When Capcom released its remake of Resident Evil 2 to glowing reviews, fans began to wonder if more Resident Evil games would get the same treatment. Along with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Resident Evil 2's remake revitalized the Resident Evil franchise; after the success of Resident Evil 2, it would only make sense for Capcom to capitalize. Fans' questions were answered once the remake of Resident Evil 3 was confirmed last year for a release in April.
Initially, fans were finding the initial reveal of the Resident Evil 3 remake to be promising. This remake seems to be very similar in style to Resident Evil 2's, with the addition of new storylines, re-imagined characters, and even redesigns of enemies like Nemesis. While some fans may not necessarily like some of the changes that the remake of Resident Evil 3 brings, it seems that Capcom is running with what worked before.
Resident Evil 3 is coming out in a few days, so now early reviews have started to come out. Although Resident Evil 3 released a demo earlier this month, this is the real chance for players to look at peoples' reactions to the game. With early reviews coming in, fans will be able to decide whether or not sticking to Resident Evil 2's formula has worked for Resident Evil 3. At the same time, players will be able to choose if they should go in on Resident Evil 3, or if they should sit this one out.
Here are some early reviews of the Resident Evil 3 remake.
TheSixthAxis (Nick Petrasiti)
Capcom have done a marvellous job with Resident Evil 3, reviving another of their beloved survival horror classics and making it feel completely fresh once again. Nemesis is back and he’s here to smash your face in.
Score: 9/10
GodIsAGeek (Chris White)
Resident Evil 3 is fantastic. Nemesis never becomes frustrating, and that dread in the back of your mind never goes away as you’re always waiting for him to pop up again. It looks amazing, with every location packed with great definition and detail. Whilst it may only take around seven hours to complete (the original was similar), there’s still plenty of reasons to replay. The game is filled with collectibles that open up models and concept art you can check out in the main menu, and the shop lets you purchase weapons, outfits, and more to take with you the next time you play.
Score: 9/10
ScreenRant (Christopher Teuton)
Resident Evil 3 is more of the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; it's just nothing new. Players who enjoyed Resident Evil 2 will enjoy this, and people who haven't played Resident Evil 3 since it was on the original PlayStation will undoubtedly be amazed at the amount of time, effort, and care put in to making the environments and characters look so much more realistic than they remember. Raccoon City, and the characters who inhabit it, has never looked better, and fans looking for the quintessential Resident Evil story need look no further than Resident Evil 3... just don't be surprised when the game isn't very surprising.
Score: 4/5
Twinfinite (Alex Gibson)
In lieu of that, Resident Evil 3 Remake ends up frustrating. It’s so damn good, but it’s disappointingly brief. The game looks stunning and it plays fantastically well, but I’ve beaten it twice and I don’t feel as though my hunger for Resident Evil has been satiated. Certainly, I’d have an even more bitter taste in my mouth had I paid $60, which ultimately makes it hard to recommend at full price to those outside the Resident Evil hardcore.
Score: 3.5/5
GamesRadar+ (Leon Hurley)
When everything hits its mark, Resident Evil 3 is almost every bit as good as last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake. A tense, jumpy retelling of the PS1 classic in a modern gaming language, it tries a few new ideas but works best when it sticks closely to the previous game’s template of undead crowd control and criss-crossing hub areas to unravel. Like the original game it’s a slightly more gun heavy take on the series’ zombie surviving, and one that rewards aggression more than caution to create a faster, more trigger happy adventure that’s still Resident Evil at heart. It lacks some of the depth and variety of last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake, with less puzzles and more action, but it’s still a rewarding slice of horror.
Score: 4/5
VG247 (Kirk McKeand)
It’s still worth playing, but Resident Evil 3 Remake is a step backwards for Capcom, coming off the back of one of the best games of last year. It’s gorgeous to look at, the jump scares will get you, and it’s like stepping into a comfy pair of slippers. But even though your feet are cosy, it never feels like home.
Score: 3/5
Destructoid (Chris Carter)
The remake of Resident Evil 3 is going to be divisive, just as the original was. While the action enhancements help the game mechanically (to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing them in other remakes), the stripped-down focus and removal of some of the original's weirder experiments hurt it. That all said, I'm still up for a yearly playthrough of both the original and the remake.
Score: 8/10
Eurogamer (Wesley Yin-Poole)
I feel like I'm coming down a little too hard on the Resident Evil 3 remake. After all, my expectations were set with the incredible Resident Evil 2 remake in mind. Jill is a triumphant character, and there are moments of genuine brilliance here. The hospital level, whose tone rekindles memories of Resident Evil 2's police department, is fantastically unnerving. But for every super cool area in the Resident Evil 3 remake, there are two areas that fail to inspire. Downtown Raccoon City is, unfortunately, not the expansive, multi-layered stalk-fest I'd hoped it would be. There are no alternate endings to chase, no story-altering choices to make, no new game plus mode. The source material is - and I think this is the perceived wisdom - simply not as good as the original Resident Evil 2. But I can't shake the feeling the Resident Evil 3 remake was rushed - as its original was. Now that's an unfortunate parallel.
Score: Unscored
Looking at the early reviews, it seems like the remake of Resident Evil 3 is being received generally positively. Reviewers have a lot of praise for the combat, how Nemesis has been implemented, and Jill's storyline, among other things. However, the reviews this time around are definitely more mixed than Resident Evil 2's reviews. Many reviewers are noting that it does seem like a step back from the Resident Evil 2 remake, referencing how limited and unsurprising Resident Evil 3 remake feels to them. It appears that Resident Evil 3 is perfect for fans of the series, but isn't necessarily a must-buy like its predecessor. Ultimately, the Resident Evil 3 remake does everything Resident Evil 2 did right, but fails to innovate in the same way.
Resident Evil 3 is scheduled to release on April 3, 2020, for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.