In 2002, Capcom released the remake that set the standard for all remakes,Resident Evilfor the Nintendo GameCube. 17 years later, Capcom would set the standard once more with theResident Evil 2remake in 2019.
As a result ofCapcom’ssuccess, fans of the iconic survival horror series always wantmore Resident Evil remakes. Sure, we want new games in the series too, such as the upcomingResident Evil 9,but nothing quite tingles our gaming senses like a well-put-together remake bringing all the nostalgic feels, something that Capcom knows how to do very well.
Check out theResident Evil Outbreaktrailer below!
Following the most recent remake at the time of writing,Resident Evil 4, fans are now wondering what remake Capcom will bring next. Some fans hoped that aResident Evil Code: Veronicaremakewould arrive beforeResident Evil 4with it being chronologically set afterResident Evil 3, but there is still time. We could even get a remake ofResident Evil 5. However, as much as I would adore aResident Evil Code: Veronicaremake, it’s time thatResident Evil Outbreakreceived the remake it deserves.
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Firstly, just listen to that amazing music from theResident Evil Outbreakintro video above. Some could argue that it’s the most mesmeric theme music in the entire series. Aside from its amazing soundtrack, there are many other reasons whyResident Evil Outbreakdeserves a remake more than any other game in the Capcom series.
Capcom
Being aResident Evilgame, there was also an emphasis on inventory management but instead of having an Item Box to store items, much likeResident Evil Zero, you could leave items on the floor or share with other characters. Yet, unlike other games in the series,Resident Evil Outbreakhad a gameplay mechanic twist that would play perfectly in the story it would tell during the early stages of the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City. You, as the player, are infected with the T-virus and if the virus gauge reaches 100%, you will die and it will be game over. But in another twist, if you were playing online with others and you died, you could come back as a zombie to reap havoc for the surviving members of your crew.
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At this point, you might be thinking, “Resident Evil Outbreaksounds great, what’s the issue?” Well, there was no way for players to communicate in-game which is a major issue for an online title where teamwork is of the utmost importance. Then there’s the problem of this game only being playable online in the United States and Japan, meaning that the PAL region could only play it offline. Sure, it was still a fun game to play on your lonesome, but it very much felt like you were experiencing an incomplete game.
WhenResident Evil Outbreak: File #2was released the following year (or two years in the PAL region), it was a perfect opportunity for Capcom to correct the previous wrongs, right? Well, mostly.Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2had five new scenarios (plus two bonus scenarios) with the eight cast of characters returning from the previous game, improved lobbies, and a communication system in which players would communicate with select in-game words and emotes. Oh, and it was finally playable online in the PAL region. So again, what’s the issue, I hear you ask?
Capcom
Don’t get me wrong,Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2is still a great game to play today and is even playable online thanks to talented PC modders running private servers. However, despiteResident Evil Outbreak: File #2being online for players in the mid-2000s, having the internet was still a new concept in many households and even if you did have the internet, you’d not only need a very stable connection (a rare commodity back then) but also either a PS2 network adaptor or a PS2 slim which came with a built-in network adapter.
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Rather than failing miserably with other multiplayer titles such asResident Evil: Operation Racoon City,Umbrella Corps,Resident Evil: ResistanceandRe:Verse, if Capcom gave fans the multiplayer game they wanted, I believe it would be a massive success today and whether it’s a remake or remaster with online multiplayer, I think it’s about timeResident Evil: Outbreakbenefited from a modern revival it so truly deserves.
Topics:Capcom,Features,Resident Evil,Retro Gaming,Opinion
