In an age of countless remasters, it was no surprise for the Resident Evil franchise to jump in and join the fun. Capcom went above and beyond the call of duty with their recent Resident Evil 2 remake. It is simultaneously a faithful adaptation of the source material and a complete reinvention of the 1998 classic. The format received unanimous praise from press and fans alike.
Now the company is at it again, this time crafting a full-fledged remake of the third numbered entry, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The title is a few months out, so we thought it a fine time to detail five important concrete facts we know about the upcoming release and five things we guess are likely to happen.
10 Already Know: Third-Person Perspective
The reveal trailer showed small flashes of gameplay. Not enough to tell what was really going on, but enough to realize the third-person perspective. One could already deduce beforehand that a remake of the third game would employ a similar camera to its predecessor. The style worked so well, after all, so the developer had no reason to change it. The behind-the-shoulder camera, popularized by Resident Evil 4, is ideal for both claustrophobic and open areas. Since the game takes place throughout the whole city, both types of environments will be constantly in play.
9 Likely: Playing As Carlos
Carlos Oliveira is Jill's trusty sidekick throughout the adventure. In the original game, players control him for a brief period of time. The remake will probably put players into his shoes again for a brief segment. One can expect it to be different than his part in the original, though.
Just like how the Ada Wong and Sherry Birkin sequences of 2019's Resident Evil 2 varied from the original release, so will a potential Carlos episode shake up expectations just enough to keep things fresh for those who know Resident Evil 3 like the back of their hand.
8 Already Know: Multiplayer
Before Resident Evil 3's announcement, Capcom let loose a new game known as Project Resistance. Fans were perplexed by the announcement because of their desire for a single-player offering more than anything focused on online play. Now everyone knows the company's true intentions; Resident Evil Resistance is the multiplayer portion of the Resident Evil 3 remake. Because it will probably lack an A and B game of its predecessor, this mode will potentially pick up some of the slack.
7 Likely: Bonus Single-Player Content
Capcom games rarely leave players high and dry after a single playthrough of any of their titles. The Resident Evil series in particular always gives fans a reason to stick around after the credits roll, whether it be through bonus missions or extra goodies to use on the next playthrough. One can expect a similar experience with the upcoming title. Jill will probably get some new toys and smaller bonus episodes will more than likely become available. Paid DLC usually comes along too, but if Resident Evil 2 is any indication, a solid amount will first be in the game up front.
6 Already Know: Release Date
Since Resident Evil 7, the release dates have always been relatively close to the announcement. Many major franchises reveal their anticipated titles a year or two beforehand, but this series has gotten in the habit of waiting until six months or so before it hits the market.
Resident Evil 3 is cutting it even closer at about five months. This is impressive enough on its own, but it feels like even more of a gift when remembering that Resident Evil 2 only came out a year ago.
5 Likely: Nightmare Mode
The original Resident Evil titles weren't on the level of a Dark Souls game, but they would punish careless gamers. The later games' normal difficulty settings were enough for most players to surpass without too much strife, and those who wanted more challenge could always tackle a nightmare or hardcore mode for a true test of mettle.
Resident Evil 3 will most likely follow suit, giving experienced zombie killers a run for their money.
4 Already Know: Collector's Edition
The game is four months out, so people should already be getting their pre-orders in. Retailers are ready for this, with Gamestop, in particular, offering some nice incentives for those who decide to do their business with them. The collector's edition offers some sweet tangible goodies, including an art book, action figure, and a poster of Racoon City's map. It's a step beyond the typical pre-order bonuses the average AAA title offers, which typically consists of some complimentary downloadable content.
3 Likely: Silly Costumes
Pre-order bonuses have already promised classic versions of Carlos and Jill's outfit, but updated for the new engine. Resident Evil 2 gave gamers a slew of extra outfits to spice up the gameplay. Some were silly and others were a bit more appropriate to the aesthetic. After beating the game, one should expect a polygonal version of Jill and Carlos from the original game as a fun way to enjoy new playthroughs. Don't expect that to make the game any less scary, however. Zombies jumping out of the shadows is still horrific even if the player's avatar is Pee-Wee Herman.
2 Already Know: Masachika Kawata
One of the game's producers is Masachika Kawata. His work with the Resident Evil series extends all the way back to the first Resident Evil 3 where he cut his teeth as a background artist. More importantly, however, he served as a producer on many titles recently in the franchise, including Resident Evil 5 and 7.
With the latter game in mind, one can deduce work on this title began shortly after the first-person experience was released. A franchise veteran at the helm gives fans faith for the upcoming remake living up to expectations.
1 Likely: Dynamic Nemesis Game Play
Nemesis stands as one of the most iconic monsters in gaming. It is an unstoppable menace in the original release. The new version of the monster will likely maintain a similar design, but take gameplay cues from the Tyrant of the Resident Evil 2 remake. In the 2019 game, his behavior changes based on the player's actions, relentlessly pursuing Claire and Leon through the station. Players can hide from it until it moved on to the next room, but it is always lurking somewhere. Nemesis is bigger and stronger, so one can expect an even more menacing presence hunting Jill through the streets in a similarly dynamic way.