Terminology can be a tricky thing when it comes to giving new life to old games. Is it a remake, a remaster, or a re-release? Often the truth lies somewhere along the spectrum. In the case of Resident Evil 2, the Capcom team is pushing back on assigning the term remake to this new iteration of an old fan favorite. While remake remains the most accurate term to assign to the game, Capcom rejects it to emphasize the fact that this game isn’t just a prettier, smoother, carbon copy of the original. In an interview with Gaming Bolt, Capcom Brand Manager, Mike Lunn explained their stance:
It won’t be faithful one to one. [As far as fans] [s]ome people played it once and some people played it a thousand times because it’s their favourite game. For the people that have even played it a thousand times, we wanted it to feel fresh. That’s why we don’t call it Resident Evil 2 Remake. It’s a new game built on top of the foundation.
The examples Lunn gives range from tweaking iconic set-pieces, like the introduction to Licker enemies, to revamping puzzles. He continues:
We want you to be scared by [the elements of the game], not just repositioned to a new part of the building, but sort of reimagined… we don’t want you to know exactly how the puzzles are solved, we don’t want you to know exactly where the enemies are going to be. We want to surprise you. So, we have changed things a bit. But on the whole, the main idea, the main arcs of the story are very similar. But there are going to be some new surprises in there as well.
It’s not uncommon for remakes to make some tweaks, so I’m expecting these changes to be pretty drastic, enough to warrant pushback on the “remake” label. Still, it begs the question: do we need a new term for games that make significant changes when remaking an original game? I’m going to throw my hat in the ring and say we should call these games a “reimagining.” I would if that’s a term Capcom would embrace?
Are you excited about the changes that will be coming to the Resident Evil 2 “remake?” Or would you rather it stick to the original as much as possible? Sound off in the comments below!
[Source: Gaming Bolt]
Resident Evil Games Ranked
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Resident Evil Games Ranked
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11. Resident Evil 6
I never enjoy writing about Resident Evil 6. It's a bad game that isn't even fun to mock, since it's not a lazily designed cash-in. It's a game that a huge staff poured their hearts into and it turned out terrible. Everything from the action to the story is somehow a mess, and it's one of the most disappointing titles in recent memory.
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10. Resident Evil 5
When I wrote about Resident Evil 5 a few months ago on the series' 20th anniversary, I said that the title was disappointing but not a bad game. Having replayed the recent PS4 port, I think I have to walk back that statement. Maybe it's because the 2009 release is so close to feeling like a modern shooter yet also feels constantly dated, but I can't remember another game that actively tried to make me not enjoy it. Every scene seemed memorable, but only for how unenjoyable and how terribly designed it was. Seemingly endless hordes of not-zombies filled every area, and the still combat just isn't fun anymore. There was certainly some fun to be had with RE5 in the past, but it only offers frustration today.
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9. Resident Evil Zero
Despite still looking great graphically, Resident Evil Zero feels very dated. That's not surprising, since the 2002 release felt like a tired entry in a series that needed to evolve when it came out. Thankfully, RE4 would come shortly afterwards, but Zero is a great showcase of why the series had to change.
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8. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
It was going to be hard to follow Resident Evil 2, so in that regard, it's not surprising that Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was a disappointment. That said, Jill Valentine's adventure isn't a bad one. While I'm not quite fond of the multiple Nemesis encounters, it did add a unique element to the game, and the series has tried to recreate such an encounter since then (only to fail several times).
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7. Resident Evil
The title that started it all was 1996's Resident Evil. From the iconic mansion to those damn dogs that jump through windows, I have a lot of fond memories of it. That said, it was still made in 1996 and the basic formula was improved from there on out (especially by its sequel). Plus, there is a far better version of the same game that I'll talk about in a bit.
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6. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X may look ugly as sin in 2016, but it still works from a gameplay perspective. It's one of the best designed Resident Evil titles, and definitely gave players more of what they loved out of the PS1 titles. It may not be pretty, but those who go on Code: Veronica's journey won't regret it.
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5. Resident Evil: Revelations 2
While the cooperative mechanics in Resident Evil Revelations 2 feel forced, it does tell an interesting story that is split into two distinct perspectives. Plus, players get to play as Barry Burton which scores huge points with me. I'm a simple man that likes Barry Burton, what else can I say?
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4. Resident Evil: Revelations
While Resident Evil: Revelations lost a little of its magic in the transition to consoles, it still marked a magnificent return to form for the series. It was decidedly a survival horror title, and it brought back a lot of the gameplay that old-school fans were starting to miss. It's a must-play for anyone that wishes Capcom would take the series back to its root, and a game that doesn't get nearly enough attention.
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3. Resident Evil 2
Out of the PlayStation-era games, Resident Evil 2 is easily the best. The Hideki Kamiya directed title had a rocky development, but Capcom was able to produce a classic survival horror title. Excitingly, a remake is on the way. One I can't wait to play, and am anxious to see how the publisher decides to update it. Let's hope a whole new generation can experience, and love, Kamiya's classic.
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2. Resident Evil (Remake)
The 2002 remake of Resident Evil is the standard that every remake should be held to. Even today, 14 years later, I can't think of a remake that managed to make so many smart design changes while also keeping true to the original. It was a fresh experience for even those who played the PS1 classic hundreds of times, and Capcom even did a great job in bringing it to PS4. It really speaks to how amazing the assets of the original were that it still looks great on current gen systems!
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1. Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 was a complete reinvention of a series that desperately needed it in 2005. Not only was it a fresh take on the Resident Evil formula, it was also the premiere action shooter released on Gamecube and PlayStation 2. While its sequels didn't do nearly enough to build upon the instant classic that Capcom released, it stands the test of time as an excellently designed title — albeit one with a few quirks in 2016.
