In 1998, the second Resident Evil game came out and received critical acclaim and is largely considered to be one of the best horror games of all time. And now, 20 years later, Capcom has released a brand-new Resident Evil 2 Remake that isn’t just another remaster with updated graphics and controls like the remastered version of the first Resident Evil.

Rather, it’s a completely reworked game from the ground up, making the game almost unrecognizable to the first iteration. The enemies look even scarier, the controls are slicker, and the overall game is better in every way. From the story to the gameplay, the remake of Resident Evil 2 shows how remasters should be done.

The story takes place two months after the events of the first game in Raccoon City. The town has been swallowed by the T-Virus used in the first game, made by the evil corporation Umbrella. You play as two characters: Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. The way the game is played is very interesting. There are two different scenarios, Leon’s and Claire’s.

You play the game twice through in any order, but each campaign has different plot twists, (Leon, then Claire or Claire, then Leon) to get the true ending.  The game starts with Leon heading to a gas station to fill up before starting his first day at the Raccoon City Police Department until zombies overrun the gas station.

He fights his way out and is then met by Claire Redfield, a woman who is in search of her brother Chris Redfield. The two get into his car and drive to town to seek help, only to find the town has been overrun as well. The two are separated on foot and agree to meet up at the police station. However, there are also more dangerous things lurking in the police station and both Leon and Claire must find a way to escape Raccoon City alive with any or everyone they can find. This is when the story splits into the two scenarios.

If you have ever played a Resident Evil game, it follows a system of solving puzzles and shooting zombies. What’s so interesting about the game is how the game unlocks a “second run” after you beat it the first time.

It plays concurrently with the original playthrough, unlocking doors opened in the previous one, and going to places that were inaccessible. Completing those two scenarios will unlock a true ending to the game, which provides a lot of replay ability and a lot of fun.

Another interesting feature is the difficulty. If played normally, you can save as many times as you want. But, you can play how the original game was played, with you having to find ink ribbons, which there is a finite amount of. This adds a strategic element to the game.

The game was made with the RE engine, the same engine used for Resident Evil 7. This is by far the most beautiful game I have ever seen. Instead of utilizing a fixed camera, the game now has an over-the-shoulder 3rd person shooter quality which makes the game closer and more personal. It has the atmosphere of close quarters and claustrophobia.

The monsters look even scarier than before. You feel terrified after moving around every corner with the sense of anxiety and fear. The Lickers, Mr. X, “G”, even just the common zombies you encounter throughout the game all have this visceral, gory look to them that would send chills down your spine.

Overall, from the story to the gameplay, the remake of Resident Evil 2 shows how remakes and remasters should be done.

5 out of 5 Spurs.