It has been nineteen years since the first Resident Evil game was remade, an act that arguably jump-started the "remaking" phase of popular video game franchises. Capcom was very wise to see the convenience in upgrading an old classic while they were still working on the future releases of the immensely popular survival horror series.
There have been countless remakes of classic games in the past few years, most of them quite good. The remake of Resident Evil will always be remembered as a fantastic extension of the original game and a successful reimagining of the beginning of the series. Some fans consider it the best game in the franchise, owing largely to the emphasis on survival over action. Although the remake largely added content to the game's original concept, it also had some interesting ideas cut from the final product.
6 The Laser Gun
The weapons of the Resident Evil series have always had a certain style to them, from the goofiest gun to the coolest knife. A laser gun is a bit out there though, even for a franchise like Resident Evil. Early on in the development of the remake, a large laser gun was showcased in the game's prototype, specifically as a test for some of the game's effects.
Despite it likely not ever having a place in the game itself, the idea that it could have been an unlockable or secret weapon is not at all far-fetched. Resident Evil would have probably been way too easy if players could simply have zapped the zombies with a hulking laser rifle.
5 Live-Action Actors
Perhaps the most notable difference between the original and the remake (besides graphics) is the deletion of the live-action cutscenes. The iconic beginning and ending sequences of the original game star real actors as the game's characters.
These scenes were replaced by regular graphic cutscenes in the remake, likely due to the cheesy nature of the live-action. The remake notably moved away from the corny horror of the original, instead trying its best to genuinely scare players. This would set the stage for the rest of the series, which has continued to move in a creepier direction, with subtle nods to its wacky origins.
4 Difficulty Modes
Debates on which game is harder are still common among fans, with some saying the original is the true challenger and others arguing the remake has more areas and puzzles.
The original game had very limited difficulty settings, making up for it with the Directors Cut version which includes an "Arranged" mode that rearranges the game's items and enemies. This mode is missing from the remake, but the 2002 game did include some additional unlockable game modes that more than made up for it.
3 Invisible Enemies
The developers of the Resident Evil remake had some devious ideas to make the game more difficult, with one of the more notable ones being to make all of the game's enemies invisible.
While that certainly would have made the game more difficult and achieved some notoriety, the team ultimately scrapped the idea since it would have changed too much of the gameplay from the original. They did include the invisible enemy mode as an unlockable difficulty for players who really wished to challenge themselves.
2 The Original Script And Story
The remake of Resident Evil was originally going to a carbon copy of the original, with few additions besides updated graphics and gameplay. As time went on the game was tweaked and developers added new areas, plotlines, and puzzles, these changes ultimately deviated from the original script and story.
They are almost two completely different games, despite all the similarities between them. Due to the original having an odd localization and clunky dialogue, the remake had to shift some things around for a generation of gamers looking for realistic horror. Although some old-school aficionados prefer the silly vibes of the original, the remake did bring Resident Evil into the modern era and helped change video game remakes forever.
1 Unlockable Costumes
A common feature in Resident Evil games, unlockable costumes give players a reason to revisit the story mode after completing the game. While there are a few costumes in the 2002 remake, as well as the HD remaster, they are quite different from the original game's alternative attire.
Most of the costumes cut from the remake could be described as casual wear, including leather jackets and tube tops, but there were also alternative police uniforms and color schemes for the playable characters, as well as Rebecca. The remake included updated variations on the street clothes style and army attire, but fewer options were available. These costumes were obtained after completing the game and could be found in a secret room hidden inside the mansion.