In 1999, the world was given Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. It was coming off of the heels of the very popular and successful Resident Evil 2 for the PlayStation 1. Initially, this was supposed to be a side game that wasn't initially involved in the main chronological series of the franchise. The folks at Capcom decided to make this game a main entry into the franchise. Twenty-one years later, *cries*, we were given a remake/re-imagining of Resident Evil 3. What better way to deal with a real-life pandemic going on than playing a game set during a pandemic. Yeah. This game kind of hits a little close to home pandemic wise. Other than that, thankfully, we aren't dealing with zombies, monsters, and oh right, a bioengineered monster who uses weapons called Nemesis.
In this game, you are playing as a member of S.T.A.R.S, (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad), Jill Valentine. When the game starts, you are watching news reports of a pandemic going on. This moment is where it got a little close to home. But once the game starts kicking in, your heart is racing throughout the whole game. One of the most significant issues that people keep mentioning in this game is the pacing. The pacing of this game is what set me on the edge of my seat. Sure the pacing is a bit fast, but at the same time, it was meant to be. Since this is supposed to be a remake but more on the cusp of a reimagining, I never in my mind thought that I would be playing the same game as I did as a kid.
Raccoon City was given a decent makeover over the original game. Now, of course, this also does come off the backbone from the Resident Evil 2 remake from last year as well. The zombies in this game I feel are a bit tougher this time around. I don't know what it is, but even on standard-setting, these zombies take a while to... kill? I mean they're undead, so killed? Yeah, we'll go with that.
There are more than just zombies in this game. Each of the following creatures all have a terror aspect as well as a difficult aspect to them.
Hunter γ
Hunter β
Zombie Dogs
Pale Heads
The big guy itself, Nemesis, is a force to be wrecking. He was created to capture and destroy members of S.T.A.R.S. He is just as terrifying as I remembered him back in my youthful days. When he breaks through a wall, I was still jumping. Those moments where he jumps from a building and lands in front of you, it was still horrifying. The music that plays when he appears, it's very unnerving. Although they did change him up significantly since the original, he is still the Nemesis I remember.
NEMESIS
Once you finish the game, there is some replayability value. A shop is unlocked where you can purchase better and more powerful weapons (infinite rocket launcher) that can help you beat the game again on the hardest difficulty settings available. Which you can also unlock harder difficulties each time you finish the game on a higher difficulty.
In the end, it was great revisiting this game after all these years. I had a lot of fun playing this game and also replaying it for the 4th time soon.
4 out of 5 S.T.A.R.S
