With the HD update of 2002’s Resident Evil REmake just over the horizon, I can’t help but feel the need to have a few of the more underappreciated RE titles from that era make a similar triumphant return.
An Editorial By Clark and Zac Thompson
Back in 2003, before the core Resident Evil games were forever changed from the classic format, series fanatics were treated to a truly unique and exhilarating experience that was Resident Evil Outbreak.
The game was truly a dream come true for this RE fan in a few pretty big ways. In the early core games of the series, where you routinely bump into, and occasionally fight alongside different support characters, the idea of these characters being controlled by a friend was something I’d routinely daydream about. That was now a reality.
In addition, Outbreak‘s setting, which was Raccoon City during the viral outbreak, gave players the opportunity to experience the area along with the early to late stages of the chaos culminating the the cities ultimate destruction, like never before.
However, the gameplay was a little stilted and disjointed. The core experience had the heart of Resident Evil but something felt off. Now that the online gaming community is exploding, there is no time like the present to make Outbreak a defining multiplayer experience through a crisp remake that would help pull the series back to it’s roots while taking the pulse of more modern gaming experiences.
The besieged Racoon City is the perfect setting to bring the heart of Resident Evil back to the series and the multiplayer experience of terror has yet to be perfected, but with Capcom in the drivers seat, I believe a RE Outbreak Remake could do the trick. There are the minor experiments in Resident Evil 5 and 6, but those feel like cheap examples compared to Outbreak.
To put it bluntly, Outbreak — along with its sequel — deliver on almost every level.
First of all, instead of just you and one other friend, game sessions were comprised of of four characters selected from a group of eight, each possessing their own strengths, weaknesses and special abilities. There was even melee combat and some mild weapon crafting, not to mention the ability to move with your weapon drawn.
The ten scenarios, five for each game, sprawled a great deal of interesting areas over the course the the mayhem. And best of all, it was all presented with the same dynamic camera angles that made the series famous, but in a fully 3D world. The end product feeling very similar to Resident Evil: Code Veronica in it’s visual aesthetic, with an added polish reminiscent of the Resident Evil REmake. It was a beautifully rich and atmospheric experience.
With all that in mind you’ve got the recipe for the perfect rebirth of the franchise. There is a certain magic to these scenarios that begs to be in a faster paced multiplayer world. With the introduction of full voice communication and tossing the predetermined vocal cues you can help create a more modern experience, but use it is a location based way that only allows those close to you to actually hear the things you’re saying.
That’s true horror, especially if you can’t tell someone’s dead, only to enter a room and hear screams of agony before their mic goes dead.
The game also had you exploring the underground facility from Resident Evil 2, the hospital from Nemesis, the underground tunnels, a burning hotel teeming with Lickers, Raccoon City University, a forest outside the city and my personal favorite, The Raccoon City Zoo.
If we want a rebirth of the magic of the first few installments are retooled Outbreak experience is the only answer. The games have always been about bands of survivors, and elevating the terror through friends will both increase the fear and fun. It allows Resident Evil to evolve in a new way, still keep a more action oriented pace that made it successful as of late, but still keep the roots of what made it great in the first place. Plus, you’ll still have zombies.
At the end of the day, both of these games were classic Resident Evil experiences that were largely swept under the rug. The gameplay, atmosphere, visuals, enemies and music were all fantastic. These titles truly deserved a wider audience, and with a few tweaks, mainly the addition of voice chat, and perhaps some new content, now would be the perfect time for an HD overhaul. Especially with the current popularity of co-op play, combined with faster connection speeds and the current love of gaming nostalgia.
Clark Thompson is a 31-year-old horror fanatic currently residing in Kelowna B.C. His main goals in life are to one day experience a zombie apocalypse, and/or undergo surgery to have his heart mounted on the exterior of his chest. You can reach him at clarkthomspon@yahoo.ca or on facebook Clorkwork Torange.
