’99 freshly coiffed hair you if so desire. Aside from your usual reruns to speed run, get a better overall rank. For multiplayer there’s Reverse, which for the sake of transparency, I have not played for myself as I played Remake 3 on PS4 without a subscription to PS plus. This speedier, meatier affair caps off the Raccoon City saga as from here, we’ll be doing the proverbial world tour for a long time. Remake 3 does what its supposed to do, once again setting the bar for what a remake should be: Keeping the timeless, core concepts intact, and let modern tech round out, but not dominate the rest.
