Resident Evil 2 Review

While being cooped up inside during this weird time, I have been trying to find ways to stay busy. Playing video games has been a lifesaver, and there is one in particular that I am totally invested in: Resident Evil 2. 

But before I move on to reviewing and gushing about this game, let’s have a quick history lesson. 

The first Resident Evil game was released back in March of 1996 for the Play Station by the company Capcom. It introduced a new and adrenaline spiking type of gameplay: survival horror. You had to be smart with your inventory and with the amount of ammo and health you used. While this may seem tricky on its own, you also had to fight and survive zombies and solve puzzles.  

The new horror gaming franchise was quick to produce a sequel: the original Resident Evil 2. Only two years after the first game, Resident Evil 2 was released on January 21st, 1998 and was a quick favorite. The game follows the two main characters Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they find themselves stuck in Raccoon City which is now infested with grotesque flesh-hungry zombies. You could choose to play as either Leon or Claire, and whoever you chose to play as first, the second character’s puzzles would show their side of the story. The game has sold 4.96 million copies since release and has since made the two main characters favorites among fans and other titles in the franchise.

Resident Evil 2 (the remake) was released on January 25th, 2019 and is a beautiful new adaptation to the original game. It was released for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. The remake has sold 6.5 million copies since it’s release early last year. 

Now let’s get on with the review. Warning: this game is not one for the faint of heart. 

I chose to play as Leon first, the wide-eyed 21-year-old rookie cop set to begin work at the Raccoon City Police Department. His first day isn’t exactly what he would have expected… 

While on his way to Raccoon City, he stops by a gas station where things seem a little off. At this point, the game just throws you right in, and there is nowhere left to go but inside the gas station. This is where we see our first zombie, and we meet Claire. Leon and Claire escape and find their way to the destroyed Raccoon City. Without giving too much away, Leon and Claire get separated, and you are forced to continue alone. 

As you run through the infested streets of Raccoon City, the RPD shines through it all like a beacon of hope. When you arrive, you are met with a seemingly abandoned precinct and cries for help. After an extremely disturbing welcome, we meet Lieutenant Marvin Branagh, our would-be boss if our workplace wasn’t currently swarming with zombies. With the help from late Officer Elliot Edward, you are tasked with trying to find medallions scattered throughout the station that will lead to an underground escape route.

As I made my way through the station, I found out zombies aren’t the only horrific monster trying to kill me. Lickers, as the game calls them, are grotesque enemies that have amazing speed and hearing. They enjoy creepily sneaking up on you in long dark hallways, jumping out in front of you, or charging at you full speed with sharp teeth and claws. I now have trust issues when it comes to hallways, even well-lit ones.

Besides never feeling safe anywhere in this police station, I did thoroughly enjoy this portion of the game. The station is gorgeous, despite it being terrifying. Capcom did an amazing job recreating the locations while still staying true to the original. The lighting and atmosphere is a big factor when it comes to horror games, and RE2 showcases that perfectly. The constant rainstorm outside or the creaking of the old iron chandeliers, adds great uneasiness and tension. It’s the small details throughout that really make a difference.

The graphics are also super important. This game is beautiful, but it also feels and looks real, adding just another level of horror. When you sit and play a horror game, you get the most scares by feeling like you’re in the game and experiencing it for yourself. This immersion is best produced with Capcom’s new RE Engine. It was first introduced in Resident Evil 7 and allows developers to include photorealistic rendering in their games. Character models, objects, clothing, and more are 3D scanned into the game to make the experience even more realistic. The sounds and soundtrack created for this game are also fantastic. I loved getting spooked by how loud footsteps are or hearing the echoing screams from an approaching Licker. For a glimpse into the sounds of the game check out the differences between Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 here, do proceed with caution though, these games are rated M for mature for a reason. 

Just like the original game, choosing to play either Claire or Leon’s campaign will give you different puzzles and a different side of the story. While playing as Leon you meet the alleged FBI agent Ada Wong who accompanies you through the sewers and into Umbrella’s underground lab. She is mysterious and totally not wearing proper gear for a zombie apocalypse, that however doesn’t stop Leon from helping her. In Claire’s campaign, you meet the young Sherry Birkin. A girl whose parents are working to create bio-weapons for the claimed pharmaceutical company Umbrella, and who may or may not be responsible for the better part of Raccoon City suddenly developing a craving for human flesh.

Speaking of the Birkins, Dr. William Birkin is our main boss throughout the game. After saving himself from being killed, he injects himself with his own deadly virus and mutates into a horrific monster. Getting continuously worse and persistent as the game progresses, both characters begin to become quite annoyed with the monster. To quote Claire during her battle with the monster for the fourth time, “Why can’t you just die?!” These boss fights are in small claustrophobic areas that add just the right level of stress. The mad rush of adrenaline after these fights is enough to keep you coming back for more.

Along with having to fight Birkin, both Leon and Claire are stalked by the Tyrant Mr.X. A huge grey beast in a trench coat and fedora, who has a passion for wanting to punch you in the face. His loud booming footsteps echoing all around you is terrifying on its own, not knowing where he’s gonna end up next, even more so. Although you may want to attack him so he takes a knee and leaves you alone for a bit, it’s better to conserve ammo and run away as fast as you can.

I think one of the few downsides to this incredible game is that the boss fight scenarios repeat each other. For example, if you fight Birkin the first time with Leon, when you play as Claire you have to re-fight him; even though Leon would have already fought him before you arrived. Having the boss fights differ rather than be repeated would have made the game more cohesive and the storyline more understandable rather than confusing.

For new and old players, Resident Evil 2 is an astounding game. Full of heart-shattering jumpscares, breathtaking graphics, and anxiety-ridden gameplay, it’s a new must-play for horror fans alike.

All that’s left now is deciding who to play as first: Leon or Claire?