Resident Evil 3 Remake: When Remakes Can Still Fall Short

Although the Resident Evil 3 Remake still scores amazing reviews between critics and fans alike, some aspects still fell short. The remake had a lot to live up to following the Resident Evil 2 remake: a game which had outstanding receptions. Primarily, the basis of RE 3 downfalls was the cut content, something remakes should shy away from when the original content is great. Find out the pros and cons of the Resident Evil 3 Remake.

Game Summary

Resident Evil 3 Remake is a survival horror video game developed and published by Capcom. It is a reimagined version of the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, released in 1999. The game follows the story of Jill Valentine, a former S.T.A.R.S. member and protagonist of the Resident Evil series, as she tries to escape the zombie-infested Raccoon City.

The game is set in September 1998, concurrent with the events of Resident Evil 2. The T-virus outbreak has reached its peak in Raccoon City, turning its citizens into ravenous zombies. Jill, struggling to survive in the chaos, encounters the relentless Nemesis, a bioweapon designed to eliminate all remaining S.T.A.R.S. members.

As Jill fights to stay alive and uncover the truth behind Umbrella Corporation’s involvement in the outbreak, she joins forces with Carlos Oliveira, a U.B.C.S. mercenary. Together, they navigate the decaying city, confronting hordes of infected creatures and uncovering the dark secrets of Umbrella’s experiments.

Throughout the game, Jill and Carlos face numerous challenges and puzzles, as well as confrontations with mutated monsters. They also encounter other survivors, such as Dario Rosso and Tyrell Patrick, who provide them with valuable information and assistance.

As the story progresses, Jill learns about a possible evacuation plan and sets out to find a way to escape the doomed city. However, the relentless Nemesis continues to pursue her, leading to intense and harrowing encounters.

In the climax of the game, Jill discovers that Umbrella plans to use a powerful and highly intelligent bioweapon known as the “Nest 2 Tyrant” to eliminate any remaining evidence of their involvement. She must confront this formidable creature and stop Umbrella’s destructive plans before it’s too late.

Where The Game Shines

Visual Upgrade: Resident Evil 3 Remake boasts stunning graphics and realistic character models, taking full advantage of modern gaming technology. The environments are highly detailed, and the game features impressive lighting and visual effects, enhancing the overall immersion.
Streamlined Gameplay: The remake improves upon the original game’s controls and mechanics, making the gameplay more fluid and responsive. The character movement feels smoother and aiming and shooting are more intuitive, resulting in a more enjoyable and accessible experience.
Expanded Raccoon City: The remake expands upon the original game’s setting. It provides a more extensive and detailed exploration of Raccoon City. Players can navigate through various locations, encounter new areas, and experience the city’s destruction on a grander scale. Additionally, enhancing the sense of immersion and danger.
Enhanced Nemesis: The iconic antagonist, Nemesis, is even more terrifying and relentless in the remake. The AI has been improved, making Nemesis more adaptive and unpredictable in his pursuit of the player. This adds an extra layer of tension and excitement to the gameplay. And so, players must constantly strategize and find ways to escape his clutches.
Modernized Save System: The remake introduces an auto-save feature that reduces the reliance on traditional typewriter save points. This eliminates the need to backtrack to save progress, allowing for a more streamlined and convenient experience.

Where The Game Fails

Shortened Campaign: One of the main criticisms of Resident Evil 3 Remake is its relatively short campaign compared to the original game. Some players felt that the remake’s story and overall content were trimmed down, resulting in a less substantial experience.
Lack of Exploration: While the remake expands the city, some players felt that it lacked the exploration and interconnectedness of the original game. The linear nature of the remake’s level design limited the opportunities for in-depth exploration and backtracking.
Cut Content: The remake omits certain areas, puzzles, and enemy encounters from the original game, which disappointed some fans who were expecting a faithful recreation. This exclusion led to a sense of missed opportunities and a loss of some iconic moments from the original Resident Evil 3.
Absence of Multiple Endings: Unlike the original game, which featured multiple endings based on player choices, Resident Evil 3 Remake only offers a single ending. This reduction in narrative branches diminished the replay value and player agency found in the original.
Reduced Horror Atmosphere: Some players felt that the remake leaned more towards action-oriented gameplay, diminishing the horror atmosphere present in the original. The increased emphasis on fast-paced action sequences and the decreased emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving detracted from the survival horror elements that defined the series.

How about you? Did you enjoy the Resident Evil 3 remake? Which remake do you prefer? Let us know, we’d love to hear from you!

Other things you might want to know:

Why was Resident Evil 3 Remake bad?

As stated before, the remake primarily fails with its cut content and shortened campaign. When the original content has good gameplay, a remake is expected to enhance those features, instead of cutting it.

Is Resident Evil 3 Remake better than 2?

Even though this is very subjective, the topic of remakes in the resident evil franchise centres around the Resident Evil 2 remake compared to number 3.