Summary
- The success of the Resident Evil 4 remake and the upcoming 30th anniversary of the franchise present a perfect opportunity for Capcom to release another remake, specifically of the 2002 GameCube reimagining of the original Resident Evil.
- The original remake of Resident Evil still holds up visually and tonally, and with the capabilities of the RE Engine, a remake of the original game could potentially be the best-looking game in the series yet.
- A remake of the original Resident Evil could also revamp the gameplay by switching to an over-the-shoulder third-person camera perspective, similar to the modern Resident Evil remakes, which would up the tension and give fans a new experience while still playing on their nostalgia.
Despite the year featuring several other noteworthy survival horror releases, Resident Evil remains at the top of the genre pile thanks to this year's incredible Resident Evil 4 remake and a bright future ahead of the franchise. With the series approaching its 30th anniversary in 2026, there's an opportunity for Capcom to capitalize on the history and relevance of the series in the current gaming landscape in a big way, and perhaps no other honorary would suit the Resident Evil franchise better than another remake of a beloved title coinciding with the momentous occasion. It's time for a remake of the 2002 GameCube reimagining of the original Resident Evil, otherwise known as the REmake.
The REmake predates both the original Resident Evil 4 and the more recent series of franchise remakes that continue to be a critical and commercial success for both the Resident Evil series as a whole and parent company Capcom. With the release and acclaim of Resident Evil 4's remake, the franchise has a perfect full-circle moment that Capcom should seize by updating the original game to be more in line with Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4's remakes. And with news of a next-gen version of the proprietary RE Engine being a priority within Capcom, the second remake of the first Resident Evil could boldly establish a new path forward for the series.
The 2002 Resident Evil Remake Deserves to be Brought Up to Speed
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the REmake (which has since received ports to modern consoles as Resident Evil HD Remastered) is how much its tone and visual fidelity still hold up nearly 20 years later. Famously, REmake was released at a time when the series was in desperate need of grounding following the off-the-wall Code Veronica and helped to return the franchise firmly back to its horror roots. And, despite a lengthy gap between the remakes of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2, the modern Resident Evil remakes carry that same tonal consistency established in the original's 2002 remake.
The RE Engine has proven to be capable of rendering some truly impressive worlds and spectacle, transforming games that are more than 20 years old into some of the best-looking titles on the market, and the possibility of Capcom being able to breathe new life into the original Resident Evil and bring it up to speed with the rest of the series' remakes could potentially produce the best-looking game in the series yet. The Spencer Mansion is one of the most iconic and recognizable settings in a video game, and even though the reimagined version still looks good 20 years later, a glow-up made possible by modern technology couldn't hurt.
Beyond just improved visuals and consistency across series remakes, though, a new version of the original Resident Evil could revamp the gameplay by removing the infamous fixed-camera perspective in each room and switching to an over-the-shoulder third-person camera like the modern Resident Evil remakes. Both the GameCube version and the Resident Evil HD remaster give players the option to use full-3D movement or the original "tank controls", but the switch to a camera perspective more in-line with Resident Evil 2 could significantly up the tension, especially if Capcom plays with fans' nostalgia and expectations and switches up enemy placements and room layouts.
The Resident Evil franchise is quickly approaching a major milestone that few franchises have the lasting power to achieve, making it a prime candidate for a worthwhile celebration similar to what fans would expect when other major franchises celebrate anniversaries. With the series in perhaps the best position it's been in since its heyday in the 90s or the release of the original Resident Evil 4 and the ensuing revolutionary impact it had on the industry, a new vision of the original Resident Evil feels thematically prescient. The GameCube REmake is still an incredible game, but Capcom has a unique opportunity to make the newest remake of the original the definitive game in the franchise.
- Released
- March 22, 1996
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Number of Players
- 1
A series of gory attacks in the area surrounding a remote biotech lab brings in S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad) to investigate. On arrival, Bravo Team communications are abruptly cut off. Now it's up to your team.
You arrive at the isolated mansion under-powered and on the run. Arm yourself with anything you can find: knives, pistols, shotguns, flame-throwers - search for hidden rounds to stay alive!
There are puzzles to solve, traps to disarm and mysteries to uncover while trying to avoid a blood-bath with the freaks of nature that populate the mansion. Each lurking horror you survive will bring you closer to the source of the Resident Evil.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Sega Saturn, Nintendo DS, PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
