Resident Evil 3 Remake Review – Nemesis Kiwami

This review covers the singleplayer side of the Resident Evil 3 Remake only. The Resistance multiplayer mode will be a separate review.

The remake of Resident Evil 3 is incredible in almost every regard. The oppressive terror of Nemesis is enhanced through excellent visuals and tight gameplay, and the new alterations to the narrative and characters make the remake a nightmare come true for not only Resident Evil fans but horror enthusiasts all around.

Resident Evil 3 Remake
Developer: Capcom
Price: $60
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 code for review

After playing last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake, I immediately got excited at the idea of Capcom similarly remaking Resident Evil 3 and Code Veronica. As of today, we’ve got the first one, and it’s just as fantastic as I had hoped it would be. It’s a bit short, like the original, but the new additions make up for this shortcoming.

The story of Resident Evil 3 picks up only a few months after the events of Resident Evil, and during the events of Resident Evil 2. Jill Valentine is still haunted by the Spencer Mansion incident and is under constant surveillance by the Umbrella Corporation. Days before she’s set to leave Raccoon City, Jill is suddenly attacked in her home by Nemesis, a hulking creature that can only say “STARS”; the name of Jill’s previous team. Endlessly pursued by Nemesis, Jill teams up with the moral mercenary Carlos to unravel the mystery of the Umbrella Corporation and its part in the catastrophe that is devouring Raccoon City.

Though the overall story of the Resident Evil 3 Remake is overall very similar to the original game, it has some significant changes that help it fit into the timeline of the Resident Evil 2 Remake more easily. I feel these changes are for the better, as they help make the story more cohesive. Without spoiling some of the new story beats, the order of main events and the way in which Jill’s final confrontation with Nemesis occurs are quite different from the original Resident Evil 3. Carlos as a character has gotten a bit of a reboot, with a gruffer appearance and a more genuinely charming demeanor. I found these changes to be to the benefit of the Remake, as they fit the more “realistic” (in terms of Resident Evil) tone of the remakes so far. I love the corniness that Resident Evil is known for, but I also find myself being intrigued by this more straight take on the series.

“You’re always on your toes while Nemesis is around, and I’m glad the Remake was able to preserve and amplify this fear.“

Gameplay has been massively overhauled from the original’s fixed-camera system, much like with the Resident Evil 2 Remake. You control Jill (and sometimes Carlos) from a third-person point of view. Using a variety of weapons and attacks, you have to survive the chaos that is Raccoon City. The best thing about classic Resident Evil games is the scarcity of ammo, and while the original game and the Remake are both more lenient in this regard, there are just enough moments that had me saying “oh God, I have no ammo” to satisfy the old-school fan in me. Managing your inventory is a major part of this, as you can only carry so much at any time. Sometimes I’d have to decide whether I should have ammo or a healing item, despite needing both. These were some of the most tense moments in the game, and I loved every one of them.

The one thing that I was worried about was how Capcom would adapt the sense of sheer terror that Nemesis brings to the original game. While Mr. X was his own brand of scary in the Resident Evil 2 Remake, his encounters were occasionally more bothersome than intimidating. The entire idea behind Nemesis is that he’s unstoppable, making every encounter with him a heart-pounding life or death experience.

This oppressive feeling of fear and dread is actually enhanced in the Resident Evil 3 Remake, as his every appearance has Nemesis flaunting a new and more horrific look. From the black-clad hulk at the beginning to the heavily-burned titan midway through the game, all the way up to his David Cronenberg-esque final form; Nemesis is constantly toting new and unsettling appearances. He even has new abilities with each appearance, going from tentacle and melee attacks to advanced weaponry. You’re always on your toes while Nemesis is around, and I’m glad the Remake was able to preserve and amplify this fear. This unkillable mass of flesh scared the hell out of me as a kid, and the new Nemesis still gets the job done for me as an adult.

Like the original game, the Resident Evil 3 Remake is quite short, running you 6-10 hours depending on how much you explore. There are quite a few benefits to replaying the game, from new costumes and items to the collectible Toy Uncle bobbleheads, which makes this Remake quite replayable. Still, I wouldn’t have minded a bit more content in the main story itself, but I’m still very satisfied with what I got.

“[…] while I like Jill’s iconic original look from Resident Evil 3, the new and more practical design is perfectly fine.“

The visuals in the Resident Evil 3 Remake are nothing short of stunning. Raccoon City is dripping with chaotic despair, with every corner filled with blood, corpses, or unidentifiable grime. The characters look great outside a couple of strange expressions, and the zombies all look as wonderfully nasty as you could hope. I’m a bit disappointed that the gore and aim-based enemy damage from the Resident Evil 2 Remake seem to be missing or toned down, but zombie-killing is still suitably messy and visceral.

I quite like Carlos’s redesign, and I’m perfectly fine with Nemesis’s as well (though my nostalgia for his original look is too strong for me to forget) and while I like Jill’s iconic original look from Resident Evil 3, the new and more practical design is perfectly fine. After beating the game, you can buy Jill’s Resident Evil 1 costume anyways (her coolest design for sure,) so there are options after your first playthrough.

The Final Word
The Resident Evil 3 Remake is a fantastic and consistently-tense horror game that takes an already brilliant game and updates it to be even better in a few departments. It’s a bit short, but the game features a good deal of replayability. Overall, the Resident Evil 3 Remake is an excellent and chilling take on a horror-game classic, and I’m already champing at the bit for the inevitable Code Veronica remake.

MonsterVine Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 – Great