Are Resident Evil fans ready for a Code Veronica remake? Is it time for Claire Redfield to return to Rockfort Island in search of her brother, Chris? Many die-hard RE fans appear more than ready to dive into this critically-acclaimed cult-classic once more. And with all the bells and whistles of next-generation gaming consoles, the possible Code Veronica remake can tell its story in stunning 8K clarity.
A remake of RE4 is rumored for a 2022 release. But that doesn't mean Capcom won't bring us back to the 2000 Dreamcast classic somewhere down the line. With next-gen hardware on the horizon, it's likely that any possible Code Veronica remake will find a home on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Here are six reasons why Capcom should bring Code Veronica into the next generation and four reasons they shouldn't.
10 Should: Code Veronica Can Be Described As More Of A Sequel To RE2 Than RE3
RE: Code Veronica follows up on Claire Redfield's search for her brother, something that is first referenced in Resident Evil 2. Immediately, the game shows us that Claire's mission to find her brother led her to an Umbrella facility in Paris. The character storylines of both games are inherently linked, something absent in comparison to RE3.
Code Veronica, despite not being numerically titled, appears to be more of a direct sequel than RE3: Nemesis. Redfield's motivation to find her brother carries over from RE2 to Code Veronica, showing tremendous plot continuity between both games. Whereas, RE3 was just another viewpoint from the Raccoon City infestation. Rather than being a direct sequel, Resident Evil 3 is both a prequel and a sequel. RE3 begins before the events of the second game, but ends following Leon and Claire's escape.
9 Shouldn't: Cool It With All The REmakes!
What's with all the remakes these days? Is nothing sacred?! Why not try something original instead?
Capcom doesn't have to keep altering beloved classics. Instead of keeping fans locked in REmake territory, why not focus on bringing us into the next generation of Resident Evil with RE8 and beyond? The entertainment industry, whether video games or movies, should try and take more risks rather than constantly relying on remakes. It's getting to be a bit too much.
8 Should: Tell The Story With The Best Visuals Possible
Remaking Code Veronica on next gen consoles would provide this cult classic with a visual update that it has long deserved. It has been over 20 years since the game's initial release in February 2000 on Sega's Dreamcast. Although, visually enhanced in 2011, the graphics don't hold up well to today's standards.
With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, Capcom has the potential to make a REmake more powerful than any game before it. Even if RE4 gets the next gen treatment first, Code Veronica should be next in line for a full-fledged remake. Imagine your journey through Rockfort Island and Antarctica with breath-taking 8K visuals.
7 Shouldn't: Fans Should Just Play Code Veronica X HD Remaster Or Other Versions Of The Game
If Resident Evil fans want to play Code Veronica so badly, they can still play the HD remaster. This 2011 release, although not visually perfect, is still a very fun game to play. Besides, the graphics aren't that outdated and still look quite pretty. The old-school vibe of fixed camera angles really brings back feelings of nostalgia that might be killed off in a remake.
This enhanced version of Code Veronica X can be played now on the PS3, Xbox 360, and Xbox One through backwards compatibility. Or if you really want to get old school, fire up a Dreamcast. Play Code Veronica like it originally was intended.
6 Should: Resident Evil Remakes/Remasters Sell Well
Say what you will about remakes being played out, it's still highly profitable. Capcom has made millions of sales when it comes to Resident Evil remakes and remasters. The long-awaited remake of Resident Evil 2 outsold its original PlayStation version by over 800,000 units. Similarly, HD remastered versions of Resident Evil and RE0 both outsold their original GameCube releases by at least a million units.
The remake of Resident Evil 3 reportedly shipped two million units in five days. There is an obvious hunger from consumers to relive games of the past rebuilt for modern consoles. The remake of Resident Evil 2 is currently Capcom's sixth best-selling game of all time, with roughly 5.8 million units sold. Similarly, the original 1998 release of Resident Evil 2 for PS1 is Capcom's seventh best-selling game of all time. That game sold 4.96 million units worldwide, not counting the various ports and updated re-releases.
5 Shouldn't: Just Remaster It Again Instead Of Going For A Remake
As previously stated, remastered games are also quite profitable much like remakes. Resident Evil 4 has been ported and remastered to multiple different consoles, past and current gen. And this isn't because re-releasing games is a hobby for Capcom. One of the more recent RE4 remasters, released for the PS4 and Xbox One in 2016, sold 1.6 million units.
The market for Resident Evil remasters is provably profitable and less expensive to produce than a ground-up remake. To satisfy fans' hunger for an updated Code Veronica experience, Capcom can release an "ultimate edition" of the game. Capcom could improve on the already enhanced visuals from the 2011 HD remaster, adding more detailed textures and character models while improving the frame-rate. And if this sells well, Capcom can finally get to work on the remake for next gen consoles.
4 Should: Maintain Chronological Order With REmakes
Capcom has already remade the first three games in the series and updated their graphics for modern standards. If Capcom were to continue making their remakes in chronological order then Code Veronica should be next on the list. Claire's adventure on Rockfort Island and Antarctica takes place three months following the event of RE2 and RE3: Nemesis.
However, the next rumored remake in the RE series is Resident Evil 4, speculated to be released sometime in 2022. The events of RE4 takes place a whole six years after RE2. If the RE4 remake releases before a Code Veronica remake then chronological order obviously isn't that important to Capcom. However, even if Capcom doesn't maintain chronological order, there is still a chance Code Veronica will be updated for next gen consoles. The drive to maintain chronological order would just mean the remake of Code Veronica could see an earlier release than expected.
3 Shouldn't: Could Take Away From The Charm Of The Original
Updating Code Veronica per modern standards would likely take away much of its charm, fixed camera angles and tank controls included. The magic of fixed camera angles in the PS1 games really played into the survival horror genre, providing numerous jump scares while adding a deeper level of tension knowing that an unseen enemy could be lurking around any corner. Recent RE remakes did away with these features that enhanced the spooky atmosphere of the original games.
2 Should: Would Be A Longer Game Than The Last REmake
When it comes to gameplay, Code Veronica is almost two times longer than Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. On average, it takes about 11.5 hours to beat a Code Veronica campaign (X or original). Meanwhile, it takes gamers about 6.5 hours to beat the original RE3. The remake for RE3 takes even less time to beat, with an estimated average six hours of gameplay.
RE3 was originally designed as a spin-off, side-story, so it was never meant to be that big of a game. And despite Code Veronica not being a numbered title, it was given much more detail than RE3. And as previously stated, Code Veronica appears more like a sequel to RE2 than the most recent remake. Simply put, RE fans deserve a bigger survival horror title to stink their teeth into and a Code Veronica remake would be the right choice.
1 Should: Listen To The Critics & Fans
It should go without saying that many people love Code Veronica, gamers and critics alike. Gamespot gave Code Veronica X a score of 9/10, similarly BagoGames gave this classic a 9.5/10. The game also received rave reviews upon release and is one of the Dreamcast's best selling titles.
Meanwhile, in mid-April, Code Veronica blew up on Twitter. Fans are demanding a remake and Capcom should listen.