Resident Evil 2 (2019) • MR X GON’ GIVE IT TO YA
A regular city, filled with regular people, about to endure a night of complete and utter horror… It is no secret that the Resident Evil series shaped my entire being growing up, never being allowed to watch my mother playing it (yes, she’s an avid gamer) and always being desperate to know what was so terrifying that my young, boyish eyes could never see it. Eventually permission was granted to me, and I swept through the entire catalogue of games over and over and over. To this day, I pine for any new entry in the series and with this most recent iteration of Resident Evil 2 (my favourite of the titles) I was floored. As the self-proclaimed leading expert on Resident Evil, I present to you a totally unbiased review of this remake of a perfect game.
REmodels and REdesigns
The biggest expectation of a remake of a Playstation 1 title, with its 32-bit polygonal, pre-rendered backgrounds, is its leap into a world of hyper-HD textures and animations. Across the board, the remake shatters all expectations with its efforts to reshape the world of Raccoon City and the police department where the majority of the game takes place. Leon and Claire, the dual protagonists of the game, look realistic in freshly designed outfits befitting of mid-western America in 1998. As does the looming Mr X and the ensemble of zombies, dogs, and sewer monsters that all sport a certain weightiness and fleshiness as their bodies degrade with every bullet fired at them. Outside of this, additional asset details have been granted to the setting with premium liquid textures (including the blood), dynamic and haunting lighting design, and the debris that litters each room increasing its authenticity ten-fold.
Bye, bye, tank controls!
Don’t get me wrong, I think tank controls and fixed camera angles provide a certain atmosphere, but the use of an over-the-shoulder camera perspective and the absence of loading screens between rooms also provides its own atmosphere. Nowhere is safe now. Not only must you ration your healing items, game saving items, and ammunition while solving the giant escape room of a game, but enemies will relentlessly pursue you whereever you go. Some enemies can open doors, some enemies will break down doors, some enemies can crawl through vents. Luckily, the game provides the player saving chances with the use of ‘escape items’ such as one-use daggers and grenades (and a new auto-save feature for anyone looking to play for the story). This change in pace adds a sense of continuity and endurance that the series has rarely utilised before.
Speaking of relentless pursuers…
The precursor to an even more intimidating threat (recently unveiled by Capcom for this game’s sequel), Mr X was a hulking bioweapon dropped into the game to hunt down the protagonist of the game’s second story. There his appearances were only ever scripted, and cunning players could duck and weave around his slow animations. Now, to the surprise and delight of fans (Mr X has his scrapped trilby from the first game!), he stalks the protagonist of both scenarios throughout the entire game. His footsteps are always heard, even when you think you’ve gotten away, and he’s much faster now. Regular bullets won’t stop him, and your only choice is most times to run. In fact, Mr X is programmed to be constantly roaming the map in real time and reacts to noises made by the player (including firing your gun). You’ll know when he’s around too, the room trembles, his boots stomp, and his theme song kicks in (the best track on the new OST, that lacks the iconic nature of the original soundtrack).
Zap! Zap!
As mentioned earlier, the game (nay, the series) is known for its multiple scenarios guided by dual protagonists lovingly called the partner zapping system. Here is the only fault in the remake; apart from some expositional scenes between one another and their eventual escape, Leon and Claire never talk to one another. In the original game, the pair would constantly bump into each other (yes, the police station is big, but it’s not that big) and be in contact over their radios – as you would trying to escape a bunch of zombies. There were even moments where taking certain items in scenario A would leave the protagonist in scenario B without said items. The omission of this leaves the continuity of the game feeling weak, and completely breaks it toward the end of the game where both protagonists are made to defeat the exact same boss in the exact same context. The story suffers greatly because of this, but at the same time major improvements were made to Claire and Leon’s individual subplots (Sherry’s scenario, I’m looking at you. Ada’s scenario, looking at you I am not).
All of these elements under the umbrella of Resident Evil 2
All in all this game is a must. It is probably one of, if not the, best game of 2019. Capcom listened to its fans and undoubtedly showed the world that survival-horror is not a genre of the past, and is certainly here to stay. If you never played the original (which I highly suggest you do), you won’t be bothered too much by the illogicality of the plot, and even considering that, the game does so much atmosphere and gameplay-wise that you’ll be able to just ignore it. Worthy of 4.8 Cthulhus out of 5.
(4.8 / 5)
Gaming
Lovecraft Meets Junji Ito in WORLD OF HORROR
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games.
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games. The game is available on macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. This review will cover the Steam (Windows) version of the game.
You must explore the strange goings on around Shiokawa, Japan. It appears that eldritch forces have influenced the town in incomprehensible ways. So, attempt to comprehend these forces and maintain your sanity to save the town. Plan your investigations, choose between cases, and fight for your life.
There are a few game modes but three difficulty spikes. The easiest is a specific case with some random events. This mode teaches you the basic mechanics of the game. The harder difficulties give you access to an apartment and choices on which case you investigate. Completing objectives earns you customization options for the customized mode.
What I Like About WORLD OF HORROR
Running on GameMaker Studios, the pixelated aesthetic shows influences from Lovecraft and Junji Ito, though the latter more so than the former. WORLD OF HORROR haunts its viewers with its aesthetic, allowing the pixels to evoke those horror legends.
Random generation remains a key feature of the game, with various options and choices giving a massive variety. Your character also has some limited customization to access perks and further development. I will bring up some weaknesses later, but it is surprisingly vast. Adding to this variety, WORLD OF HORROR provides mod accessibility.
The combat allows for a great deal of thought and planning. You select your character’s actions within an action bar and perform the tasks (or combos) to beat an opponent. This JRPG style provides variety in action that makes it engaging and unique.
The random generation and variety make each playthrough different. You might acquire a devastating katana in one playthrough only to bleed out unceremoniously in another.
While not a terrifying gaming experience, WORLD OF HORROR strives to provide an eerie and intense experience. At this, the game is a success. The weird and unnerving collide to invest the player in this strange world.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
Body horror deserves a mention, but the aesthetic and pixels doesn’t particularly evoke realism. Regardless, many designs evoke body horror.
Aside from this, here are some points of consideration. First, WORLD OF HORROR uses JRPG turn-based combat, which seems a point of division among some gamers. However, there are enough interesting mechanics and complexities beyond clicking an action and waiting your turn.
Second, WORLD OF HORROR isn’t a cult detective. You’re experiencing events and choosing how your character responds. Some sage wisdom I heard for WORLD OF HORROR is to focus on the whole campaign instead of a single case. Failing a case isn’t a game over, so prioritize your character’s longevity.
What I Dislike About WORLD OF HORROR
Only a few issues hindered my experience. Some scenarios replay on a single case, let alone a playthrough, which becomes repetitive. Some scenarios have multiple solutions to add variety or require perks to access new options, but that’s not always true. This issue makes the randomization taxing at times.
This next issue is likely a bug or an oversight. After losing my reason (sanity), I found myself still able to investigate despite the game claiming that means death. An unrelated event finished me off, but I can’t help but assume this is a bug.
Final Thoughts
WORLD OF HORROR has its quirks but earns massive replay value and surprising depth. It’s a unique and ambitious indie title worth the price. If Junji Ito’s style or cosmic horror is your particular brand of horror, WORLD OF HORROR delivers an experience you’ll likely enjoy. Though this combination synergizes well, few games combine these elements successfully.
(4.5 / 5)
Step into the mind-bending world of Eldritch Automata as we sit down with Game Designer Nick Francia at GenCon 2024!
Uncover the secrets behind this Lovecraftian mecha-masterpiece and get a glimpse of what’s to come.
In this exclusive interview, Nick Francia shares:
• The intricate game development process • Inspirations behind the eerie Lovecraftian elements
• Unique mecha-infused gameplay mechanics Calling all Lovecraft fans! Dive into a world where eldritch horrors meet steam-powered marvels.
Eldritch Automata promises an unforgettable gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
👉 Ready to embrace the madness? Check out our playable demo at a con near you! #EldritchAutomata #GenCon2024 #LovecraftianGaming #IndieGameDev
Prepare for a spine-chilling experience as Jim Phoenix delves into the shadows with Trick or Treat Studios at GenCon 2024!
In this exclusive interview, we uncover the terrifying secrets behind their latest bone-chilling creations: “House of 1000 Corpses” and “Halloween II” board games.
These games aren’t just about rolling dice – they’re about immersing yourself in the blood-curdling atmosphere of beloved horror films. With unique survival (and kill!) horror mechanics and cooperative gameplay, you’ll feel the terror coursing through your veins with every move!
But wait, there’s more! With the Kickstarter to House of 1000 Corpses shipping soon, we have an in-depth review coming up for that game, Halloween II–AND…Chucky. BOOMMM!!!
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