I’ve never played the original RE3, so I had nearly zero expectations about what this game would or should be, and while it’s a definite step down from the RE2 remake, it’s still built on such a solid foundation that not even its numerous failings could hamper my enjoyment enough to feel too dissatisfied. On a harsher day I might've given this a 7, but I'm just a sucker for the RE formula.
It’s a short, straightforward, action-packed romp that lacks the more nuanced, exploratory, puzzle-solving nature of its predecessor, and unfortunately squanders most the potential of its refreshed bits’, but it still offers just enough of that endlessly seductive RE gameplay loop to be worth a playthrough. (The pricing is a lil’ steep tho.)
In a technical sense, it’s a wonderfully crafted game that looks, sounds and runs amazing. Environments ooze with atmosphere and are packed with detail, enemies are modeled and animated extremely well. It’s a sight to behold for sure.
The adjustments to gameplay are a mixed bag, however, the most welcome changes being some minor quality of life improvements (e.g. the slightly streamlined inventory management).
Other, bigger changes have plenty of potential, but the game simply does not manage to live up to them. Gameplay is tweaked to be a little more combat-oriented, with lots of weapons and plenty of ammo at your disposal, but most enemies feel a little too bullet-spongey for this to be a satisfying action game, and while the newly introduced dodge move is occasionally useful, it usually ends up being a bit unreliable in key situations. (Or maybe I just sucked at timing dodges well enough.)
The game is very set-piece heavy, so it’s a pity that they can easily end up being frustating, with you having to restart many times after dying clunky deaths, making them more of a chore than a culmination of excitement. Case in point: the nemesis boss encounters could’ve been the crowning achievements of the campaign, but they suffer from a lack of satisfying feedback that signals if you’re even on the right track.
It’s these less than stellar elements that make its relatively short length a plus, rather than a minus: it’s over just before getting too tiresome. Coming to it straight from a second run of RE2, I found it to be a well portioned bit of Resident Evil fun, but I don’t plan on coming back to it very soon.
It’s a short, straightforward, action-packed romp that lacks the more nuanced, exploratory, puzzle-solving nature of its predecessor, and unfortunately squanders most the potential of its refreshed bits’, but it still offers just enough of that endlessly seductive RE gameplay loop to be worth a playthrough. (The pricing is a lil’ steep tho.)
In a technical sense, it’s a wonderfully crafted game that looks, sounds and runs amazing. Environments ooze with atmosphere and are packed with detail, enemies are modeled and animated extremely well. It’s a sight to behold for sure.
The adjustments to gameplay are a mixed bag, however, the most welcome changes being some minor quality of life improvements (e.g. the slightly streamlined inventory management).
Other, bigger changes have plenty of potential, but the game simply does not manage to live up to them. Gameplay is tweaked to be a little more combat-oriented, with lots of weapons and plenty of ammo at your disposal, but most enemies feel a little too bullet-spongey for this to be a satisfying action game, and while the newly introduced dodge move is occasionally useful, it usually ends up being a bit unreliable in key situations. (Or maybe I just sucked at timing dodges well enough.)
The game is very set-piece heavy, so it’s a pity that they can easily end up being frustating, with you having to restart many times after dying clunky deaths, making them more of a chore than a culmination of excitement. Case in point: the nemesis boss encounters could’ve been the crowning achievements of the campaign, but they suffer from a lack of satisfying feedback that signals if you’re even on the right track.
It’s these less than stellar elements that make its relatively short length a plus, rather than a minus: it’s over just before getting too tiresome. Coming to it straight from a second run of RE2, I found it to be a well portioned bit of Resident Evil fun, but I don’t plan on coming back to it very soon.