RESIDENT EVIL III [2020] STEAM PC REVIEW

💥   GREAT   💥

The positive:

💗 Intriguing plot, fleshed-out characters & proper mature tone

💗 Amazing graphics! A visual spectacle at 4K ULTRA with Ray Tracing

💗 Insane amount of detail, the visual art conveys a unique identity

💗 Keeps a strong focus on overall item management, exploration & survival

💗 Love the new dodge ability! makes you wonder why the Re2 Remake doesn't have that

💗 Like its predecessor it has lots of replay value, you can come back to it over and over

💗 Capcom brilliantly retells the story of Jill's desperate escape from Raccoon City

💗 Jill is such a badass female character! I love how she faces her nemesis without fear

💗 The cat-and-mouse dynamic between Nemesis & Jill kept me engaged and excited

💗 Encounters with Nemesis are fantastic, even though most of them are scripted, everyone one of them is memorable and well-executed, doing a better job that the "dynamic" Mr. X

The negative:

👎 Critics hammered the game length, I don't think is that short, but still I wanted more

👎 falls short of the sheer amount of content fans come to expect from Capcom's latest remake efforts

👎 They went too far with Terminator Jill when Nemesis showers you with missiles and she explodes all over the place and just keeps going like she fell off a bike

👎 They reduced puzzles to make a more action-oriented experienced but we could have both

 There is still a strong focus on overall item management, exploration & survival. The RE Engine also provides the right platform for extremely detailed visuals on characters and environments striking modernized graphics & gameplay while retaining the elements that made the original so beloved. Capcom brilliantly retells the story of Jill's desperate escape from the doomed Raccoon City, using an intriguing plot and more fleshed-out characters than the original. Despite all the achievements, it falls short of the sheer amount of content fans come to expect from Capcom's latest remake efforts

LUKEWARM RECEPTION

While last year’s RE2 Remake took the story and settings of the original game and expanded them into a finely tuned masterpiece, RE3 Remake took a different approach. They made the same complete overhaul as before, but the story and the path it takes from beginning to end, have seen some substantial changes compared to the original. They scraped a section in the campaign along with the choice-based sequences, which seem to be what made the original great according to some fans (?), and the removal of the alternate ending along with the mercenaries mode, ended up getting some die-hard fans to dislike or hate 2020 RE3.

I love this remake! I love everything about it! In so many ways it hits the high notes of just what a Resident Evil remake should be. Following last year's blueprint remake of Resident Evil II, it manages to take the core elements from the 1999 classic and make them feel fresh again while nailing the proper mature tone and keeping a strong focus on overall item management, exploration & survival. The RE Engine also provides the right platform for extremely detailed visuals on characters and environments striking modernized graphics & gameplay while retaining the elements that made the original so beloved. Capcom brilliantly retells the story of Jill's desperate escape from the doomed Raccoon City, using an intriguing plot and more fleshed-out characters than the original. 

I never used mercenaries or took an interest in that mode, but I guess I understand that If you like that, the removal of that mode is going to bother you. Having two endings was cool back then, setting a long debate about what really happened. Of course, I wanted only one ending and closure from the remake. But 2 decades later, I can't believe fans were expecting Capcom to recreate the same endings and leave the debate open once again. The choice-based sequences were original back then, but this is a remake not a remaster, they don't need to stick 100% with the original structure, they need to make changes to keep it fresh, and I love what they have done with the place 💗

TECHNICAL MARVEL

The graphics are superb! But the RE engine is a demanding beast. Upon release, I had an Asus ROG RTX 2060 which could handle almost every game with all maxed out at 1080p. Resident Evil III demands powerful hardware to run smoothly. Could not use the latest update to enable Ray Tracing: even in 1080p, the game has frequent frame rate drops. Seems like you need more power to run the game at a stable 60 FPS with RT at 1080p. Without RT the game runs really smoothly with everything maxed at 1080p. Mid-2022 I upgraded my rig with a ZOTAC RTX 3080ti and the difference in performance was brutal. Stable framerate at 4K ULTRA with Ray tracing maxed out. It looks amazing, top 5 best graphics ever. 

The level of detail and polish that RE3 broader environments show is breathtaking. Smashed cars are piled up outside of flickering neon signs, fires lick their way across vandalized storefronts, and broad industrial spaces are creepy and gloomy. The atmosphere around you is superb and always pulling out all the stops to make you feel vulnerable. There is a constant feeling of dread and danger while exploring the insanely detailed environments.

FACE YOUR NEMESIS

Re2 featured a dangerous indestructible enemy called Mr. X who would patrol the police station and chase down the player, becoming a constant threat and keeping things fresh. Some segments with Mr. X were among the most terrifying in the game. I have also exchanged experiences with some players that felt, like me, that the constant chase ended up breaking the game or the immersion since he is as dumb as persistent, sometimes you need to interact with an object to unlock a door or something and he wouldn't allow it, you need to take him for a stroll and come back later, wishing he found something better to do than forcing you to replay the same segment over and over. But no! he is there again ready to erode your patience. What started as something scary ended up being frustrating and tiresome.

Resident Evil 3 makes that terror of constant chase and danger the core of the experience. Right from the start, the Nemesis is chasing you. The presentation is brilliant, I was always scared of him and his brutal strength. That’s on full display in the phenomenal one-shot opening sequence, which begins with Nemesis attacking Jill in her collapsing apartment building and ends with a spectacular flameout. While there are moments when you’re safe, he is far more imposing and aggressive that his predecessor, making the calm steady walking Mr. X. Look like my grandma chasing me. He is faster and runs after you at full speed. He is more intelligent and can use weapons. If you’re far away, the Nemesis can grab you with creepy tentacles and pull you closer. Try to run away and the Nemesis might leap over your head to block the way, leaving you shocked while you try to figure out how to react. Knock him down with a grenade and you might buy some time... but I'm always scared to make him mad so I always try to run away, but even if you get away he can and will show up when you least expect it. And the best part: you don't need to take him for a stroll to clear the puzzle area like the dumbass Mr. X.

Nemesis is at its best when stalking you in the streets. The majority of the encounters occur in scripted sequences that lead up to boss fights. In the original game, Nemesis' random appearances kept you on edge. I still can't believe that my favorite part about how nemesis works gameplay-wise in the remake is what many fans actually hate. They wanted another Mr. X slowly chasing you all over the place like an actual dumbass that the only thing he can do is follow you. Mr. X is like a bicycle and Nemesis is the Ferrari in terms of what they can do to destroy their targets. Mr. X also broke the experience in RE2, making for some repetitive and frustrating encounters until you get the hang of the AI and you tend to his need to go for a stroll every time you need to complete a puzzle. The way they reduced these encounters with Nemesis in Re3 is fantastic, even though most of them are scripted, everyone one of them is memorable and well-executed. Mr. X was more dynamic in theory, but in the practice sometimes can break the gameplay experience and become boring. I know everyone loathed the nemesis encounters given their lineal nature, but as I said that worked better for me. 

ZOMBIE DODGE

Resident Evil 3 It’s a much faster-paced game than Re2, with a greater emphasis on action and far less focus on puzzle-solving. This was to be expected as the original was the more action-oriented entry in the series back then. Capcom’s shift in tone and design has been mirrored here in the remake. Jill is a lot nimbler on her feet than Leon or Claire, which gives the remake a more frantic, action-oriented feel than its predecessor without going into the all-out bizarre zombie warfare theme present in the following installments. Jill has a quick step or dodge move that allows her to sidestep an incoming attack, and when timed just right it earns you a slight slow-motion effect to help you escape. It’s a move I used regularly and compulsively, and it proved as important to the minute-to-minute combat as Jill’s arsenal. Item micromanagement is where the remake leans hardest into its old-school survival horror lineage. Like the original, items are your lifeline and inventory is limited. 

Perhaps the bigger issue is the reduced amount of puzzles compared to Re2 Remake. There are only a few to solve, and none involve much work. I think that was a bad design choice, you can have an action-oriented experience and still add more complex puzzles to keep it fresh between encounters and to variety to the gameplay. Re3 remake is a relatively straightforward adventure, and while you can spend time backtracking to find weapon attachments, extra resources, or lore insights, progression is quite linear.

JILL & CARLOS

I really like how Capcom reimagined Jill’s character in this remake. She is such a badass strong female character, and her sarcastic, irritable personality feels suitable given her situation. Railgun Jill was so badass at the end, I think she is my favorite female character.  Sometimes Jill will be like a terminator, she takes too much damage during the game, and she keeps going, I mean at 1st I was like Woah how much punishment can she take? but when nemesis showered Jill with missiles, she explodes all over the place, and the way she immediately gets up was kinda too much. I didn't like that.

Loved the strong characters, and the way the character arcs are mixed together. Carlos and Jill make for a great team. I was surprised to find myself rooting for Umbrella mercenary Carlos Oliveira as he comes across as a bit of a dick at the start when he saves Jill. But as the story progresses so does his character. In reworking Resident Evil 3's plot, Capcom has placed greater emphasis on Carlos, and you play as him in two extended portions of the game. Jill is of course the star of the show here, but I think the decision to develop his character and the way it is executed is brilliant.

CONCLUSION

Re3 was one of my favorites back in the day when I was a high school student, and this is an extraordinary way to re-experience a classic that takes me back to my teen years every time I play it. Although this remake might run a rather linear course, don't let that deter you from jumping into this solid action title that's extremely well-paced from start to finish. Just like RE2 did the year before, RE3 Remake makes a wonderful job with top-tier modernized graphics and gameplay, while retaining the elements that made the original a classic: close encounters with zombies & horrifying creatures, tense boss battles, and an overall emphasis on item management. Despite being more action-focused and its short length, Resident Evil 3 packs an amazing story with strong characters and a mass appeal to action and horror fans alike.

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