Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, XBox One

Resident Evil Remastered is as good as the Resident Evil remake on the GameCube in 2002, which was a good as Resident Evil’s initial release on the PlayStation in 1996. So why, in 2015, would you buy a game that’s been released three times in the last 20 years? Because it’s legendary. To fans of the survival horror genre, it’s simply that important.

The story is classic. Even if you didn’t play it in 1996 or 2002, you probably know the story. Members of the Raccoon City Police Department special task force, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Barry Burton and Albert Wesker are stuck in a mysterious mansion outside of Raccoon City.

Players take the role of either Chris or Jill as they escape fatal traps and avoid the clutches of the living dead and other dreadful experiments.

The first thing Resident Evil veterans will notice is how beautiful this game looks, especially on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The textures are brought to life, giving the gothic mansion a creepier atmosphere than it has ever had before.

I felt like danger was looming all around me because of the spectacular lighting and shadow effects. It is a visual treat when you walk past a large window as thunder booms and lightning flashes.

Another thing veteran fans will notice are the controls, which have been overhauled to be more like Resident Evil 5. Instead of dealing with antiquated tank controls, you can move freely using both analog sticks, but within the bounds of the classic fixed camera angles, which is a Resident Evil classic staple. This is easily one of the biggest improvements.

Over the years, many people have taken issue with the fixed camera, but I feel as though it drives the cinematic experience.

Resident Evil is considered the godfather of survival horror for a reason, it’s brutal and all the tropes are there. Resident Evil does not hold your hand. In fact, it slaps your hand away, then slaps you for even asking for help.

Solving the long string of puzzles and searching for the various keys that will allow you to progress requires patience and a keen eye.

You will get lost, you will get confused and sometimes you are holding on an item but you are not exactly sure what it’s for. But figuring it out on your own is its own reward. It harkens back to the pre-internet days when people used to share tips and tricks around the water cooler or at the lunch room.

Combat is difficult and discouraged. Even the most basic zombie can take an entire clip before it’s actually dead and you are going to want to save every bullet for the bosses.

Resources like ammunition and health items are fairly limited and enemies can take as much damage as they dish out. You are constantly forced to avoid fights and reserve your resources for when you really need them.

Resident Evil Remastered is as good as it was when it released 20 years ago, which means it still carries outdated conventions. Limited game saves in the form of ink ribbons used to be a part of the challenge but for a newcomer, it could feel like an unfair way to increase the difficulty.

The controls feel much better than they did 20 years ago, but aiming your gun is a point of frustration. Sometimes I missed shots while I was standing directly in front of a creature. Once again, it’s an intended game design choice that adds to the difficulty and realism. My new players may be turned off by this immediately.

Die-hard Resident Evil fans will probably picked this up. It’s a beautiful rendition of the original game and deserves to be played. Newcomers to the survival horror genre will want to pick this game up if they want to experience the roots of the genre. If fast paced action games are more of your thing, well, there is always Call of Duty.

4/5