Resident Evil 3 Review

One year after the release of the Resident Evil 2 remake, Capcom is back with another remake, this time for Resident Evil 3. Does the game live up to the original or the RE2 remake, or does it fall short? Find out in our complete review of Resident Evil 3.

“Note: This review focuses only on the story and does not cover the online mode Resident Evil Resistance.”

Story

Resident Evil 3’s story begins before the events of Resident Evil 2 and ends after them. It follows Jill as she tries to escape Raccoon City, which has been overrun by zombies due to a virus outbreak. Survivors are desperately trying to stay alive.

Unlike Resident Evil 2, where you could play two campaigns as Leon and Claire, this game focuses primarily on Jill, with some segments where you play as Carlos. Both characters are well-written and performed excellently.

The main antagonist is Nemesis, a relentless bio-weapon designed to eliminate STARS members, including Jill. Unfortunately, Nemesis doesn’t appear often, mostly showing up in scripted cutscenes or boss fights. This makes him feel less threatening compared to Mr. X in RE2, where you could encounter him more organically.

Gameplay

The game uses a third-person perspective, similar to RE2, but with a few tweaks. There is more ammo and enemies compared to RE2, blending action with horror effectively, much like the original 1999 release.

Characters move slowly, but Nemesis can sprint, introducing a new dodge mechanic. A perfectly timed dodge triggers a slow-motion effect, allowing you to land a critical hit that temporarily disables Nemesis or kills regular zombies.

Unlike RE2, Resident Evil 3 focuses more on action and less on puzzles. The game is linear, with fewer reasons to backtrack or explore previous areas.

The game offers a variety of weapons to help deal with large groups of zombies. Despite its shorter 7-hour playtime, the mix of horror and action keeps things engaging.

Some content from the original game, like the clock tower and graveyard, is missing, which might have extended the game’s length. Including these areas could have made the experience even more satisfying.

Graphics and Performance

Like Resident Evil 7 and RE2, this game uses the RE Engine, delivering impressive graphics and smooth performance, especially on PC.

The graphics aren’t a huge leap from RE2 but feature more varied environments. Each location feels unique, unlike RE2’s focus on the police station and laboratory.

Character models for Jill and Carlos showcase incredible detail, enhancing cinematic scenes significantly.

On a standard PS4, the game runs at 1080p but struggles to maintain 60 FPS, often dropping to 40–50 FPS. For the best experience, play on PC or a PS4 Pro.

Sound

The voice acting, especially for Jill and Carlos, is top-notch, surpassing Leon and Claire in RE2. Cinematic scenes are even more engaging as a result.

The music, particularly Nemesis’ theme, is fantastic. It captures the intensity of boss fights and chase sequences. Fans of the original will recognize familiar tunes, reimagined for modern audiences.

Weapon and zombie sounds have improved slightly compared to RE2, further enhancing the immersion.

Conclusion

Resident Evil 3 is an excellent mix of action and horror, but its short length and limited Nemesis appearances hold it back. While the graphics and music are exceptional, missing content and performance issues make it feel rushed compared to RE2.

Final Score: 8/10