It’s easy to forget how amazing Resident Evil 2 was when it first released for the PlayStation in 1998. Capcom did a great job reminding us when the new Resident Evil 2 was showcased at E3 2018. Though dubbed a “remake” even up to the reveal, the developer has stated that it’s more of a reimagining in many ways.
Whatever the case may be, even with the new over-the-should perspective, the influence of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard can’t be discounted. Released in 2017, the first person horror title brought the series back to its survival horror roots and showcased exactly what the RE Engine was capable of. But does that mean virtual-reality support will be in Resident Evil 2, just like it was with Resident Evil 7?
Speaking to Daily Star, producer Tsuyoshi Kanda stated, “We’re not thinking about VR support currently, given that the camera perspective and the over-the-shoulder choice would mean that VR is not the best way to present the game. VR doesn’t match the vision for us.”
What about the rat’s eye view that we saw in the E3 trailer? Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi answered “Thinking about it, maybe giving you the rat’s eye view in the trailer might have given people the wrong idea! But if you think there is Rat VR coming… that’s not the case.”
Regardless, Resident Evil 2 should still be a compelling horror game when it releases on January 25th, 2019 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Along with numerous changes, it will also sport an “enhanced narrative” compared to the original, according to Capcom.
