Resident Evil HD Remaster Reviews
Resident Evil HD is a great remake, provided you contain the nostalgia to enjoy it.
It's been four years, but Resident Evil HD is just as good a remake as when it first launched. For anyone who didn't grow up in the era of the original PlayStation or get around to trying it on another platform, this specific outing of Resident Evil 1 is a great way to get into the series, provided you don't mind a few Switch-related quirks with the port.
Resident Evil 0 HD Remastered is essentially the same RE0 that I played back in the Gamecube days, a dated but enjoyable RE experience. The HD coat of paint gives the game a 2016 glow that truly impresses, and the modern control scheme improves the experience in ways that cannot sufficiently be explained, but the core game remains intact. I enjoyed my trip back in time, but I don't think there's enough here that would make me want to do it again.
It's a hard task to sum up a game like this. Should it be judged as a title in 1996, 2002 or 2015? Does it stand up in today's market on its own merits? Am I viewing it with rose-tinted glasses and a bucket full of nostalgia or does it still deserve the high praise it has always garnered? I first played Resident Evil on the PSX with a group of friends back in 1996 and have fond memories of us gathered around the TV trying to figure out the puzzles, what to do and where to go next. In 2015 I feel you must play the game blind to experience that same magic. Using internet guides and youtube walkthroughs will take away everything that makes Resident Evil the classic survival horror adventure. In a nutshell the game is as good as it ever was and better than it has ever been. A masterclass in pacing, whether the design truly is masterful or just a product of the age from which it came will probably never be truly understood.
Resident Evil HD Remaster's design restrictions heighten the game's survival horror feel, proving that less is indeed more. It delivers tension, horror, and fear liberally. In exchange, you have to commit your time to the game, and put up with some seemingly archaic conventions. In today's world of in-app purchase-laden affairs, it's a welcome throwback to when games demanded you, instead of money.
Hopefully this is the start of something great and the Gamecube's Resident Evil 0 receives the same treatment next, and a remake/port of Resident Evil 2 and 3 would be great, so here's hoping.
All these years later, Resident Evil remains an excellent survival-horror game. The puzzles are still good, the brief bouts of action are still tense, and the scares still deliver even if you know about them beforehand. The appeal of this port is the fact that the game can now be portable, so the benefits of the smaller screen really come into play. It might have slightly longer load times in some areas, but if you want to play the remade classic on the go, this is a well-done port.
Resident Evil HD is a remake done right. Rather than bend over backwards to please a new generation of gamers, it proudly sticks by its roots and is better because of it. Those looking to try something "new" should look to the past with this spot-on remaster.
This HD remaster of a remake is a remarkable homage to the original survival horror masterpiece to be enjoyed by fans of the original PS1 game, the GameCube remake or even complete newbs. Some of the mechanics like the dated inventory system can and will frustrate, but the overall journey is a rewarding one through one of gaming's most important games. Can we finally have that remake of Resi 2 now please, Capcom?
Resident Evil’s flaws are every bit as glaring today as they were back in 2002. The controls, the awkward camera and the game’s item management are all sources of irritation. And yet, despite these issues, Resident Evil HD is still an undeniable classic. No other survival horror game has managed to channel the same compelling level of tension.
Despite shortcomings, the remake of the first Resident Evil title is a tense, exciting romp through a mansion that has a ton of creepy secrets. There are definite signs of aging here that make me appreciate current day luxuries, but once I got past those I enjoyed Resident Evil's puzzles, scares and horrors.
REmake's HD re-release is certainly worth the price of admission, especially for those who never played the Gamecube-exclusive original, but I'm hoping that beyond entertaining and scaring us, the game serves as a reminder to Capcom on what the next Resident Evil needs to be more like.
Resident Evil HD Remaster is just as good as the original in most ways, and in others better. Resident Evil HD feels great, looks great, and the controls are wonderfully remade for the newer systems. It can get a little hard at times figuring out your way, but that is what makes Resident Evil one of the hardest, yet most accomplished games in the series to have ever been released.
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.
It's clear from the start that, without a doubt, this is the best version of Resident Evil out there. While some of the game's legacy design choices may be hard to stomach in 2015, Capcom has ensured this gothic horror adventure is more approachable than ever before. By adding a no tank-control option and new Very Easy mode for newcomers, there is no longer any excuse to let this survival horror classic shamble on by.
Now that we're barrelling, battle-biceps exposed, into the conclusion of this critique/ nostalgia trip, I feel I must briefly attempt to convince you that a remaster of a remake of a nearly two decade old PS1 game is relevant by today's bustling gaming standards. To summarise it simply, it's about how RE's limitations add measurable impact to your choices. It's about the exploration and puzzle solving sans omnipresent hand-holding. These concepts are rare attributes in today's AAA gaming scene. And when laced with enhanced visuals and a friendlier control scheme, RE HD Remaster becomes a precious survival experience for the nostalgic and a necessary one for the newcomer.
Still great almost twenty years later.
Though imperfect, Resident Evil HD Remaster is a good update to a now-classic remake. The core game holds up rather well after more than a decade, and when compared to some of its contemporaries, it's still gripping in the action and scares. The improvements to the controls help greatly, and the various technical options ensure that just about everyone gets a near-perfect version of the remake. The compression artifacts are disappointing to see, especially when compared to the work done on the polygonal elements, and some of the sounds could have been done better. Those elements don't cripple the gameplay, and fans of survival-horror will be happy to experience this, especially if they didn't try it on the Nintendo consoles.
All these improvements come together to create the perfect package that any fan could only dream of. The 2002 version of Resident Evil is the epitome of what a remake should be: sticking true to its source material, while also making necessary changes in all the right places. While some will claim there are better remakes out there, no one can take away the fact that Resident Evil remains the touchstone of survival horror. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and since its easy to see Resident Evil's DNA everywhere in the industry, we can safely say that it is the best remake ever made.
I’m glad I finally got around to playing Resident Evil, a lot of mechanics still hold up and the overall experience was challenging and suspenseful. Despite issues I had with the nineteen-year-old mechanics not adapting very well to modern games, such as pre-rendered backdrops with set camera angles, a very limited item stash, and awkward combat, I enjoyed the experience. With options for both new and old fans of the series, Capcom has adapted to everyone without altering the core-gameplay of the original game – Difficulty settings, visual ratio and prefered control methods will allow everyone to play the game whichever way they feel the most comfortable.