Resident Evil 2: 10 Biggest Reasons You Should Play It

There have been plenty of video game remakes; some deliver the much-needed improvements over the originals, while others leave much to be desired. The remake of Resident Evil 2 definitely falls into the former category and then some. In 1996, Capcom brought to the world the very first Resident Evil, practically inventing the survival horror genre. The second iteration—the original Resident Evil 2—followed suit two years later, intensifying the predecessor’s action and storytelling.

Capcom continues to introduce unique designs with every new Resident Evil game over the years. Slow-paced gameplay with an emphasis on puzzle-solving slowly faded in favor of a run-and-gun approach, taking cues from the seminal Resident Evil 4 (2005). Intense horror elements gave way to fantastic action sequences. That said, Capcom has shown the willingness to revisit the game’s core concept of long dreadful foreboding with the remake of Resident Evil 2.

Despite being a clear homage to the original, the remake is a remarkable take on the classic with plenty of exhilarating twists. It is a great game for many reasons, among which are as follows:

Haunting Gore

Every Resident Evil game presents a scary environment where players cannot help but feel that dangers are lurking nearby. At the end of the opening scenes in Resident Evil 2, players find themselves inside the Raccoon City Police Department. A blend of advanced lighting effects and a haunting atmosphere offer an instant bone-chilling visual treatment. The dreadfulness comes not only from the ever-present threats of monsters appearing from nowhere but also the realistic gore each time a zombie takes a bullet or sinks its teeth into the victim’s neck. Starting from the police headquarters, the story takes players further underground to explore increasingly dreary facilities.

Mr X

As players wander deeper into the source of the outbreak, zombies are everywhere. They are the signature monsters of Resident Evil games, but not the only blood-thirsty creatures in the story. The game features other monsters, including Cerberus dogs and the abominable Lickers as seen in the film adaptations. Resident Evil 2 also comes with a redesigned Tyrant-00. More commonly known as Mr X, the big guy is a major enemy who keeps on following players throughout the game. He doesn’t always move very fast but is a persistent terror. There are some rooms that he will not (cannot) enter, yet the cat-and-mouse mechanic is a powerful suspense element.

Camera Control and Free Aiming

Capcom has completely redone the camera and controls as well. Gone are the days when players observe the scene from a fixed viewing angle and tank controls. The old-school style admittedly increases the horror effect, but it does not mean the remake is found lacking in that department. Like in Resident Evil 7, players can aim freely and control the camera to some extent. It allows for better visibility of the surrounding, although much of the gameplay remains dimly illuminated. Thanks to minimum loading times for cutscenes, the storyline feels more fluidly delivered as well.

Easier Headshot

Included in the updated control scheme is the ability to aim for the zombies’ heads. While it makes killing monsters a little bit easier, limited ammo and smarter AI prevent the game from turning into an outright first-person shooter. As always, a single gunshot wound to the head does not always mean an instant kill. There are various weapons, and each character has an exclusive gun. Pistols are still the most frequently used simply because the game provides a larger supply of ammo for them.

Movement Restrictions

Some players are not fond of the characters’ restricted range of motion. For example, they cannot do a quick turn or stomp on zombies’ heads to make sure the undead are now really dead. Movements are smooth and responsive, but the limitations can sometimes make the characters feel stiff. The sense of stiffness is not entirely strange to experienced players. The same thing is observed in other iterations, such as in Resident Evil 4 where Leon cannot simultaneously reload and walk/run. Instead of seeing the limitations as a shortcoming, many consider it an additional point to the suspense factor.

Bullet Sponges

Zombies can take many bullets and still plunge forward. Even when they’re down, they can still move albeit at a much slower speed. The undead are able to sustain multiple shots, especially from small weapons like pistols, before they are out of the picture for good. Combine that with ammo scarcity, Resident Evil 2 is a recipe for challenging gameplay. The game has some designated areas where players can save their progress and the inventory actually grows as they explore further.

Tricky Inventory Management

One of the core elements of survival is inventory management. Players have no infinite resources, so effective use of ammunition and health herbs is key to making progress. To make things even harder for players, the knife actually comes with a durability indicator. Using a knife as a defense weapon will deplete its usability quickly. Once completely depleted, the melee weapon will break. It is a good thing that the game provides spare knives scattered throughout the map, for example in the Safety Deposit Room and the Library.

Two Games in One

Resident Evil 2 allows every player to take on the game using either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. Surprisingly enough, each character has their own separate path in the same storyline. Since they have different perspectives and progressions. It’s as if Capcom has created two campaigns in one package. Their adventures are connected and the gameplays are not completely distinct from each other, but the mere possibility of navigating the same world from another point of view is a welcome feature.

Second Run

Players must complete the game with either Leon or Claire before the “Second Run” option to re-play with the other character is available. Completion using both characters will unlock the true ending. It is clear that Capcom wants everyone to play the game twice. Second Run starts from a different location and progresses through separate points. Players will be able to observe the plot from a new angle that intertwines with the first run.

Unlockable

Similar to the original game, Resident Evil 2 offers several unlockable modes where players use different characters. In addition to the aforementioned Second Run mode, there is also The Fourth Survivor (available after beating the Second Run) and Tofu Survivor. It has some unlockable special weapons, too.

More than just a remake of a classic, Resident Evil 2 pays respect to the original while implementing updated graphics and new design elements to strengthen the core concept of the game franchise. It maintains a good sense of familiarity without undermining the fresh experience. It is also a good thing that new players can enjoy the survival horror action without prior knowledge of previous installments.

Have you played both versions of Resident Evil 2? Which do you like better? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Other things you might want to know about.

What’s the difference between “horror” and “survival horror”?

Similar to their respective genres in other forms of media, “horror” and “survival horror” are distinct video game genres that share some similarities but also have some notable differences.

Horror video games often focus on creating a sense of fear and terror in the player through a variety of means, such as jump scares, eerie sound effects, unsettling atmosphere, and disturbing imagery. Horror games can have different sub-genres such as psychological horror, supernatural horror, and so on.

On the other hand, survival horror games typically emphasize the survival aspect of gameplay. They are often characterized by a limited amount of resources such as ammunition, health, and weapons, and they require the player to make strategic decisions to conserve these resources while fending off enemies. Additionally, survival horror games often feature puzzles and other challenges that require the player to think and plan carefully in order to progress through the game.

While horror games can be terrifying and intense, survival horror games tend to place more emphasis on the player’s ability to survive and make strategic decisions, rather than just creating a scary atmosphere.

What is Capcom?

According to capcom.com Japan in 1979 began Capcom as a manufacturer and distributor of electronic game machines. In 1983 Capcom Co., Ltd was founded and is now a leader in the video game world. It has operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Tokyo. Its corporate headquarters are located in Osaka, Japan.

The name Capcom means “Capsule Computers.” This is when the company was designing arcade machines. Their first arcade game was called “Little League” (1983). The games “Commando” and “Ghosts ’n Goblins” were the games that made the company soar. In late 1985 the company began licensing their arcade games for release on home computers. Go to en.m.Wikipedia.org for more information about the Capcom company.