Resident Evil: Zero - HD Remaster
Review
Played on: PlayStation 4 & Xbox OneReleased: 2015
Originally released: 2002
I went back. Yes, I delved back into a game I gave a three. If you've followed my blog, I reviewed the Gamecube release back here. Somehow, I felt some strange urge to give it a second chance, a sort of re-review. Well, I do really enjoy the old style Resident Evil with it's camera angles and pre-rendered backgrounds, so maybe not so suprising with a replay.
This time I learned to ignore, or at least, not take the story too seriously and ended up enjoying RE:0 more, for better or worse.
Last years HD Remaster release of REmake, where the original background assets were lost forever, forcing Capcom to use low-res Gamecube backgrounds to upscale them into HD. While they did remake some of the rooms entirely, with added 3D details like foliage, it looked a little blurry on my large TV. Considering what they had as source material, though, they did a fine job and it ended up looking cleaner than the Gamecube release on a modern TV.
Maybe it's this change of mind and rediscovery of RE's roots as a survival horror that made me more acceptable to some of RE:0's flaws this time around. Allowing me to just to enjoy the old gameplay style gameplay with camera angles, limited ammo and exploration puzzles.
Last years HD Remaster release of REmake, where the original background assets were lost forever, forcing Capcom to use low-res Gamecube backgrounds to upscale them into HD. While they did remake some of the rooms entirely, with added 3D details like foliage, it looked a little blurry on my large TV. Considering what they had as source material, though, they did a fine job and it ended up looking cleaner than the Gamecube release on a modern TV.
Luckily, for RE:0 though, they've re-rendered all the backgrounds in 1080p and the visual result is far more rewarding. The backgrounds look sharp and hold up well compared to modern graphics. Just like in REmake HD, the characters are remodelled too and look more detailed than their Gamecube counterparts.
Visually, RE:0 HD is a treat and a nice upgrade for fans of the original release. You can choose the original 4:3 aspect ratio or a "pan and scan" widescreen, which zooms in and moves the camera to follow the character across each 4:3 background image. I prefer the first option, as I want to see the whole intended 4:3 image. However, the panning option looks fine as the 1080p backgrounds doen't degrade their visuals too much when zoomed in.
The gameplay nuisances are still present too. The pointless, one player, coop switching between Rebecca and Billy gives little extra towards something original, ending up being an annoying change of pace every time you swap over.
HD upgrades aside though, the gameplay still has it's core problems intact. The same negatives, that bothered me first time around, resurface on my second playthrough.
The main story is laughably bad and I choose to ignore it entirely this time around. I believe my perception of the experience came out better for it. I just can't let it go, that it's about a white-robed guy, who sings opera to mind control leeches. It's just a completely ludicrous story, that can't be taken seriously in any way.
To think that a prequel to the excellent setting of the first RE could be such a missed opportunity and destroyed by a bad story like RE:0 saddens me. They could've made something truly unique here, to build the tension up towards the events in the mansion of RE1. The only positive story arch is the interaction and development in the relationship between Rebecca and Billy.
To think that a prequel to the excellent setting of the first RE could be such a missed opportunity and destroyed by a bad story like RE:0 saddens me. They could've made something truly unique here, to build the tension up towards the events in the mansion of RE1. The only positive story arch is the interaction and development in the relationship between Rebecca and Billy.
The gameplay nuisances are still present too. The pointless, one player, coop switching between Rebecca and Billy gives little extra towards something original, ending up being an annoying change of pace every time you swap over.
The randomly designed boss fights, that just occur with no tension build, leave a lot to be desired. Take for instance a giant scorpion dropping through the roof of a the moving train at the beginning, where did it come from and what on earth placed it there?! Or the part where Rebecca is captivated by a giant worm, it's an unfair battle if you previously placed all the superior weapons and healing items in her inventory. Leaving you stuck with Billy to suffer. It's a coop game without the cooperation.
Item management is perhaps the most a flawed idea of them all in RE:0. Gone are the magic item chests, that held everything and let you access them in other locations. Instead, you're left with cluttering rooms full of items, and if that wasn't enough, there's an annoying item limit in each room! They could've added a chest option for this remaster, or raised the item limit for each room to an infinite number. Maybe added an option to skip the door loading screens while they were at it? But no.
Item management is perhaps the most a flawed idea of them all in RE:0. Gone are the magic item chests, that held everything and let you access them in other locations. Instead, you're left with cluttering rooms full of items, and if that wasn't enough, there's an annoying item limit in each room! They could've added a chest option for this remaster, or raised the item limit for each room to an infinite number. Maybe added an option to skip the door loading screens while they were at it? But no.
It may sound that I don't like this title at all. I've tried a second time to love it, and I actually enjoy it a lot on some levels, but I also hate it's flaws.
This HD Remaster looks beautiful, adds the controversial, but in my opinion, more enjoyable, 3D stick movement as seen in the REmake HD Remaster. With the re-rendered backgrounds in 1080p, locations like the train and main mansion are wonderful to explore and admire visually. The factory section, with the huge train lift, is a great chance to see a location from RE2 in RE:0's pretty visuals.
While I mentioned it in my previous blog entry about the Gamecube version, that RE:0 showed the world that the RE series had stalled and needed a drastic change into something different to survive. If that change was a good one or not, with the release of RE4, can be discussed from a gameplay standpoint, financially though, it was a stroke of genius.
Many years later, and a decrease in the popularity of the action focused RE titles, has brought us to the point where Capcom are looking back at what made RE so popular in the first place. Thanks then, to the success of the remaster of REmake last year and this remaster of RE:0, we as customers have changed Capcom's opinion. It's time for more traditional RE horror and I believe Capcom actually are moving in that direction of thought too, considering they're remaking RE2 as we speak.
While I mentioned it in my previous blog entry about the Gamecube version, that RE:0 showed the world that the RE series had stalled and needed a drastic change into something different to survive. If that change was a good one or not, with the release of RE4, can be discussed from a gameplay standpoint, financially though, it was a stroke of genius.
Many years later, and a decrease in the popularity of the action focused RE titles, has brought us to the point where Capcom are looking back at what made RE so popular in the first place. Thanks then, to the success of the remaster of REmake last year and this remaster of RE:0, we as customers have changed Capcom's opinion. It's time for more traditional RE horror and I believe Capcom actually are moving in that direction of thought too, considering they're remaking RE2 as we speak.
Maybe it's this change of mind and rediscovery of RE's roots as a survival horror that made me more acceptable to some of RE:0's flaws this time around. Allowing me to just to enjoy the old gameplay style gameplay with camera angles, limited ammo and exploration puzzles.
It's a slower paced, more relaxed RE, that I can lean back in my couch and enjoy. A true statement of how well it's formula holds up as something alternative and interesting in modern times.
I give RE:0 a level up from my previous review score, simply because of the excellent remaster job Capcom have done visually and the fact that more recent REs, like RE6, have left me thinking it's not the worst I've played in the series.
