Startlingly Immersive: Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Resident Evil 2 captured millions of gaming hearts with its first release. If the remake is anything like the original, we’re sure in for a captivating horror game.
Resident Evil as a gaming franchise has over a dozen releases with several successful remakes. This action-packed, third-person shooter game ranks as one of the world’s most popular games.
Among the best releases from this horror game collection, Resident Evil 2 1998 stands as truly memorable and engaging for millions of players.
Most scenes and plot twists for the entire series begin from the Resident Evil 2 original. And gamers seem to have had their wishes fulfilled with the Resident Evil 2 2019 remake.
Resident Evil 2 gameplay begins a few weeks after the events of the T–virus outbreak which turns most citizens of Raccoon City into zombies.
Policeman Leon Kennedy and student Claire Redfield meet up at the outskirts of Raccoon City. After getting separated by a car crash, Leon and Claire plan to reunite at the police department.
Unknown to the duo, Raccoon City’s police building has gotten infested with zombies and several other mutated creatures. Most notable among these creatures is a Tyrant, saddled with killing off any non-infected survivors of the T-virus.
Claire discovers amid her journey that a now-mutated William Birkin is responsible for the T-virus outbreak. Vials containing the virus got spread to all inhabitants of Raccoon city when Birkin engaged in an altercation with Umbrella Corp.
Also taking place at the same time is the storyline of Leon. He journeys toward the police building to reunite with Claire where he’s saved from a zombie dog by Ada Wong. The pair moves through most scenes of the game encountering several dangers before joining up with Claire and Sherry Birkin, William’s daughter.
Also, an Umbrella operative, Hunk completes his mission of retrieving a sample of William Birkin’s G-virus at the game’s late scenes.
New Twists
Unlike its 1998 original, there’re a few changes to the plotline that has no significant effect on the storyline.
⦁ The original features a scene where a G-virus mutant kills corrupt police captain Brian Irons. But the remake identifies this mutant as William Birkin earlier than its original version.
⦁ Also, the original reveals Ada picks up Sherry’s pendant after she ran away when they meet for the first time. The remake follows the storyline with Brian Irons asking Claire to turn in the necklace for Sherry’s life
⦁ In the 1998 version, Ada gets injured by William Birkin. The remake deviates from this storyline by revealing Ada gets injured when knocked into a trash compactor.
⦁ In the original, a now-psychotic Annette Birkin reveals to Leon that Ada is a spy sent to retrieve the G-virus. The remake follows the plot where Leon tends to an injured Annette before she explains Ada’s spy mission.
Graphics
The Resident Evil 2 PS4 Pro and Xbox One releases offer gamers 4K resolution and 60 fps enhancements. Also, several modifications and improvements focused on the main characters and their environment.
Main characters in the remake have their faces remodeled to fit actual people. Leon bears a striking likeness to Eduard Badaluta, and Claire looks a lot like Jordan Mc Ewen. Other characters in the game also bear striking resemblances to real persons.
Changes to the game’s environment start with re-positioning of zombies. Since most zombies would be easily spotted with the new camera design, this game uses several cloaking methods.
Smokescreens, lighting effects, and room designs sum up most of this game’s environment changes.
This game’s developers attest its improvements to attaining a photorealistic look and feel acceptable in 2019 gaming.
Platforms
Unlike its 1998 original, the 2019 Resident Evil 2 got released across three platforms – PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Favorable ratings are recorded across platforms, with Metacritic currently rating its lowest aggregate at 89%.
2nd Run
This section is unlocked when players beat the game with the first protagonist. With the 2nd run, gamers get to experience twists in a similar plotline to the first campaign.
In this section of the game, gamers progress to events which have already taken place in the first run with several paths unlocked.
Successful completion of this run guarantees players an experience of the major campaign’s true conclusion.
Gameplay
Prior releases to Resident Evil 4 mostly feature gameplay in a pre-rendered still environment. The 2019 remake improves on this environment with extensive detailing on sounds, lighting, and item mobility.
Seemingly rigid-looking zombies in the original release receive major facelifts in the remake for a better feel.
Mini-games
Players that manage to scale through the 2nd run unlock a set of mini-games leading different characters around the universe.
4th Survivor and Tofu Survivor feature Hunk, an Umbrella Corp operative, and a tofu with knives respectively.
Players unlock scenes where they need to move through the sewers to arrive at a police department building. There’re lots of enemies on the path leading to the police department.
Differences from Resident Evil 2 (1998)
⦁ Auto-saves are available in safe rooms scattered around the game.
⦁ 2nd Run replaces Scenario B in its 1998 original
⦁ Third-person, over-shoulder gameplay controls unlike fixed cameras and tank controls in the original
⦁ Crispier graphics
⦁ Advanced weapons designs
⦁ Costume differences for major characters (most notable Leon and Ada)
Resident Evil 2 (2019) has outsold its 1998 version. Over 6 million copies of the remake have been snatched from shelves, and the game’s sales don’t seem like slowing down soon.
Also, this game has received critical acclaim from several reviewers and has more than six awards to date. It has also been nominated for many more awards prior to its January 2019 release.
Resident Evil 2 sustains the momentum attributed to its earlier release with a truly captivating remake. On the back of several positive reviews and excellent ratings, this game certainly remains a top choice for gaming enthusiasts.
Make the most from this version’s remake and relive the experience of a top addition to Resident Evil’s horror-filled collection.
