When Capcom launched its ambitious Resident Evil remake campaign in the late 2010s, few knew what to expect. Luckily, the remake of Resident Evil 2 turned out surprisingly spectacular, showing audiences the iconic 1998 horror game in an entirely new light, with stunning graphics and tight, reworked modern controls. Capcom would chase this game just a year later with the Resident Evil 3 remake, though it wouldn't garner anywhere near the same amount of praise as its predecessor.
Though it boasts the same incredible graphics, fun third-person shooter mechanics, and well-wrought survival horror staples, 2020's Resident Evil 3 was heavily criticized for lacking meaningful content, especially when compared to the Resident Evil 2 remake. Jill's misadventure in Raccoon City is certainly more trim than the dual journeys of Leon and Claire in RE2, and certain aspects of the original may not be as frightening in the remake, but RE3 (2020) is still well worth playing. The initial wave of criticism leveled against the Resident Evil 3 remake may have turned off some who would have otherwise happily devoured it, and now that five years have passed since its launch, these hesitant adopters should give it a chance.
Resident Evil Has a Brutal Mountain to Hike
The Resident Evil series is currently on top of the world, but if it wants to keep it that way it may need to make a big decision about its gameplay.
Time Has Proved How Underrated the Resident Evil 3 Remake Is
Resident Evil 3 (2020) Is a Great Modern Entry In the Series
While it might not be perfect, it would be extremely disingenuous to call 2020's Resident Evil 3 "bad." The remake is gorgeously realized, and the slick, chaotic streets of Raccoon City are a nice change of pace from the more compact and claustrophobic environments of the RE2 remake. Of course, one can make the argument that larger, open-air areas are inherently less scary than the cramped halls of the Raccoon City Police Department, but the reality is that they are simply different. The urban setting of RE3 allows for more unexpected enemy encounters, and it hides enough indoor environments to maintain a sense of occasional claustrophobia.
Aside from visuals, combat in Resident Evil 3 is much better than in its predecessor, especially when viewed through the lens of action-survival-horror. Put plainly, the RE3 remake is more RE4 than RE2 with respect to its gameplay, as ammo is more abundant even on higher difficulties, and weapons like the assault rifle make mowing down hordes of zombies a much more manageable endeavor. It makes sense that some players were disappointed by this action emphasis in the wake of the slower-paced Resident Evil 2 remake, but if one accepts RE3 as more of a horror-themed action shooter in the Resident Evil universe, they'll likely have a fantastic time.
Resident Evil 3's dodge ability goes a long way toward making combat feel more frenetic, smooth, and dynamic—it's perhaps the most significant mechanical change from the Resident Evil 2 remake.
The Years (and the Market) Have Been Kind to Resident Evil 3
While Resident Evil 3's shorter runtime isn't inherently bad, and it could actually be viewed as a positive depending on personal preference, its content-cost ratio at launch is far less defensible. The game was sold for $60USD back in 2020, the same price as its 2019 predecessor, which features two distinct, significantly longer campaigns. With Resident Evil 3 feeling a bit more like an RE2 half-sequel or spin-off due to its length, many have argued that a relatively conservative price would have been more appropriate.
Luckily, the cost has dropped considerably since release. At the time of writing, the Resident Evil 3 remake sells for around $40 on most digital storefronts—a much more respectable price, considering its comparable lack of content. It also regularly goes on sale for significantly less, making it a no-brainer purchase for fans of action games, survival horror, or third-person shooters in general.
Resident Evil 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 73%
- Released
- April 3, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- RE Engine
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
WHERE TO PLAY
Witness the downfall of Raccoon City. Relive the horrifying downfall of Raccoon City in a stunning reimagining of the 1999 survival horror classic. In the nightmarish hours leading up to and following the events of Resident Evil 2, only you can help surviving S.T.A.R.S. Officer Jill Valentine escape a city beset by a gruesome viral outbreak. But zombies aren’t the only threat out for your blood. The towering, near-indestructible bioweapon, Nemesis T-Type, is also on the hunt. This brutal monstrosity uses an arsenal of high-powered weaponry to relentlessly pursue you across Raccoon City, meaning nowhere is truly safe. Featuring cutting-edge presentation and revamped action-adventure gameplay, Resident Evil 3 updates the unforgettable Raccoon City story arc finale in explosive fashion.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 6 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- File Size Xbox Series
- 23 GB (February 2024)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
