The remake of Resident Evil 3 was announced during PlayStation’s December State of Play and is the next game to be built off of Capcom’s RE Engine. Just as with the remake of Resident Evil 2, the game is being developed entirely from the ground up, as opposed to just upgrading the visual aspects of the GameCube or original PlayStation game.
The characters from the original title have also been visually re-imagined. Jill Valentine, Carlos Oliveira, Nemesis, and company have all been given a visual make-over for the modern era. Capcom’s RE Engine uses facial capture in addition to capturing the movements of the cast of actors. This has allowed the developer to re-sculpt the look of each character in addition to re-imagining the environments of each Resident Evil 3 level.
Resident Evil 3 was released on the original PlayStation in 1999 (and later, GameCube in 2003). As was the trend in the mid to late 1990s, this game was 3D. The concept of 3D was so new to video games, however, that most titles suffered particular camera issues as a result of 3D not having any precedent in the industry. This led developers around the world to race against each other to solve the problem of 3D in games. There were a variety of camera solutions but a particular one, that was favored among point-and-click PC adventure games at the time, was the fixed camera.
This type of camera was frequently used in tandem with pre-rendered backgrounds. Though novel at the time, fixed camera angles and polygonal character models were of an art style that ultimately did not age well. Capcom realized this and also knew of the forever-strong commercial interest in Resident Evil (which was revitalized by Resident Evil 7 in 2017), then set out to remake the not-so-great-looking classics that gamers everywhere hold great nostalgia for. Every character has been reintroduced for the PS4 and Xbox One.
Jill Valentine
The protagonist of the game, players control Jill throughout the game as she attempts to escape Raccoon City. She is a member of the Raccoon City Police Department, but more specifically its S.T.A.R.S. task force. The main difference between her character model in the remake trailer and her model from the original PS1 game is in her clothing. Initially sporting a mini-skirt and a blue shoulderless top, the remake has her wearing actual pants and a more fitted tank-top this time around. She still has the same haircut and parts of her personality from the original game still shine through.
In the reveal trailer, there are sections where the game is portrayed using first-person camera. This would differ from the remake of Resident Evil 2, which had no first-person camera, but would still relate to Resident Evil 7, which was comprised entirely of a first-person camera. However, these few sections toward the beginning of the trailer are more than likely just parts of a cutscene and not actual moments of controllable gameplay.
Nemesis
When it comes to Nemesis, the biggest changes are the inclusion of a legitimate nose and the change in the teeth. Many fans caught wind of this early, leading to a great number of Resident Evil 3 Remake memes about Nemesis, and while this design change may seem strange, it's likely that Nemesis is as terrifying as ever - if not more so - in the game.
Mikhail Viktor
The former Soviet soldier is dispatched after the outbreak. He aids Jill and Carlos in their mission throughout Raccoon City. He appears more grizzled and roughed up in the remake, having grown a full beard this time around. He could potentially play a bigger role in the remake, supporting Jill and Carlos more toward the first half of the game. He still has his soldier’s hat, too.
Murphy Seeker
Murphy is one of the unfortunate souls to be infected early on by the T-Virus, quickly becoming a liability. A former Marine who was hired as a mercenary for Umbrella Corporation, Murphy holds a brief moment of spotlight in the Resident Evil 3 remake reveal trailer. He wears clothing in the trailer similar to his original appearance.
Brad Vickers
Another unfortunate soul, Brad, the helicopter pilot, also has a brief moment in the trailer. Brad's bright yellow Raccoon Police Department jacket is back and is just as prominent as it was back then. Brad is seen in the trailer trying to convince Jill to be fearful of the situation.
Nikolai Zinoviev
The dubious Moscow operative is back and has his signature silver hair looking sharper than ever. He does not have his traditional dark green military uniform this time, trading it for a more serious light black one. The green military costumes of original PlayStation games can also be attributed to the lack of deep color ranges in that age of gaming technology.
Tyrell Patrick
Another mercenary hired by Umbrella, Tyrell only gets about half of a second’s worth of screen time in the reveal trailer. It's clear that his glasses make a stylish comeback, but there's some clear differences in his face that will hopefully be made more clear in the coming months.
Carlos Oliveira
One of the main characters of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Jill’s partner, Carlos, is back and will play just as big a role as he did in the original game, if the leaked key art for Resident Evil 3 is anything to go by. Also, going by that art and the reveal trailer, Carlos perhaps has the biggest change in appearance going from PS1 and GameCube to the remake. He has been given a much frizzier hairstyle that covers most of his ears and forehead. This is likely due to the look of the actor that was cast.
Resident Evil 3 has a lot going for it. Capcom has been doing its part revitalizing the series ever since the release of Resident Evil 7 and the remake of Resident Evil 2. With the success of those entries (Resident Evil 2 has sold more than four million units alone), this new remake is looking good for it. Capcom had given a tremendous amount of dedication in remaking Resident Evil 2, having paid great attention to cast, level and character design, and much more.
It appears to be giving the same amount of dedication into remaking its sequel. The difference between the two remakes though is that Resident Evil 3 will be featuring the new one-versus-four asynchronous multiplayer mode in development at Capcom, known as Resident Evil Resistance. That dedication will be on full display when the game releases in April.
Resident Evil 3 is scheduled to be released April 3, 2020 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One