Review
Played on: Xbox One XReleased: 2019
Introduction
Although the first Resident Evil lay the foundation for the sequel, Resident Evil 2 was an even greater success when it finally arrived in 1998. It opened the survival horror genre to a broader audience, with easier puzzles, a lot more zombies to shoot and dramatic action scenes.This, movie-like approach, made RE2 hit the record of the fastest and most sold title of any Capcom game prior to it's release. It would put the series on the gaming horizon for years to come. A welcome surprise then, when Capcom announced they would remake the second game entirely after RE7 was released.
Roughly two years later and we're here with the final copy. Can Capcom fill it's rather big boots when it comes to the successful remake of the first RE? REmake was only a six year jump, from one generation to the next. This time, it's a massive 21 year gap. It's quite a leap in graphics technology, combined with gaming evolution and design, that has passed under the bridge since 1998.
Roughly two years later and we're here with the final copy. Can Capcom fill it's rather big boots when it comes to the successful remake of the first RE? REmake was only a six year jump, from one generation to the next. This time, it's a massive 21 year gap. It's quite a leap in graphics technology, combined with gaming evolution and design, that has passed under the bridge since 1998.
Let's take a look at what Capcom have accomplished with this big budget remake. Have they succeeded as brilliantly as they did with REmake on the Gamecube?
Premise
New or old, RE2 builds it's story on two new characters, rather than staying with Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield from RE1. In RE2 we're introduced to Leon Kennedy, who's driving to Raccoon City for his first day on the job as a cop and motorbike rider Claire Redfield, who's looking for her brother Chris. They meet by chance and realise the whole city is infected by zombies.I appreciated that this remake makes Leon and Claire's accidental meeting at the gas station, playable. Working as a sort of pre-intro training level. Once they finally arrive at the familiar Raccoon Police Department, you need to find out what's going on and find a way to escape the infected city. Conflicts and characters are introduced throughout the plot, with twists galore. It's the story we've played since '98, but with new ideas and sub-plots!
Luckily, this time around the developers have opted to let the player become more acquainted with the survivors at the R.P.D. You interact and dialogue far more with them than in the original. It helps give depth to the characters you meet and small glimpses into what happened prior to Leon and Claire's arrival. The parts where you play as Ada and Sherry have been vastly improved and feature their own little takes on surviving the apocalypse, with some neat and varied gameplay ideas.
Just like the original, the remake depicts a zombie outbreak perfectly, with an even more believable, and chaotic, R.P.D. building this time around. You can really tell that people have passed away, desperately trying to block entrances and keep themselves alive. The empty hallways and rooms are much improved and the layout of the whole building has been carefully altered to cater for a larger area to explore.
Luckily, this time around the developers have opted to let the player become more acquainted with the survivors at the R.P.D. You interact and dialogue far more with them than in the original. It helps give depth to the characters you meet and small glimpses into what happened prior to Leon and Claire's arrival. The parts where you play as Ada and Sherry have been vastly improved and feature their own little takes on surviving the apocalypse, with some neat and varied gameplay ideas.
Just like the original, the remake depicts a zombie outbreak perfectly, with an even more believable, and chaotic, R.P.D. building this time around. You can really tell that people have passed away, desperately trying to block entrances and keep themselves alive. The empty hallways and rooms are much improved and the layout of the whole building has been carefully altered to cater for a larger area to explore.
Gameplay and features
Familiarity blended with new ideas and design, is key for a remake. This is not a one-to-one remake, with the old pre-rendered backdrops and camera angles. Gone are the tank controls too, replaced with a third person shooter angle. What immediately becomes apparent, is how wonderful the team has accomplished blending new and old ideas with modern gameplay.Right up from the introduction level at the gas station, to when you arrive at the R.P.D. and see that main hall once again, you realise how it's like taking a time machine back 21 years. Yet, you're seeing everything in glorious, ultra high, resolution 3D that couldn't be achieved back then. It's a wonderful feeling and a soothing one to see, although many elements have changed, they're altered in a manner that brings back familiar nostalgia.
For me it was like I'm seeing the world RE2 pulled me into back in '98, but from a brand new angle. It's how I imagined it was being there as a teenager, seeing it from ground level. It's wonderfully nostalgic and at the same time offers different puzzles and layouts, making it possible to replay how it felt playing RE2 for the first time again!
Gameplay feels solid, precise third person shooting, but vulnerable and limited by ammo reserves. Nicely balanced, as to not give the player a huge advantage over the slow zombies and becoming too fast paced. At times, it even feels harder than the original, perhaps due random encounters and less obvious areas that are safe. Zombies now follow you into rooms and range from slow to fast moving. Lickers are way more agile and intimidating too.
For me it was like I'm seeing the world RE2 pulled me into back in '98, but from a brand new angle. It's how I imagined it was being there as a teenager, seeing it from ground level. It's wonderfully nostalgic and at the same time offers different puzzles and layouts, making it possible to replay how it felt playing RE2 for the first time again!
Gameplay feels solid, precise third person shooting, but vulnerable and limited by ammo reserves. Nicely balanced, as to not give the player a huge advantage over the slow zombies and becoming too fast paced. At times, it even feels harder than the original, perhaps due random encounters and less obvious areas that are safe. Zombies now follow you into rooms and range from slow to fast moving. Lickers are way more agile and intimidating too.
However, I would've been happier with less bullet sponge enemies. It feels like the guns aren't doing much damage, but then again the whole RE series is like this. Both this remake, RE7 and RE: REvelations 2 are on top of the game when it comes to understanding solid and modern gameplay.
The menacing Mr.X, whom was air dropped in the original to wreck havoc on Leon and Claire, has been largely improved in his behaviour. Mr.X works as a sort of Jack from RE7, constantly hunting you through rooms if you're spotted. He suddenly pulls you out of your comfort zone while exploring the R.P.D. He brings a frightening and unsettling feeling which the game needs.
The menacing Mr.X, whom was air dropped in the original to wreck havoc on Leon and Claire, has been largely improved in his behaviour. Mr.X works as a sort of Jack from RE7, constantly hunting you through rooms if you're spotted. He suddenly pulls you out of your comfort zone while exploring the R.P.D. He brings a frightening and unsettling feeling which the game needs.
While RE2's action focus won't give you the overall, prolonged, creepiness of RE7, Mr.X at least makes you feel unsettling and is vastly improved over his scripted role he had in the original. Hearing his thumbing footsteps nearby, fearing he might suddenly rip open the door in the room you're in, is really scary!
Video
What seems like a push to make console players play on the enhanced consoles, PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, is the fact that both these versions keep close to 60fps. While the base PS4 and XB1, hover in the 40-50s mark, making the framerate inconsistent. PC players can enjoy adding even more effects, but the One X version I played puts in the effort to lead the pack on console, with a lot of the high settings enabled from PC.It would've been nice to see the game reach a native 4K resolution, it resides at a healthy 1620p, versus 4K's crisper 2160p, giving it a slightly soft look. However, this game packs a lot more visual detail than RE7, that reached native 4K, so it's understandable.
Nothing takes away the fact, though, that Capcom have beautifully realised a modern day remake of the famous RE2 setting. Zombies and characters look really detailed and have lots of small effect details when they're shot and wounded. There's a lot of visual variation in the R.P.D. and while the sewers are fairly bland, just like the original, I enjoyed the new high-tech take on the laboratory area. It makes it stand apart from the grey sewers and improves on how the original game looked.
Capcom's RE engine showed it's strength with RE7 and it shines even more here. It looks and runs great, I really appreciate the focus on getting it running at 60fps for a smoother and more responsive experience. Although, we probably should have seen a 30fps cap for the base consoles, as the framerate is inconsistent. So, to get the proper gameplay flow and visual flair go with PC, Xbox One X or PS4 Pro.
Nothing takes away the fact, though, that Capcom have beautifully realised a modern day remake of the famous RE2 setting. Zombies and characters look really detailed and have lots of small effect details when they're shot and wounded. There's a lot of visual variation in the R.P.D. and while the sewers are fairly bland, just like the original, I enjoyed the new high-tech take on the laboratory area. It makes it stand apart from the grey sewers and improves on how the original game looked.
Capcom's RE engine showed it's strength with RE7 and it shines even more here. It looks and runs great, I really appreciate the focus on getting it running at 60fps for a smoother and more responsive experience. Although, we probably should have seen a 30fps cap for the base consoles, as the framerate is inconsistent. So, to get the proper gameplay flow and visual flair go with PC, Xbox One X or PS4 Pro.
Update: This game has since been updated to run on modern consoles, with options of native 4K@60fps, 4K@120fps and a ray-traced mode at 4K@60fps.
Audio
I had my hopes up for the soundtrack, hoping would be something close to the original. My disappointment was huge, the end result is such a missed opportunity. The ambient and anonymous result is forgettable at best. I really wish they'd remastered or remixed the old music tracks from 1998, but alas we get a soundtrack that players hardly will notice.Luckily, you can swap it out for the original soundtrack, though this is a payed DLC, but it's absolutely worth it. Once I activated the original OST, everything clicked. It's the one thing this remake was missing. The original soundtrack DLC even adds classic sounds for inventory menus and the item box creak when it opens!
At first the sound does sound a little weak, for the lower volume spectrum, but crank it up and appreciate some solid gun sounds and details, like empty shell casings falling to the floor. The Dolby Atmos 3D sound support on the Xbox version adds a great layer of dimension to the sounds, giving a sense of direction as to where sounds are coming from, even above you. It's especially creepy when you hear Mr.X thumping about outside a door or the floor above you!
My main issues though, are some of the locations. Take for instance the route you walk from the car crash to the R.P.D. at the beginning, it should be longer like original. In the remake you simply walk down an alley and round a corner to arrive. I preferred how the original depicted scenes in post-apocalyptic streets to build the tension towards arriving at the R.P.D.
At first the sound does sound a little weak, for the lower volume spectrum, but crank it up and appreciate some solid gun sounds and details, like empty shell casings falling to the floor. The Dolby Atmos 3D sound support on the Xbox version adds a great layer of dimension to the sounds, giving a sense of direction as to where sounds are coming from, even above you. It's especially creepy when you hear Mr.X thumping about outside a door or the floor above you!
Summary
Sure, there are some bumps in the road with this remake. The most obvious being the incredibly forgettable music score. I also missed cutscenes of certain events, like the helicopter crash and Mr.X's arrival though the roof, which are completely unexplained here and just happen as loud noises. The original had CGI sequences explaining these events, it's a strange omission indeed.My main issues though, are some of the locations. Take for instance the route you walk from the car crash to the R.P.D. at the beginning, it should be longer like original. In the remake you simply walk down an alley and round a corner to arrive. I preferred how the original depicted scenes in post-apocalyptic streets to build the tension towards arriving at the R.P.D.
The outdoor environments later in Claire's story, show some of the classic outdoor areas of the original. The basket ball court and a bus full of zombies are here, however, they're sparsely and simply modelled. Like randomly placed objects in a open area without any purpose. The sewers are bland areas to traverse too, with a confusing maze of backtracking. I didn't like the area in the original and I don't like it here either.
These aren't major complaints though. I guess I'm just picky because I have a lot of passion for the original. The issues don't take away the fact that this is a phenomenal remake. It's like how REmake was compared to RE1: there are good and bad sides with both. Making a remake will never hit every high note perfectly, yet should improve aspects that were weak originally.
From the playable gas station, to the arrival at the R.P.D. and the reunion of all the famous RE2 characters, in brand new graphics, has been an incredible experience. The gameplay is just what I wanted, the visuals bring back memories of how the original looked, but in so much detail. Leon and Claire look better than ever, with more personality than the simple polygon models of '98.
From newcomers to old veterans alike, this is a must-buy. It's an equally fantastic remake as REmake was back in 2002. Once again Capcom have taken care of, and nurtured, a beloved classic and made us relive a memory and experience that's 21 years old. Highly recommended!
These aren't major complaints though. I guess I'm just picky because I have a lot of passion for the original. The issues don't take away the fact that this is a phenomenal remake. It's like how REmake was compared to RE1: there are good and bad sides with both. Making a remake will never hit every high note perfectly, yet should improve aspects that were weak originally.
From the playable gas station, to the arrival at the R.P.D. and the reunion of all the famous RE2 characters, in brand new graphics, has been an incredible experience. The gameplay is just what I wanted, the visuals bring back memories of how the original looked, but in so much detail. Leon and Claire look better than ever, with more personality than the simple polygon models of '98.
From newcomers to old veterans alike, this is a must-buy. It's an equally fantastic remake as REmake was back in 2002. Once again Capcom have taken care of, and nurtured, a beloved classic and made us relive a memory and experience that's 21 years old. Highly recommended!
