Resident Evil 2 (2019)

The Return to Racoon City

Racoon Police Department worn down as it is. Adapted in the RE Engine used in RE7 as well.

I experienced the first couple hours of this title with a buddy. Initially, I was more than happy there was a remake announced during E3 2018 to one of the most iconic PSX titles. Especially in a series that had ups and downs for years and came back strong with Resident Evil 7 the year before last.

Thinking about the original Resident Evil 2 title back in 1998 various scenes and mechanics come to mind. The beginning was telling the story after the events across the famously creepy Spencer Mansion within the woods and mountains out of town. Eventually, the fight between good and bad guys over a highly infectious and deadly virus was brought to Racoon City itself. You either start as Claire Redfield. Her, searching for brother and S.T.A.R.S. alpha team member Chris. She lost contact to her brother after he successfully escaped the mansion along with Jill Valentine at the end of RE1. Or you choose Leon S. Kennedy. An eager rookie police officer joining the Racoon Police Department on his first day of work. Which is the scenario the 2019 remake takes off as well - likewise the period of time Racoon City fell apart and things hit the fan.

As far as I remember, the so-called T-Virus was believed to be destroyed after the remaining S.T.A.R.S. members left Spencer Mansion and Tyrant has been stopped. Double-faced Albert Wesker and Umbrella, though, didn't let go off the idea of biological weapon testing and development of the newly, improved G-Virus led to the next disaster. A squad of Umbrella special forces attacked a laboratory beneath the surface of Racoon City setting up scientist William Birkin as a key character in the Resident Evil 2 story line. During the attack on his laboratory Birkin, obsessed with the sheer power he held in his hands, refused handing out 'his precious baby' to Umbrella and was shot in the process. Close to death, he injected the virus in his own body and what was left of him went rogue uncontrollably killing everything that moved. Cutscenes tell rats of the sewers of Racoon City started chewing on the remaining test tubes. The virus spread in no time. Infected citizens turned Racoon City into a zombie nightmare. Happy first workday, Leon.

One of the reasons the RE2 original is a fan favourite is the way the player is routed through the story. The two survivors have been smartly separated through an incident after they entered Racoon City forcing Claire and Leon into their individual journey. Naturally you wanted to play both story lines to learn details one survivor experienced while the other one was on her/his investigations. The cherry on top in the RE2 original was, you even had two additional story lines. Finishing the first campaign 'game A' with Leon granted access to a 'game B' for Claire and vice versa. The 'game B' felt like a remix to the whole story and timeline. Adding more locations, enemies, alternative cutscenes - even another end game. Interestingly, Capcom had a handfull games rewarding players that kept playing after finishing with alternative endings (e.g. Super Ghouls'n Ghosts, Demon's Crest or Dead Rising).

As I mentioned tons of things jump into my mind and I can't wait to see what Capcom has in store for the 2019 remake. Capcom did a fine job crafting RE2 as a third person survival horror title which feels modern, refined compared to other entries while paying tribute to the 20 years old original. It is a nice take how to light the fire within veteran fans' hearts as well as drawing new players to the lore. Something hopefully at least some developers are going to take an example from.

Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2 have been two games with pre-rendered backgrounds and moving polygons simulating a new feeling how to be in a game. It looked similarly beautiful like Final Fantasy VII did back then. Today, thanks to these titles there have been decades of action as well of animated movies, games and sequels on various systems and even action figures. The Resident Evil franchise sparked other zombie movies and games. Folks should check out this piece of gaming history - after all, by now numbers say the gaming industry is bigger than the movie and music industry combined. I frankly believe milestones like Resident Evil 2 claim its share in the bigger picture.

Well, I tend speaking in past tense about the original title. I am curious to continue the 2019 version. A style of remake I didn't know I was hungry for.