Resident Evil 2 (2019 video game)

Claire Redfield is one of the game's two main playable characters.

Resident Evil 2 is a remake of the 1998 game of the same name. Unlike the original, which uses tank controls and fixed camera angles, the remake features "over-the-shoulder" third-person shooter gameplay similar to Resident Evil 4 and more recent games in the series that allows players the option to move while using their weapons similar to Resident Evil 6.[1]

The assisted and standard difficulty modes deviate from the original by featuring autosaves and allowing players to save as often as they would like inside safe rooms. If the player chooses to play on "Hardcore" difficulty, players will be required to collect and use a finite number of ink ribbons to save the game's progress, much like in the original game.

While exploring the police station, players can find and pick up items that can help them survive and escape. Certain items such as herbs and gun powder can be combined together to make healing items and ammunition respectively. Items can also be inspected for clues gaining access to certain areas or items hidden throughout the game and can be discarded after use.

Overall combat varies depending on difficulty. Assisted difficulty allows aim assist and health recovery along with weaker enemies while hardcore difficulty has stronger enemies and has scarce ammo for players to find. Combat will also vary depending on who players are fighting. Enemies will generally come after players after they are spotted and can be killed or crippled to slow them down. Zombies will attempt to break into the station through windows but can be stopped if the windows are boarded up beforehand. Certain enemies must be fought in order to progress through the game and cannot be avoided.

Although Leon and Claire will both start out with handguns at the beginning of their scenarios, each has different weapons that can be obtained throughout the game. Weapons can also be customized by finding and equipping gun parts that will improve their performance. Sub weapons like knives and grenades can also be found and equipped and used to fend off enemies that grab onto you.

At certain points in each scenario, players will encounter the Tyrant, a B.O.W sent by Umbrella to eliminate all survivors in the police station and will attempt to kill the player when encountered. The Tyrant cannot be killed, although weapons can stun or slow him down. While players can evade the Tyrant, he will constantly search throughout the station except for safe rooms and certain areas of the police station.

As with the 1998 game, the remake of Resident Evil 2 offers the option to play through the main campaign as either Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie police officer on his first day, or Claire Redfield, a college student and sister of original protagonist Chris. Depending on the player's choice, the main story will be experienced with variations in subplots, accessible areas, obtainable items, weapons, and final boss battle. Also like the original, both campaigns feature a supporting character who becomes playable for one section of the game. Players control the mysterious Ada Wong in Leon's story, whose segment involves hacking electronic devices, and young girl Sherry Birkin in Claire's story, whose segment centers around stealth.

Similar to the "Scenario B" feature of the original game, beating the main campaign for the first time unlocks the option to play through a "2nd Run" as the other protagonist. 2nd Run is a variation of the main campaign that adds additional content to frame the second playthrough as occurring concurrently with the first playthrough. For example, the protagonist in 2nd Run will enter the police station from a different entrance and find several doors already unlocked by the protagonist from the first playthrough. Completing 2nd Run is also required to experience the true ending of the main campaign. Selecting "New Game" scenario for the selected character allows players to start with the default item loadout with items they had playing the game for the first time.

The remake brings back "The 4th Survivor" and "The Tofu Survivor" minigames present in the 1998 original, which are unlocked after completing the 2nd Run mode. "The 4th Survivor" follows Umbrella Corporation operative Hunk and requires players to travel from the sewers to the outside of the police department while facing a large number of enemies. "The Tofu Survivor" features the same scenario, but replaces Hunk with an anthropomorphic tofu armed only with knives. The remake's version of "The Tofu Survivor" also adds the unlockable characters Konjac, Uirō-Mochi, Flan, and Annin Tofu, who all have a unique item loadout.

Promotional booth at E3 2018

The original Resident Evil 2 was released for the PlayStation in 1998, followed by releases for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo 64 in 1999, Sega Dreamcast in 2000, and Nintendo GameCube in 2003. Following the release of the 2002 remake of the first Resident Evil for the GameCube,[4][5][6] Capcom considered a similar remake of Resident Evil 2, but series creator Shinji Mikami did not want to divert development away from Resident Evil 4.[7] In August 2015, producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi announced in a video that the remake had been approved and was in active development, ending the video with the phrase "We Do It".[8] No further details were released until Sony's E3 2018 press conference, when Capcom released the debut trailer and gameplay footage and removed "Remake" from the title.[9][10] Hideki Kamiya, director of the original Resident Evil 2, said that he had pushed Capcom to create a remake for years.[11] Hirabayashi said the team was striving to capture the spirit of the original game, and that the team incorporated feedback received about Resident Evil 6, a game he also produced.[12]

To meet modern expectations, the team decided to alter some character designs to better match the more photorealistic setting; for example, Leon no longer wears large shoulder pads, which were added to distinguish his original, low-polygon model. Ada Wong's red dress was dropped in favor of a trenchcoat with sunglasses for similar reasons. Though they strove to make a "modern, accessible" game, they focused on horror over action, hoping to preserve a claustrophobic feel.[13] The game uses the RE Engine, the same game engine used for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, which allowed for Capcom to modernize the gameplay.[14] Producer Tsuyoshi Kanda acknowledged the difficulty of making zombies seem scary and threatening, as they had become ubiquitous in entertainment media since the release of the original Resident Evil in 1996.[13] By removing the fixed camera angles, the team had to use different ways to conceal enemies, using elements such as room layout, lighting, and smoke.[13] The new camera system also affected the sound design, as it no longer made sense for sound to come from a fixed source.[13] The faces of several character models are based on scans of real people. Leon S. Kennedy is based on model Eduard Badaluta, Claire Redfield is based on model Jordan McEwen, and Marvin Branagh is based on music producer Patrick Levar.[15]

The game features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.[16] Due to Capcom's decision to use non-union voice actors, the original game's actors did not reprise their roles.[17]

Resident Evil 2 was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One worldwide on January 25, 2019.[14] The game supports enhancements on the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, offering either 4K resolution or 60 frames per second.[18] A demo known as the 1-Shot Demo was released on January 11, 2019. It ends after 30 minutes and does not allow repeat playthroughs, however the same demo was later rereleased as the "R.P.D. Demo" and does allow repeat playthroughs.[19][20] A collector's edition was made available for the console versions and features a Leon S. Kennedy figure, hardcover art book, R.P.D. renovation blueprints, and a digital soundtrack.

On December 12, 2019, a final update was introduced to the Resident Evil 2 remake where the protagonist of Resident Evil 3, Jill Valentine has written a letter to Kendo. This letter can be found at Kendo's Gunshop right after Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong leave the police station. Reading this letter also unlocks an achievement called "Chasing Jill".[21]

Following its E3 2018 showing, Resident Evil 2 won the "Best of Show" award at the 2018 Game Critics Awards.[35] The 1-Shot Demo received over 4.7 million downloads worldwide.[36]

Resident Evil 2 received "universal acclaim" for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, and "generally favorable reviews" for the PC according to review aggregator Metacritic.[24][25][26]

Ben Reeves of Game Informer wrote that "Resident Evil 2 not only looks great, it plays well, and it forces you into a series of dark encounters that are a total rush."[30] Keith Stuart of The Guardian wrote that it was "a reminder of how beautifully crafted survival horror games were in their heyday."[37] The Daily Telegraph's Tom Hoggins described the game as a "thrilling return to the legacy of the 1998 original".[38]

IGN's Daemon Hatfield originally gave the game an 8.8 in their review, only to increase it to a 9.0 after being made aware of the unlockable second playthrough that presents the story from another point of view. They stated in their review that "Capcom did a fantastic job of resurrecting all the best parts of the classic Resident Evil 2 and making it look, sound, and play like a 2019 game."[39]

Chris Carter of Destructoid called the game "A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage."[27] Aoife Wilson of Eurogamer described it as "a masterly reimagining of a modern classic".[40] Polygon's Michael McWhertor wrote that Resident Evil 2 showcases "the very best of survival horror";[41] similar praise was expressed by Heather Alexandra of Kotaku, who wrote that the game "provides some of the best moments in the franchise".[42] Alessandro Fillari of GameSpot said that with Resident Evil 2, "the classic survival horror franchise embraces its past in a new, exciting way".[32]

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