Resident Evil games tend to be short, but they’re always filled with an inherent replay value. The original Resident Evil’s freeform level design made replaying the game incredibly fun, and Resident Evil 2 would immediately expand on the replay value through the Zapping system. Even without an emphasis on replayability, titles like Code Veronica and Resident Evil 4 are filled with enough hidden details to keep fans coming back for more.
The same is the case for Resident Evil 3. Where the original featured traditional replay value, Resident Evil 3 (2020) incentivizes fans to keep coming back for more through a copious amount of hidden details– making the latest entry in the survival horror franchise an even meatier experience.
10 Jill Can Visit Nemesis’ Crate
The Resident Evil 3 remake opens with a cutscene cutting in and out of Nemesis’ development. Umbrella scientists are preparing him for his descent into Raccoon City, with the beast placed into a crate to be dropped down below. After Nemesis chases Jill out of her apartment building, she’ll meet up with Brad and players will be expected to follow.
Should players instead stop and observe their surroundings after Brad and Jill finish talking, players can actually find the crate Nemesis came out of. Not just that, wait long enough and Jill will actually comment on the crate itself, acknowledging Umbrella’s role in the outbreak immediately.
9 Carlos And The RPD’s Doors
Revisiting the RPD is something fans of Resident Evil 3 have been talking about since Resident Evil 2 (2019) released. Returning to the RPD as Jill is a highlight in RE3, and the remake would naturally be able to expand on the area by making use of RE2’s level design. While Jill doesn’t make it to the RPD, Carlos does.
Even though it would’ve been nice for Jill to visit her workplace, Carlos taking over leads to some hilarious observations on his part. One of his best will happen as players are exploring the lobby. Simply look at any door with a key crest on it and Carlos will make note of how weird they are– only for Tyrell to tell him to stay focused.
8 Carlos Laments Leon’s First Day
Carlos pointing out the emblems on the doors inside of the RPD is a cute detail, especially since Resident Evil 2 (2019) went out of its way to not only justify but embrace the silliness of the RPD’s aesthetic (in a very tasteful, grounded way.) That’s not all Carlos can comment on inside the police station, however.
While he has other triggers (like screaming in shock if you rush into your first Licker encounter by accident,) looking at the “Welcome Leon” banner inside of the West Office will result in Carlos cheekily referring to Leon’s first day. Unbeknownst to Carlos, though, Leon has yet to arrive in Raccoon City...
7 Carlos Is Not A Fan Of Nathaniel Bard
The Hospital is the real meat of Carlos’ time in Resident Evil 3 (2020.) The RPD was more a taste of what’s to come– an opportunity to familiarize oneself with Carlos. As is the case inside of the RPD, Carlos will make the occasional comment should players trigger the right situation. Carlos will verbally lash out at zombies, but he’ll also comment on Bard himself if you let him.
Should players let the entire tape recording play out before entering Nathaniel Bard’s office (done as simply as not moving into the room itself,) Bard will go on to lash out at a nurse with crude, sexist rambings. Once the tape finishes, Carlos will share his thoughts on Bard and soldier on.
6 Carlos’ Punch Does Damage
Although Jill is Resident Evil 3’s sole main character in both the original and the remake, Carlos does play an active role and serve as the player character for some time. In the original, it was only for the Hospital, whereas the remake expands his role considerably: giving Carlos access to the RPD along with the Hospital.
As Carlos is a more active part of the gameplay loop, he ends up playing a bit differently from Jill. Most notably, Carlos lacks a dodge, instead shoving his enemies. Rather than doing a “perfect shove,” Carlos can pull off a perfect punch that actually does damage and can even kill enemies.
5 Jill’s Familiar Friends
Near the end of NEST 2, Jill will need to walk down a hallway filled with incubation tanks for Tyrants and Hunters. While Hunters make appearances in Resident Evil 3 beginning with the Hospital, Jill notably only ever encountered a Tyrant at the end of Resident Evil 1 (although Nemesis is a variant of a Tyrant.)
Should players stop to zoom in on the tanks (before Jill gets the vaccine,) she’ll comment her on the Hunters and Tyrants in front of her. Seeing all these monsters lined up is not only a nice bit of fan service, it builds tension for when the Hunters jump out and attack. It’s just a pity the Tyrants stay dormant.
4 Making The Tough Decisions: Jill’s Arc
Classic Resident Evil stories don’t really leave room for the main characters to have much in the way of character arcs, but Resident Evil 3 (2020) actually does an excellent job with both characterization and character development. Jill in particular comes out of the remake a much richer character, in large part due to her relationship with the UBCS.
Nikolai in particular bookends Jill’s arc nicely. Near the start, Jill refuses to shoot and kill a dying UBCS soldier so Nikolai does it instead. At the end of the game, Jill is forced to shoot Nikolai to rescue Carlos, potentially shooting the man she’s come to see as a partner in the process. Where Jill once hesitated, she now pulls the trigger to prove Nikolai wrong, stopping him in his tracks.
3 The Clock Tower Reference
The Clock Tower stands out as one of the best areas in the original Resident Evil 3, if not the game’s most iconic setting. It’s basically the climax of the game. Tragically, the remake cuts out the Clock Tower completely (along with the Park and the Dead Factory,) resulting in many upset fans. Frustratingly, the Clock Tower is actually referenced in-game.
Not only is the Clock Tower quite literally seen from afar at a pivotal moment in the remake– heavily suggesting Jill will go to it– there’s a document discussing the Clock Tower’s structure and history, something that only happens for areas players get to go to. Perhaps DLC?
2 Assisted Mode Weapon Reference
The original Resident Evil 3 notably only had two difficulty modes: Easy and Hard. While some might expect Easy to be the default difficulty in this case, what results is players controlling a Jill with a wide roster of guns at the ready. RE3 is designed around Hard mode, with Easy mode basically baby mode.
The remake naturally doesn’t handhold as much as the original did in its easiest mode, Assisted this time around, but Jill does actually begin with a weapon: the Assault Rifle. As the Assault Rifle is locked to Carlos on higher difficulties, this can easily be read as a reference to Jill’s insane armory in the original Easy mode.
1 One Dangerous Chicken
On a standard playthrough of Resident Evil 3, players will take out Brad Vickers as Carlos as soon as they arrive at the gates of the RPD. They’ll plunder his body, steal his ID card, and then explore the RPD at their leisure. On higher difficulties, however, regardless of whether or not Brad was downed, he’ll stalk Carlos.
S.T.A.R.S.’ resident chicken can be seen watching Carlos from outside the windows… until he makes his way into the RPD. As difficulty tiers remix enemy placement in Resident Evil 3, this can result in players juggling a manic Brad Vickers and everything else the RPD has to offer at once.