A mod for the 2002 HD remaster of the original Resident Evil has turned back the clock on the character models, essentially making them look like their 1996 counterparts. Video game 'demakes' have been around for some time now and there are a number of examples of fans making more modern titles look like they belong in a bygone era. For example, there's the N64 demake of Portal, as well as the modder who reimagined Elden Ring as an SNES game.
As for Resident Evil itself, it's a franchise that spans many decades, with the first installment coming out in the mid-90s, helping to shape the survival horror genre. The 20-year-old remaster released on Nintendo GameCube and was a significant visual overhaul of the classic game. Even though it's aged over the years, the remake still holds up pretty well. However, it hasn't stopped someone from juxtaposing the high-definition visuals of the game with the low-poly aesthetics more befitting of a retro title.
As spotted by DSO Gaming, user beardsvcgaming has shown the world what the 1996 Resident Evil characters look like when inserted into the 2002 remaster. While the gameplay elements of the HD remake are still intact, there is a striking imbalance between the way the Spencer Mansion and surrounding environment looks, and the PS1-style shapes of Jill, Barry, and the rest of the STARS team. It's also worth noting that this mod is not just about the visuals. The creator has also swapped out the sound effects for the ones used in the 1996 release, creating a neat blend between old and new.
It's also nice to see the fan base still giving love to these timeless games even after all these years. While many gamers consider Resident Evil 4 the best entry in the series, there's no denying the impact the first installment had on the horror genre. The GameCube remaster helped breathe new life into the maiden entry, especially considering it would be a few more years before the fourth game would come along and reinvent the franchise.
With Resident Evil Village's Shadows of Rose DLC about to drop, the RE games are showing there is still plenty of life left in them. There was a bit of a lull after the release of the fifth and sixth entries, but 2017's Biohazard helped take the series back to its roots, and things have been on the up and up for Capcom's flagship horror games since.
Resident Evil HD was released in 2002 for GameCube.
Source: DSO Gaming, Nexus Mods