Back in 1998, I, along with many other gamers from my generation, was a die hard, loyal Nintendo fan and supporter. The 32-bit/64-bit era had been under way for a good three years, or so, and Nintendo and Sony were front and center, while Sega, Atari and several other “one-and-done” console flops were quietly in the mix.

As a Nintendo 64 (N64) owner, I had little interest in what the Sony PlayStation (PS1) had to offer, at the time. After all, I could play: “Mario 64,” “Mario Kart 64,” “Star Fox 64,” “GoldenEye 007” and “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” was, still, yet to come. In those days, much like the days of elementary school (in 5th Grade, specifically, concerning the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis), the discussions about gaming were really more like taunts, between those who owned a PS1 and those who owned an N64. The conversation had progressed from boasts of “blast processing” to claims, such as, “…but the games are sorry.” You see, I was no longer talking with fellow 11 and 12-year olds. We were, now, all 14 and 15 years old and the concept of maturation had become a more serious element, in gaming, as well as many other facets of life.

In those days, as well, FunCoLand was the typical, specialized video game store I found myself in, even if it was just to “browse around.” I would not be able to tell you what I was doing on that day, in more specific terms, but I remember the moment fairly well. A television screen was showcasing the latest in gaming and a preview of “Resident Evil 2” (RE2) was on display. For the first time, that I can recall, I felt inferior and isolated, as an N64 owner. Finally, I was seeing a game that I wanted, but could not have and it was a sinking feeling, at the time. I was blown away by its graphics and the concept of the game. Even though the original “Resident Evil” had been around for about two years, for some reason, this was the entry that delivered the hammer, for me. As it so happens, in retrospect, this game is still considered the best-selling entry (for a single platform) of the franchise, today, with nearly 5 million sold!

A year later, those of us who were, still, clinging to our Nintendo systems, were gifted a rare treat: a cross-over from the PS1 library. Yes, “RE2” was coming to the N64, full-motion videos (fmv) and all! All prospective teasing aside, this was a clear symptom of the power in this game. The game, further, saw releases on the Sega Dreamcast (DC), in 2001, and the Nintendo GameCube (GC), in 2003.

Fast-forward to the present year, of 2019, and its legacy can be felt, all over again, with updated graphics and sound and virtually everything else you could imagine. The present players can be divided into three, distinctive groups, from my personal point-of-view: first, the “Origin” crowd (those who played through the game, in 1998, on the PS1); second, the “Classic” crowd (those who poked at or played through the game on an alternative console, between 1999 and 2003, on the N64 or Sega DC or Nintendo GC); third, the “Newbie” crowd (those who are literally experiencing this game for the first time in their gaming lives). Keep in mind that these are not official status terms, but you are welcome to use them, freely.

It had been years since I had delved into this game, myself. I knew that I had never completed the game because, at the time, I had other games on my roster and this one was not at the focal point of my playing time. Still, I remembered enough to know what to expect, during specific moments, and I was curious to see how everything would hold up. Instead of playing as police officer of Raccoon City, Leon S. Kennedy, I chose to play as college student, Claire Redfield. The coarse of action starts out a bit different, which made the gameplay more interesting. One thing of note, in the look of the game, which also figures into the overall gameplay, is the style of graphics, which are not just a direct upgrade from the original game, but a complete face-lift, more in the vein on “Resident Evil 7.” Furthermore, this paves the way for a unique third-person shooter experience, as the angles have changed, somewhat, between how they operated in 1998 and how they now operate, in 2019.

As I made my way through the various puzzles, I quickly became familiar with the “Mr. X Tyrant,” which really threw a monkey in the wrench for my overall gameplay experience. I read that his role was altered in this game, versus the original, which is actually more difficult now, compared to before. So, for anyone who is not keenly familiar with this game, you will be in for a challenging surprise. However, it should, still, be surprising for the “Origin” crowd.

One thing I am very thankful for is the modern advancement of dual analog controllers. When this game first came out, the use of a directional pad, much like with its predecessor, was quite challenging for a lot of players. Now, since most of us are accustomed to using two sticks for controlling the character, movement is like second nature. I was amazed with the upgrades to all of the horrifying creatures, which are even more imposing and terrifying to look at than before. However, I did spot a few moments of “tearing” in the graphics, which was a little surprising, but rare enough, during the game, to not be distracting. The fact that this game still plays as well as it does, minor changes and all, is a real testament to the continued legacy of this game, which is, without a doubt, a minor masterpiece, in its own right. There is so little drop-off, according to the rules of diminishing return, that you might not even notice it. If I were you, I would expect a satisfying experience. I will even go out on a limb and call this the “Best Remake of All Time.” Again, this is unofficial and could change, with time, but CAPCOM has succeeded, mightily.

Directors: Kazunori Kadoi and Yasuhiro Anpo
Artists: Gez Fry and Satoshi Takamatsu
Composers: Shusaku Uchiyama and Zhenlan Kang
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Release: January 25th, 2019