While the original Resident Evil game already received a beloved remake, a second remake could still be worth the effort. Capcom has recently been overhauling classic Resident Evil titles for modern hardware, with RE2 and RE3 remakes arriving back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. A remake of Resident Evil 4 is now slated for next year, with the project attempting to inject additional atmosphere and horror into the more action-oriented shooter. This series of modern Resident Evil remakes has ignored the very first game so far, but the 1996 classic may be worth revisiting.
The first Resident Evil is widely credited with kicking off the survival horror genre, and the title's 2002 remake is regarded as an improvement in every way. The project largely remains loyal to the plot and gameplay of the original version, with players exploring the Spencer Mansion and battling undead monsters with a fixed camera perspective and static backgrounds. The Resident Evil remake also introduced new gameplay mechanics like the terrifying Crimson Heads, however, and it rewrote the game's dialogue to be more natural. While the 2002 remake is considered the definitive version of Resident Evil, there are certainly positive changes that a newer remake could implement.
Resident Evil Would Benefit From Modern Gameplay
The most obvious changes that a remake of the first Resident Evil could make would be to basic gameplay. Both the 1996 original and the 2002 remake use the franchise's classic fixed camera angle, which sees players explore the Spencer Mansion from an isometric view. Meanwhile, Capcom's recent remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 upgraded to a third-person perspective where the camera follows behind the protagonist's shoulder. This has a massive impact on general gameplay, with players now manually aiming at enemies and getting a more intimate view of their surroundings. The third-person camera alone would be innovative enough to justify a modern Resident Evil remake all on its own.
A second remake of Resident Evil could also implement many of the gameplay features introduced in the previous two remakes, particularly the 2020 Resident Evil 3 remake. This title stars Jill Valentine, one of the franchise's most iconic heroes and one of the two protagonists that players can choose in the first game. The RE3 remake gives Jill a greatly enhanced dodge ability, with the veteran STARS member able to roll away from enemies and counterattack with powerful headshots. Players are also put in control of the U.B.C.S. mercenary Carlos Oliveira for some sections of RE3, with his dodge mechanic instead having him floor enemies with a powerful counterattack punch.
To enhance gameplay and create continuity between the two games, a modern Resident Evil remake could implement the RE3 dodge system. Jill's dodge could work just like her version in the Resident Evil 3 remake, reflecting the fact that she's already a seasoned fighter. Fellow Resident Evil protagonist Chris Redfield is infamous for punching monsters and boulders alike, so he could borrow Carlos' aggressive dodge punch or possibly receive his own version of the mechanic. With the cramped hallways of the Spencer Mansion filled with powerful Lickers, Hunters and Crimson Heads, an added dodge move would be the perfect way to even the playing field a bit.
Like the Resident Evil 2 remake's relentless pursuer Mr. X, a second remake of the first game could also take advantage of a single interconnected environment. Both the original version of Resident Evil its 2002 remake broke the massive Spencer Mansion up into various separate rooms, meaning monsters could not pursue players very far. Modern games let some Resident Evil enemies stalk or chase the player, however, since a whole map can be loaded as a singular environment. A modern remake of Resident Evil could finally let Hunters live up to their name by having the amphibious bioweapons actively and dynamically search for Jill and Chris throughout the mansion. Lisa Trevor, an invincible foe introduced in the 2002 Resident Evil remake, could also step into the role of past pursuers like Mr. X and Lady Dimitrescu. Rewriting the game's story could even turn the final Tyrant boss into a pursuer that hunts Chris or Jill through the Spencer Mansion and beyond.
The Original Resident Evil's Story Could Use Some Tweaks
It's easy to imagine how a modern Resident Evil remake would affect gameplay, but the title's story could also receive some adjustments too. In both the 1996 original and the 2002 remake, the choice between Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield has little effect on the core storyline outside of some alternate cutscenes. A remake could make the story more unique to each character, perhaps by leaning into Jill and Chris' unique personalities and playthrough companions. Perhaps Jill could dig deeper into Umbrella's monstrous motives with her buddy Barry Burton, while Chris could work with Rebecca Chambers to ensure the mansion's destruction. This could even lead to segments where you play as Barry or a larger section as Rebecca, like the similar segments in Resident Evil 2. Chris' rivalry with villain Albert Wesker, which is much more personal than the animosity between Wesker and Jill, could also be developed more thoroughly.
Another remake of Resident Evil would also let Capcom make the series' ongoing narrative much more coherent, with adjustments similar to how the Resident Evil 4 remake will reimagine its story. For example, the Resident Evil 3 remake adds to Jill's character by showing her struggle to deal with the traumatic events in the Spencer Mansion. At the start of the experience she has a horrific nightmare where she transforms into a zombie, and details around her apartment suggest that she has been unable to sleep without medication. This would be a great angle for a Resident Evil remake to emphasize horror, with Chris and Jill slowly unraveling across their journey and fearing the possibility of zombie infection.
Looking ahead, a Resident Evil remake could also adjust the character of Rebecca Chambers. A surviving member of the STARS Bravo Team, Rebecca is portrayed in the first game as a naive and innocent field medic dependent on Chris for survival. However, the 2002 title Resident Evil Zero reveals that Rebecca was previously involved in a different survival horror scenario during which she faced and defeated a wide variety of bioweapons. A second Resident Evil remake could rewrite Rebecca as more experienced and desensitized, though still compassionate and caring, to reflect this and possibly set up a future remake of RE0.
The first Resident Evil already received one remake, but that 2002 title is already 20 years old itself. If Capcom is willing to remake 2004's Resident Evil 4, then another remake of the game that started it all shouldn't be out of the question. A Resident Evil remake made today could differentiate Chris and Jill playthroughs more by giving the two STARS veterans unique abilities and more personal stories. The game's writing could also be reworked to help cement the franchise's ongoing narrative and pave the way for Resident Evil remakes still to come.
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Resident Evil
- Franchise:
- Resident Evil
- Platform:
- Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Steam, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Released:
- 2022-03-22
- Developer:
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Publisher:
- Capcom
- Genre:
- Survival Horror
- ESRB:
- M
- Prequel:
- Resident Evil 0
- Sequel:
- Resident Evil 2 (2019)
- Summary:
- A remake of the classic survival horror entry released on PlayStation, Resident Evil is the first title in the franchise and marks the beginning of the modernization of the series. The game allows players to play as one of two S.T.A.R.S. recruits - Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield - on a mission to investigate a series of grisly murders on the outskirts of Racoon city. When the Bravo team is sent to investigate the disappearance of the Alpha team, they're attacked by ravenous mutated dogs that begin to pick them off one by one. Chris, Jill, and two other men, Barry Burton and Albert Wesker are the only survivors who escaped to a nearby mansion. The survivors split up to explore the mansion and try to find any surviving members of the Bravo team. However, when they discover the dead have risen, they realize the mansion may be the key to everything - while also being their worst nightmare imaginable. Players will cautiously navigate the mansion while defending themselves with whatever weapons they can find against the undead and other mutated creatures that wait for them around every corner. Additionally, players will solve puzzles and engage in massive boss battles that require quick reflexes but careful planning.
- How Long To Beat:
- 11 Hours
