How Has 'Resident Evil' Reinvented Itself?
The modern remake culture in video games evokes complicated feelings across the industry. Despite being such a multifaceted argument that says a lot about how companies and audiences view older titles, it boils down to the question of whether it is worth remaking a game above anything else. What new value can come from rehashing the old? Many examples exist of remakes that fail to do anything interesting with the title, but a series that has more often than not created valuable remakes is the iconic Resident Evil.
2019 saw the release of the Resident Evil 2 remake, one of the most beloved gaming remakes by its fans. Despite this, many of its supporters also claim that the remake is fundamentally a different experience than the original. The fixed camera angle was replaced with Resident Evil 4’s over-the-shoulder camera. The story was heavily altered, with events being changed and characters acting differently, notably carrying a similar tone to Resident Evil 7. The terrifying Mr X in Resident Evil 2 was given a new role as a persistent and constant stalker enemy who relentlessly chases you, much like Nemesis in Resident Evil 3 and Jack Baker in Resident Evil 7. Clearly, the Resident Evil 2 remake was reinvented to appeal to both new and old fans of the series. Those familiar with the original may revisit the game they loved from 1998 with gameplay adapted from newer Resident Evil titles, whilst more recent fans can enjoy discovering the classic aspects for the first time.
The tonal development and plot changes of the Resident Evil 2 remake not only enhanced the individual game’s plot but also reinforced the later-released Resident Evil 4 remake. The original Resident Evil 4, despite being an incredible experience, lacked connective tissue with the other games in the series and remained largely a stand-alone adventure. The Resident Evil 4 remake, however, uses seeds sown in the Resident Evil 2 remake to mature the story and add valuable extra context. The tone and themes of both games align more effectively. Leon Kennedy’s character arc and experience from the previous game are directly built upon with added cutscenes and dialogue, and the knife used throughout the game has the same model as one given to Leon specifically in the Resident Evil 2 remake.
Resident Evil 4 is often referred to as a campy action movie with a generic action hero that embraces a more absurd and over-the-top tone. The remake maintains an element of this, but fills in many of the narrative gaps in subtle ways, and is able to reinvent the same story with a different tone that links it further to the other games in the series.
Keeping old games alive through remakes is important, but missing the opportunity to use hindsight to make valuable changes is a failure of creativity. Looking at older stories in new contexts can always be exciting for both fans of the old and the new. Hopefully, we see more of this in the upcoming Resident Evil Veronica, where we expect to encounter familiar threats and new nightmares in this latest entry of the iconic survival horror franchise.
Edited by Isabella Lindudottir, Deputy Editor in Chief
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