Hey, do you remember that Resident Evil 3 came out in 2020? I bet you forgot. Most people probably did, considering that the game wasn’t quite as successful as last year’s predecessor, Resident Evil 2. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind since April, to be honest, and it’s felt like Resident Evil 3 has fallen to the wayside in favour of other games that have launched this year, but I’m here to say differently. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of my favourite games of 2020, and worthy of being mentioned as a Game of the Year.
While we’re always a bit iffy when discussing remakes for Game of the Year contention, one that was kind of bent when discussing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, Resident Evil 2 and 3 are so far removed from their original counterparts that they may as well be completely different games entirely. The story elements remain the same, but the fixed perspective and tank controls are swapped in favour of an over-the-shoulder camera and gunplay that doesn’t make me want to stab needles in my eyes. RE4, I love you, but the stop and shoot is so clunky these days.
The remake of RE2 in particular received much fanfare last year, and in the eyes of many is the preferable option to RE3, and while I would also agree, there’s something about Resident Evil 3 that has hooked me like no other game in the series has yet. At the time of writing (December 10th), I’ve already finished two playthroughs and I’m planning routes and methods for more. Previously, RE games had been one and done affairs, but something about Resident Evil 3 has suckered me in.
Unlike other RE games that rely heavily on puzzles, RE3 is much more action oriented, giving you plenty of ammo and weapons to blast the waves of zombies, mutant hunters and weird spider monsters that stand in your way. It’s a more direct game than RE 2’s slower, more methodical approach, personified by a Nemesis that’ll absolutely cream you in five seconds flat if you’re not careful. Mr. X will stand there and let you get up, but Nemesis will just knock you back down immediately.
Some took issue with the game’s length, along with the fact that there’s nothing to do once you’ve finished the game, but for an achievement fiend like me, Resident Evil 3’s post-game is more enticing than the others. Instead of rewards tied to grades, you instead unlock a bonus shop featuring tools and weapons that make subsequent playthroughs easier. You earn these weapons by completing challenges within the game.
To me, unlocking the powerful weapons in other RE games felt pointless. Once you’ve got the S Rank, there’s no point in going back to use the weapon you’ve unlocked, but here the weapons can help you get the S Rank. An infinite ammo rocket launcher is typically reserved for the victory lap, but it’s a genuine stepping stone towards earning the best completion rating in Resi 3.
Admittedly, this one is a bit of a personal pick. Maybe Resident Evil 3 just hit me at the right time, having skipped over it at launch because I’m a big spider crybaby. One dreary weekend in December later though, and Resident Evil 3 can lay claim to being one of my favourite gaming experiences of the past year. If nothing else, RE 3 even convinced me to rebuy RE 2 so I can finish that again. I’ve liked the RE series since 4, but RE 2 and especially 3 might have kicked off a full blown love affair. More of this please.
Resident Evil 3 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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