RESIDENT EVIL 2
A REmake that packs some bite, leaving us hungry for more
Reliving Leon Kennedy’s nightmare at work. Worst. Groundhog. Day. Ever.
Far from being a decaying corpse, Capcom’s revitalisation of the 20-year-old Resident Evil 2 is bursting with life. Remade to the extent it’s almost completely reimagined, positively glowing in the RE Engine that made Resident Evil VII such a treat, this version of Resident Evil 2 may as well be a completely new game. We kick off our hands-on demo as Leon Kennedy begins his first day at work, walking into the Raccoon City Police Station. The hub reception area is large, though suspiciously in disarray, with things strewn across the floor. Many doors promise splintering pathways, in a way that resembles the entrance hall of the Spencer Mansion from the very first Resident Evil.
Because, of course, this is the sequel to Resident Evil. But you wouldn’t think it from playing it, or even looking at it; this game is a full-blooded PS4 visual spectacle. Everything within the police station is packed with detail, moody lighting spilling through the windows, illuminating the darkness.
Our only way forward is to lift up a metal shutter over a door and crawl beneath. It’s completely dark in here, so we use our small torch. The beam is narrow, and even though it’s a third-person view and Leon’s control is much more fluid than the tank controls of old, it always feels like there’s something we just can’t quite see on the periphery. We’re always on edge. It’s amazing how Capcom has managed to
“SURVIVAL WILL REQUIRE US TO STAY CALM AND STAY SMART.”