Can You Survive The Horror?
- NA release: 14th January 2003
- JP release: 23rd January 2003
- EU release: 30th May 2003
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
- NGC Magazine: 62%
- Mods Used: None
I’ll be honest: I only played a few hours each of Resident Evil 2 and 3 on the GameCube, partly because they’re direct ports of the PS1 versions (the Dualshock version), and also because I realise these are well made, classic games; but I simply don’t get on with the gameplay style at all. It’s pointless me repeating myself. Especially so in the case of Resident Evil 2, where I’ve played the Nintendo 64 version.
Speaking of the N64 version of Resident Evil 2, that added a few extra features, one in particular was extra files in the game to link the events more to Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil Code: Veronica and Resident Evil Zero. Considering Resident Evil Zero was a big GameCube exclusive, you would think that the GameCube version of Resident Evil 2 would also contain it, but it’s lacking. This does have the additional features of the second PS1 version of the game, with models smoother than the Dreamcast version. Plus the benefit of having the game on one disc.
So, it’s the same classic Resident Evil 2. After the phenomenal looking Resident Evil Remake and Resident Evil Zero, people were hoping to see Resident Evil 2 get the same treatment. Despite being a great game and a budget title, it ended up getting rather poor reviews due to not taking advantage of the console.
Fine
It’s hard to be completely objective about the two Resident Evils reviewed on these pages. On the one hand, these are hurriedly-ported PSone games (PSone!), complete with unforgeable showdown and quaint antediluvian graphics. And you can pick them up cheaper in their original format than buying these slightly-higher-resolution versions for the Cube. Hell, you could probably pick them up cheaper with a PSone bundled in. On the other hand, despite their age and their obvious deficiencies, they’re still quality games that are, crucially, a lot of hair-raising fun.
Jes Bickham, NGC Magazine #81
Remake or remaster?
There’s a compete remake that changes a lot. It would be nice to see properly made (and not bad upscales) remasters of the original. The Japanese-only PC Sourcenext version is still the best version of the game. In terms of mods, there are some terrible looking AI upscales that turns the game into a kids cartoon.
Official Ways to get the game
You can buy Resident Evil 2 on GOG, this is based on an older PC version, not the Sourcenext one.
Europe
Japan
North America
GameCube Games by Date
2002: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2003: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2004: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2005: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2006: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
These were the first versions of RE2 and RE3 I played, and they’re absolutely fine ports; as is the GCN port of Code Veronica (which Cube will get to very soon).
The mags of the day dragged them through the mud because they weren’t full-on remakes like RE1 and RE0; which is completely unfair, especially considering that these were budget-priced ports to boot. They’re nothing special, but they’re probably the best console versions outside of maybe the Dreamcast versions; and were a nice way to bring the whole series to the Cube while waiting for RE4. In retrospect, I certainly wouldn’t have minded seeing more cheap quickie PS1 ports like this… it actually would’ve been an improvement in the case of MGS The Twin Snakes :laughing:
As for the games themselves? I never got on well with the clunky controls, which is a shame because the rest of RE2 is really great! (RE3 less-so… being a cheap cash grab side-project slapped with the numerical moniker for political reasons, while the real RE3, AKA Code Veronica, now languishes in obscurity). RE2 is basically a metroidvania game with a survival horror veneer; and there’s a lot to like about it. But when the basic fundamental movement mechanics are such a chore? It’s hard to go back to.
And while the remake is fine in its own right, it loses a LOT of the charm of the original game, as it attempts to ape modern “prestige TV” shows and TLOU in particular with its overly serious and thoroughly uncampy atmosphere. If only we could get a remake that maintained the style and design of the original with the gameplay mechanics of RE4… RE Revelations on 3DS is the closest we ever got to that and it’s great!