Hands-on: Resident Evil 0

Remember Resident Evil 0? The prequel to the enormously-popular original Resident Evil first dropped on the GameCube back in late 2002; now, after a lackluster Wii port several years ago, the game is back with a full high-definition remaster for a wide variety of current and last-gen platforms. If its demo is any indication, it’s shaping up to be a faithful revitalization of classic Resident Evil, and if you’re a hardcore fan of the old games, that should make you very happy indeed.

By and large, this is the Resident Evil 0 you remember – or it can be, if you want it to. The game now supports widescreen output, and Capcom has included a new, alternate control scheme that replaces the original setup with a smoother, more modern way to move around. I’ve not particularly beholden to the original setup, so the updated controls proved to be a welcome change, and they’re sure to make the game more accessible to those who’ve never played it before. That said, if you want to play it like you did back in the day, you can; the original tank-like controls are present and intact, as is the original 4:3 aspect ratio. In essence, the core of the original experience is here for those who want it, but accommodations have been made to modernize the game for those who prefer it that way.

The biggest selling point here, however, is the shiny new presentation. Everything has been re-drawn for a fully high-definition look and feel, and for the most part, the graphical update works. The interior of the train level still feels claustrophobic and ominous, and some lighting and sound updates do even more to set the mood properly. Even with this fresh coat of paint, though, some textures still appear blurry or low-resolution, and the pre-rendered cutscenes look curiously compressed and murky. I encountered all of this on the PlayStation 4 version of the game, so I’d imagine that the last-generation versions suffer even more in this regard. Despite these issues, the overall atmosphere of the game is intact, and for some, that’ll be enough.

Cosmetic updates aside, the gameplay of Resident Evil 0 still very much caters to the distinct survival horror experience of the earlier games in this franchise. The fixed camera angles, the methodical gameplay, and the exploration are all exactly the same, just a lot shinier this time around. This type of horror game isn’t for everyone, especially those who are used to a more modern approach to the genre, but if you enjoyed the game thirteen years ago, you’re likely to enjoy this version as well, so keep an eye on it.

Resident Evil 0 launches next January on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.