Resident Evil 3's remake builds upon the new gameplay established in last year's Resident Evil 2, perfectly mixing the classic survival horror formula with the over-the-shoulder camera and shooting popularized by Resident Evil 4. With two remakes in a row under the Japanese franchise's belt, all signs point towards the next entry being Resident Evil 8.
Some leaks spill potential details about the eighth numbered entry, but nothing is set in stone and Capcom has yet to officially announce anything. If the next game is a sequel to 2017's highly-venerated Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, here are 10 things from the Resident Evil 3 remake it should borrow.
10 Jill Valentine
Jill Valentine is one of the two playable protagonists, along with Chris Redfield, in the franchise's 1996 debut. Before the recent game, she had been out of the spotlight for eight years, with her last starring role being Resident Evil: Revelations.
She is a fan favorite, however, and many players would love to know what she has been up to since her last appearance. In Resident Evil 5, Jill was brainwashed by Wesker, but Chris managed to break the villain's control over her. She is no doubt still in the fight trying to protect the world from biological weapons.
9 Dodge
Resident Evil 3 was far from the first game in the franchise to feature a dodge mechanic, but it brought it back after Resident Evil 2 lacked one. Giving talented enough players a chance to escape a corner with a well-timed dodge is a welcome addition to the gameplay.
There's no reason why Resident Evil 8 should lack one. Even if it is in first-person like Resident Evil 7, a dodge could still be implemented.
8 RE Engine
The RE Engine was first built and used for Resident Evil 7. Not only is it gorgeous to behold, but it manages to sustain high frame-rates on consoles, an impressive feat these days.
All subsequent Resident Evil games have used this engine, and it is difficult to believe the next game will change it up. Next-generation consoles can surely do even more with the engine than fans can imagine.
7 Shop
After beating Resident Evil 3, a shop opens up with special items players can purchase using points accumulated by completing Records. It is not dissimilar to the shop unlocked at the end of Dino Crisis 2 and brilliantly adds replay value to the product. Resident Evil 8 would be foolish to not include a similar feature.
6 Third-Person Perspective
Current leaks suggest a return to the first-person view done in Resident Evil 7. While that game was fantastic, most fans would be just as happy with the perspective offered by the two recent remakes.
Ultimately, whichever perspective Capcom chooses should be fine, as long as it is the right pick for the game. It worked so well in Resident Evil 7 because of the claustrophobic environments.
5 Variety Of Difficulty Options
Veteran fans appreciate a tough adventure through the waking nightmares the franchise presents. However, some inexperienced players may be put off by a challenging campaign.
The recent entries did a great job of striking a balance between three different play styles. "Assisted" mode is for those who are unfamiliar with the horror series, "Standard" takes one training wheel off, and "Hardcore" is a true challenge where every bullet counts. Hopefully, the sequel features a similar selection of difficulty options.
4 Zombies
The recent remakes made zombies scary again, an impressive feat considering how commonplace they became in recent years. The way they moan and stumble menacingly towards the player strikes fear into even the bravest fans.
Resident Evil 7 eschewed zombies for a new biological threat, but not many people wouldn't be disappointed if the classic monsters made their way into Resident Evil 8.
3 Exploration
Exploration has always been a staple of the series, so it does not seem like it will go away in Resident Evil 8. In what is considered by many as the series' weakest point, Resident Evil 6 eliminated scrounging around the environments in search of resources and currency in favor of a more streamlined, action-packed experience.
It doesn't look like the series will stray in that direction again, especially considering how positively received the more recent entries have been.
2 Map System
While everybody loves exploring and discovering new secrets, it is also nice when the game lets the player know they have seen all there is to see. Resident Evil 3's map is kind enough to mark a room blue once Jill has found all the items within it.
If a room is red, then more items are waiting to be discovered. It does not hold the player's hand, but it also does not waste their time with a false promise of more secrets that are still waiting to be discovered.
1 Weapon Upgrade System
While Resident Evil 3 does not feature the weapon upgrade system of Resident Evil 4 and 5, where they can be purchased from shops, Jill and Carlos can find add-ons in the world to improve a gun's performance.
In this way, exploration is more than just scrounging around for ammunition and healing items. On the harder difficulties, finding the right attachment is vital for defeating some of the more challenging bosses and making tougher enemies a little more manageable.