When Capcom launched its ambitiousResident Evilremake campaign in the late 2010s, few knew what to expect. Luckily, theremake ofResident Evil 2turned out surprisingly spectacular, showing audiences the iconic 1998 horror game in an entirely new light, with stunning graphics and tight, reworked modern controls. Capcom would chase this game just a year later with theResident Evil 3remake, though it wouldn’t garner anywhere near the same amount of praise as its predecessor.
Though it boasts the same incredible graphics, fun third-person shooter mechanics, and well-wrought survival horror staples, 2020’sResident Evil 3was heavily criticized for lacking meaningful content, especially when compared to theResident Evil 2remake. Jill’s misadventure in Raccoon City is certainly more trim than the dual journeys of Leon and Claire inRE2, and certain aspects of the original may not be as frightening in the remake, butRE3(2020) is still well worth playing. The initial wave of criticism leveled against theResident Evil 3remake may have turned off some who would have otherwise happily devoured it, and now that five years have passed since its launch, these hesitant adopters should give it a chance.
Time Has Proved How Underrated the Resident Evil 3 Remake Is
Resident Evil 3 (2020) Is a Great Modern Entry In the Series
While it might not be perfect, it would be extremely disingenuous to call2020’sResident Evil 3"bad.“The remake is gorgeously realized, and the slick, chaotic streets of Raccoon City are a nice change of pace from the more compact and claustrophobic environments of theRE2remake. Of course, one can make the argument that larger, open-air areas are inherently less scary than the cramped halls of the Raccoon City Police Department, but the reality is that they are simply different. The urban setting ofRE3allows for more unexpected enemy encounters, and it hides enough indoor environments to maintain a sense of occasional claustrophobia.
Aside from visuals,combat inResident Evil 3is much better than in its predecessor, especially when viewed through the lens of action-survival-horror. Put plainly, theRE3remake is moreRE4thanRE2with respect to its gameplay, as ammo is more abundant even on higher difficulties, and weapons like the assault rifle make mowing down hordes of zombies a much more manageable endeavor. It makes sense that some players were disappointed by this action emphasis in the wake of the slower-pacedResident Evil 2remake, but if one acceptsRE3as more of a horror-themed action shooter in theResident Eviluniverse, they’ll likely have a fantastic time.
Resident Evil 3’s dodge abilitygoes a long way toward making combat feel more frenetic, smooth, and dynamic—it’s perhaps the most significant mechanical change from theResident Evil 2remake.
The Years (and the Market) Have Been Kind to Resident Evil 3
WhileResident Evil 3’s shorter runtimeisn’t inherently bad, and it could actually be viewed as a positive depending on personal preference, its content-cost ratio at launch is far less defensible. The game was sold for $60USD back in 2020, the same price as its 2019 predecessor, which features two distinct, significantly longer campaigns. WithResident Evil 3feeling a bit more like anRE2half-sequel or spin-off due to its length, many have argued that a relatively conservative price would have been more appropriate.
Luckily, the cost has dropped considerably since release. At the time of writing, theResident Evil 3remake sells for around$40 on most digital storefronts—a much more respectable price, considering its comparable lack of content. It also regularly goes on sale for significantly less, making it a no-brainer purchase for fans of action games, survival horror, or third-person shooters in general.
Resident Evil 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Witness the downfall of Raccoon City. Relive the horrifying downfall of Raccoon City in a stunning reimagining of the 1999 survival horror classic. In the nightmarish hours leading up to and following the events of Resident Evil 2, only you can help surviving S.T.A.R.S. officer Jill Valentine escape a city beset by a gruesome viral outbreak. But zombies aren’t the only threat out for your blood. The towering, near-indestructible bioweapon, Nemesis T-Type, is also on the hunt. This brutal monstrosity uses an arsenal of high-powered weaponry to relentlessly pursue you across Raccoon City, meaning nowhere is truly safe. Featuring cutting-edge presentation and revamped action-adventure gameplay, Resident Evil 3 updates the unforgettable Raccoon City story arc finale in explosive fashion.
