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Without veering into spoiler territory, Annette Birkin’s role in both campaigns is night and day compared to that of the original she’s now a multifaceted character with agency who’s intrinsic to the game’s narrative.
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Some of these appearances are fleeting, sure, whilst others are given more prominent roles in the overall story, but irrespective of screen time you’ll come out the other side with an added appreciation for each due to the care that Capcom has evidently put in. There’s been a lot of discussion leveled towards which creatures have and have not made the cut this time around but one of the most remarkable aspects of this remake, especially for those with an affinity for the original, is the amount of additional characterization and depth that has been afforded to virtually every single side character along the way. What perhaps wasn’t as expected, however, is just how the game treats its eclectic cast of side characters. Old Side Characters Are Given New Life In This Remake Graphical advancements in the last twenty years would of course dictate that both protagonists will be more expressive, emotive, and realistic, but the great writing, added interactions, and overall tension that is borne out of the ambiance and how they react to the horror means that this is without a doubt the most well-rounded iteration of each character to date. Though their character outlines remain mostly intact, Capcom has added substantially to each, creating a level of depth and relatability that really makes you empathize with their conjoined plight. Though the resolutely fixed perspective of the 1998 original have been eschewed, the new over-the-shoulder perspective gives Capcom plenty of new ways to terrify and unnerve the player. Leon is still imbued with that innate sense of duty, whilst Claire acts as the spunky counterweight, quick to stand up and be counted on when push comes to shove. Times have changed and so has certain development sensibilities, so there has much more on the line – and indeed much more room to slip up – when trying to modernize Resident Evil 2’s key components, such as its ‘zapping system’ and its popular set of characters.įor the remake, the dual campaigns are back, with one for both Leon and Claire completing one will unlock the ‘B-side’ of the other, which changes the introduction up a little and some other small aspects. It was an unenviable task that developer Capcom faced, that’s for sure, having to systematically overhaul the second entry in one of its premier franchises to a more drastic degree than that of its stunning effort with original Resident Evil back in 2002.
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Make no mistake, the Resident Evil 2 remake doesn’t simply retread old ground, it repaves it.
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Kennedy and Claire Redfield in a smarter, more refined, and tense fashion. It planted the seed and set the tempo for future releases to come so it’s perhaps fitting, then, that this remake some twenty years later tightens and expands these advancements and presents the maiden story of Leon S. It was a natural evolution from its predecessor – larger, more intricate, technically sounder, and far more grandiose in its narrative. In truth, there hasn’t been a survival horror game that has had as profound an effect on me as Resident Evil 2. It was the guttural, deep sound of the zombies the foreboding sense of urgency that was then replaced by the slow-paced meticulous nature of the RPD itself. Technically speaking, the Resident Evil 2 remake isn’t just a magnificent recreation of one of the best games ever, it’s a stunning contemporary effort in its own right, too. Though we never did quite uncover why there wasn’t a bathroom in the entire building, mind.
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Ironically, perhaps, when it finally did arrive in April of 1998 I spent the vast majority of my time cowered behind the couch, as my uncle – who had kick-started my fondness for the series by gifting me an issue of Play Magazine that featured the Spencer Mansion’s window-smashing dog on its cover – went through the motions of uncovering the secrets of the Raccoon City Police Department. Resident Evil 2 Is A Masterful Remake Of A Beloved Classic
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