Resident Evil HD Remaster Review (PC)

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key review info
  • Game: Resident Evil HD Remaster
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
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Resident Evil HD Remaster review on PC

High-definition remakes of older games have been quite popular in the last few years, as many publishers and developers saw that, with minimal investment, an old game could produce a new profit via aging gamers and their nostalgia.

However, Capcom did this many years ago, back in 2002, when it rolled out the remastered version of 1996's Resident Evil for the Nintendo GameCube. Now, that same version is back another time, in the form of the Resident Evil HD Remaster, which has just arrived onto the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One platforms.

With even better visuals, revised controls, and the same survival horror feel, can this even newer version of the classic game delight a new generation of players or should we abandon its spooky mansion? Let's find out.

Story

Resident Evil HD Remaster uses the "complete" plot from the GameCube version, which features not just the story from the very first version of the game but also a few sequences designed to link up with other titles, such as Resident Evil 2 or 0.

If you've been living under a rock, the story follows special forces unit STARS, which is locked in a spooky mansion after their chopper crashes. The main playable characters are Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, although you'll meet up with others along the way.

While the Spencer Mansion may look like your regular huge home, it's actually a fiendishly designed maze filled with puzzles and, of course, zombies that want to devour anyone and anything in their wake.

The general plot is pretty cheesy but don't forget that it's one of the pioneers in terms of survival horror and the general atmosphere of the genre, so it can't be judged by today's standards. The extra sequences make some sense and there's a lot to take in for fans of the series.

Survive the mansion
Survive the mansion

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay, the new title doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, keeping the same challenging nature of the original, from its puzzle design to its levels and its enemies. This isn't a regular action-packed Resident Evil title, so those who have only experienced RE5 or RE6 are in for a major surprise. There is a new easy mode specifically for those who want to experience the story, but it only brings more health and ammo, while weakening zombies. The challenging puzzles, however, remain the same.

Resident Evil was not just a tough game, as was standard in its era, due to the general design, but also due to the tank-like controls for the playable characters and the grueling mechanics. In the HD Remaster, one of the biggest additions is the modern control scheme, which allows players to use an analog stick on the controller to move a character. On the PC, you can still use the keys but you won't have that great of a time.

You still have to stop and shoot, however, so every enemy encounter will still be grueling on your nerves.

Patience and careful exploration are essential, as you'll often be able to hear zombies right before entering a dangerous area.

Of course, the fixed camera is still present, and while it follows the same impressive angles from the original, it still causes a lot of problems, particularly during chases when it can drastically switch from one angle to another.

No improvements have been made in terms of inventory space or item management, so you'll still have to juggle things around, and considering the toughness of the puzzles, you'll have to do a lot of backtracking in order to collect the necessary items to progress. There's also the same lengthy door opening cut scene which may have been motivated by the weak hardware of older consoles but just seems useless on PC or newer devices.

You can choose to play as Jill or Chris, each with different advantages or disadvantages. Jill can pick locks but has a smaller inventory, while Chris has a bigger inventory but can't get around locked doors without the necessary key.

Combat is slow and steady as you need to have a meticulous nature to your zombie killing in order to prevent the undead from rising once more in the form of Crimson Heads. You'll also battle a lot of other monsters, from zombie dogs giving you a jump scare to other beasts that will certainly cause a lot of bad dreams.

Survive the mansion in original resolution
Survive the mansion in original resolution

Visuals and sound

Resident Evil HD Remaster boasts revised visuals, but unfortunately, the overhaul isn't all that great. Sure, some textures look sharper but others are still of a low quality. The new widescreen resolution just means that the original 4:3 one was chopped, so it's not that big of a deal. The animations are also a bit clunky, so don't go in expecting a major overhaul.

In terms of sound, the score is quite good but some of the original voice acting doesn't sound all that impressive after all these years. Sure, the notoriously bad dialog still has its charm but it doesn't have that great a quality.


The Good

  • Better character models
  • Easy mode is great for beginners
  • New control scheme feels good

The Bad

  • Textures still look unimpressive
  • Puzzles are still quite tough
  • Soundtrack lacks quality

Conclusion

Resident Evil HD Remaster is a decent remake of the original survival horror title, retaining the challenging puzzles and combat, while adding the new control scheme or the easy mode. Unfortunately, its overhauled aspects aren't that impressive, so don't go in with high expectations, as there are still plenty of confusing sequences, annoying door opening animations, and other relics of the past.

story 7
gameplay 7
concept 7
graphics 6
audio 6
multiplayer 0
final rating 7
Editor's review
good
 
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Resident Evil HD Remaster screenshots (18 Images)

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