Resident Evil HD is not only a nostalgic experience but a chance to play a classic that so many fans missed. Many gamers played the original on the PlayStation, PC or Sega Saturn back in the days but missed out on the GameCube remake because they either preferred the PlayStation 2 or Xbox.
The story itself has been hailed as one of the most iconic and memorable in gaming while having influenced other horror games that followed.
In response to a series of bizarre murders that have occurred on the outskirts of Raccoon City, S.T.A.R.S (a special unit of the Raccoon Police Department) is deployed to investigate. However during their investigation, the team is forced to take refuge in a mansion after being attacked by a pack of Cerberus (zombie dogs). From this point is when the real nightmare begins as Chris Redfield and Jill Valentin work to uncover the secrets of the Umbrella Corporation.
Following in the footsteps of horror icon George A. Romero, the game uses the setting of a zombie outbreak to work as a social critic of the greed of pharmaceutical companies and the influence of money in politics. At the same time it’s a modern retelling of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein that focus on the moral implications of unchecked scientific research.
One thing Resident Evil received little credit for is how it avoided the stereotypical gender roles that are common in both video games and movies. The obvious being how Jill Valentine and Rebecca Chambers are not marginalized into role of the “useless chick” but are made to be actual heroines.
The story and message may be timeless but this update is not an old game with a new coat of paint. Original content has been added that could be unlocked after completing the game in a certain manner or start the game with a BSAA outfit.
While the visual design has been updated for the Next-Gen consoles, the gameplay setup and controls remain true to the classic horror survival genre. Ammo and health are limited while the player works to overcome a series of obstacles in an attempt to escape the mansion. Fans who haven’t played a classic Resident Evil game in a long time along with those who were introduced to the series with Resident Evil 4 may have a difficult time adjusting to the traditional setup.
The point is that this will be a very difficult game because horror survival is supposed to be challenging.
That is what makes Resident Evil HD such an ideal game is that it’s a return to what made the series a modern classic. Even today the original and GameCube remake are held in high regards while Resident Evil 6 is the epitome of everything that is wrong with the horror genre today. For real fans it’s a call to return back to the series roots instead of pandering to the Call of Duty-fanbase.
Resident Evil HD is not just a restoration of a horror classic but an opportunity to play an iconic game that so many missed back in the days. With the future of an iconic series in question, this is reminder of how good it used to be and maybe it will be an inspiration for future titles.
Final Score: 5/5
