Resident Evil 3 (2020)
Publisher:
Capcom
Developer:
Capcom
Platforms:
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre:Survival Horror
Release Date:April 3, 2020
Resident Evil 3 is a survival horror game developed and published by Capcom. It is a remake of the 1999 PS1 title Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
Development
Speculation of a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis being in development started emerging soon after the release of the Resident Evil 2 remake in January of 2019. Capcom said that they would consider making more remakes in the series if Resident Evil 2 proved to be successful. The remake released to universal acclaim and commercial success, and Capcom said later that year that in light of its success, they would be focusing more on remakes and revivals of beloved franchises.
In September 2019, Capcom revealed Project Resistance, a 4v1 multiplayer Resident Evil spinoff title. Capcom assured fans that Project Resistance would respect the series’ horror routes, and that they were still also working on mainline Resident Evil games. They later confirmed that Project Resistance would also have a narrative-driven single player component.
In December 2019, Capcom officially unveiled Resident Evil 3, the remake of the 1999 title, during Sony’s State of Play broadcast. They also revealed that Project Resistance – or Resident Evil: Resistance – was the multiplayer component that would be shipped with Resident Evil 3. The remake was confirmed to be releasing for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 3, 2020. Capcom confirmed soon afterward that development on the game was nearly complete and that it would suffer no delays.
Resident Evil 3’s development began during the development process of Resident Evil 2. The game, like its predecessor (and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard), is built on the RE Engine. Capcom received assistance in development from M-Two, a studio they helped set up, led by former PlatinumGames CEO Tatsuya Minami. Resident Evil: Resistance is developed by external studio NeoBards Entertainment.
Capcom confirmed prior to the game’s release that they would be remixing elements of the original Resident Evil 3 for the remake a lot more than they had done while remaking Resident Evil 2. As such, several secondary characters from the original game – such as Carlos Oliveira – would have much more expanded roles in the remake. Capcom also confirmed that the game would be much more action-oriented than Resident Evil 2 (2019), similar to how the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis had more action-packed than its predecessor.
Capcom also changed the character designs for several characters, similar to what they had done in Resident Evil 2. Protagonist Jill Valentine’s design was altered with more practical apparel to fit with the game’s action-oriented approach, while the design of Carlos Oliveira was also changed to make him seem more “rough around the edges.” Jill’s character was based on the appearance of Russian model Sasha Zotova.
Story
Resident Evil 3 takes place in 1998, its events kicking off slightly before Resident Evil 2, then running concurrently with them for a while, before ending after the events of its predecessor. Players take control of S.T.A.R.S. member Jill Valentine, who was one of two playable protagonists in the first Resident Evil.
Jill attempts to escape Raccoon City after the city is destroyed by an outbreak of the T-Virus, causing people to turn into zombies. While Jill attempts to escape the city, she is also constantly being hunted by a superpowerful bioweapon called Nemesis, sent in by the Umbrella Corporation to eliminate all S.T.A.R.S. members (who witnessed their illicit activities in the Spencer Mansion during the events of the first game).
During her attempts to escape from the city, Jill also runs into three surviving members of the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service (U.B.C.S.): Carlos Oliveira, Mikhail Victor, and Nikolai Zinoviev, and forms an uneasy alliance with them.
Gameplay
Resident Evil 3 makes the same changes to the gameplay and camera from the original game that Resident Evil 2 did in 2019. It is played from an over-the-shoulder third person perspective, as opposed to the original PS1 game, which featured fixed cameras and tank controls. Resident Evil 3 is more action-oriented than Resident Evil 2 (2019), similar to how the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis had more action-packed than its predecessor.
Capcom have confirmed that the Hunters – a type of enemy found in the original – will return in the remake. Also returning is Nemesis, the constant pursuer who follows and hunts Jill throughout the game. Nemesis’ AI has been overhauled, and is now based on how the Tyrant (or Mr. X) functioned in Resident Evil 2. However, Nemesis will be a much more threatening presence, having much more ranged tentacle attacks, and also being equipped with weapons like a rocket launcher and a flamethrower. Nemesis is also much more agile and nimble than Mr. X.
The developers have also confirmed that Raccoon City has been expanded in the remake. While the game isn’t an open world title, the environments allow a lot of room for exploration and have been expanded upon. However, unlike Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, the remake doesn’t feature the Live Selections mechanic, which saw players of the original being presented with choices at various junctures in the story. This could also lead to different endings. In the remake, Capcom chose to tell a single, scripted narrative, and thus removed the choices and the alternate endings.
Another feature that the original had that the remake is cutting is the Mercenaries mode, which was an unlockable mode in the original game that saw players controlling various characters in certain sections of Raccoon City, and trying to proceed forward against a countdown, while earning points by killing zombies would add seconds to the clock. In the remake, Mercenaries mode has been replaced by Resident Evil: Resistance.
Resistance is a 4v1 multiplayer mode, which sees a group of four players going up against one mastermind. The mastermind can create traps and summon different kinds of enemies and zombies (including Lickers and Tyrants), while the four opposing players have to use unique attributes and abilities to fight against the mastermind character’s creations.
Different characters have different specialities, such as a skilled engineer ad mechanic who can create traps to slow or stun enemies. Resistance will have multiple maps and playable characters at launch, while it also features a levelling up progression mechanic.
Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.