A new Resident Evil 2 mod has completely removed the controversial Mr. X from the game, addressing one of the more divisive inclusions in the recent remake. While many community members felt the addition of Mr. X was consistent with the intention of the original game, others believed the encounters with him to be superficial, which led many to express a desire for a version that didn't have him in it.
Resident Evil 2 is one of the more pleasant surprises in gaming recently. It's the rare case of a remake managing to improve on a classic, one that was held to such a high standard that a misstep would have been a disaster. Capcom handled the property with care, though, and the result was a critical and financial success that resurrected discussion about other entries in the publisher's catalogue that deserve a remake of their own. Alongside Devil May Cry 5, Resident Evil 2 also helped buoy Capcom to an incredibly strong start to 2019.
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If there is a major flaw in Resident Evil 2, a fairly sizeable portion of the game's community seems to believe it's embodied in the presence of Mr. X. The mod, uploaded by a NexusMods user named maverickheart and called "X No More," is a relatively simple one that simply removes Mr. X entirely. Naturally, as Mr. X is a part of the game's plot at certain points, the mod also helpfully replaces him during these cutscenes with a harmless ghost instead. Here's a YouTube video of the mod in action:
The biggest draw to "X No More" is the fact that it doesn't break any scripted events, which is a huge boon for mods like these which can often mess with the experience a little too much to enjoy. The second best part, though, is that the removal of Mr. X makes Resident Evil 2 a bit more of a relaxed game. Players will still find their fair share of jumpscares and unsettling environments, but they'll be able to do it at their own pace, free from the fear of Mr. X suddenly making an appearance and causing things to spiral out of control unexpectedly.
Obviously, a lot of people like Mr. X as well, with other mods transforming him into Thomas the Tank Engine or replacing his musical score with DMX's "X Gon' Give It To Ya." The point is, if there's something players want, the Resident Evil 2 modding community is typically more than happy to deliver. Is the game better with or without Mr. X? That's probably a question no one can answer. Luckily, regardless of how you feel, the dedicated fans of Capcom's great remake are here to make sure there are options available.
Source: NexusMods