Resident Evil 2 (2019) Review

There has been no shortage of remakes and remasters over the last few years. Developers and publishers have rushed to re-release their classic games, updating them for modern hardware. It only seemed like a matter of time, then, before Resident Evil 2 got the same treatment. After all, it is recognized as one of the best survival horror games of all time

With the remake released in 2019, many modern gamers might be experiencing Resident Evil 2 for the first time. That’s because the original released way back in 1998 for the PS1. Of course, as with any remaster, the question remains whether such an old game holds up after two decades.

Story

Resident Evil 2 takes place a few months after its predecessor. The zombie outbreak has now spread across the entirety of Raccoon City. Players take on the roles of Leon and Claire in separate stories that are unlocked after beating the main campaign. Capcom has stuck with the original formula most of the time. Yet, they have also made some significant changes to certain scenes and moments to take advantage of performance upgrades. So, those who have played the original to death will still find plenty of enjoyment.

Unfortunately, one gripe I do have is that the different campaigns all feel too similar. While they switch up locations and quests somewhat, each is more of a rehashed experience than a brand new campaign. The only real differences are completing objectives in new orders and encountering certain enemies at different points. Big story elements and plot details remain constant across them. Those who love Resident Evil 2 will get a kick out of them. But for everyone else, they are something that will likely remain untouched. The extra campaigns are not entertaining enough to justify more playthroughs.