[h1] A Misrepresentation of Jill Valentine, and How Is This Jill Different from the One Capcom Has Kept Hidden in the Basement Since 2012? [/h1]
RE3R is a game with plenty of pros and cons, but I don’t want to go over all of that right now. First of all, I don’t want to come across as just another armchair critic who dislikes the new version simply because of a dusty layer of nostalgia—no, I want to make it clear right away that I’m a new gen fan for whom RE3R is only the second game in the entire franchise.
After getting to know the franchise better and replaying RE3R, I felt quite disappointed by what one of my favorite characters had ultimately become. Of course, both characters—Jill from the original RE3 and Jill from RE3R—are highly skilled S.T.A.R.S. operatives dealing with a viral outbreak, but these two games have completely different narrative tones: they take quite distinct approaches to her personality, emotional state, and interactions.
[h2] ★ Tone and demeanor ★ [/h2]
✦ Original RE3
The original Jill has a grounded, quietly resilient, and classic action-hero stoicism. Not surprisingly, this game has significantly more action than the previous two games combined. Given the character trends of the time, it’s no surprise that Jill is portrayed this way. Her trauma following the events in the Arkley Mountains is reflected in her transformation into a more stoic heroine who no longer needs Barry Burton by her side. This is no longer “Jill Sandwich”; we’re presented with a more seasoned operative who knows how to handle enemies like these. Clearly, the game was designed for fans who had already played the previous titles and could therefore see how Jill had grown since the events at Spencer’s mansion. Her strength is quiet, professional, and methodical. She isn't prone to outbursts; she focuses entirely on the mission of surviving and escaping. However, despite this more significant change in her personality, we can still recognize the Jill that fans have loved since RE1. She’s kind, caring, compassionate, and willing to do anything to help others who’ve gotten into trouble.
• [i] “I'm sorry about your daughter, but there isn't going to be any rescue. We have to get out of here!” [/i]
• [i] “Hey, is someone wounded back there?...Calm down. You're safe now. Everything is going to be okay.” [/i]
Despite everything, this Jill is resilient and has a strong core—no matter what happened, no matter all the obstacles and setbacks, she still continued on her path, never complaining, never losing heart. She knows she has no other choice. [i] “This is my last chance for survival... This is my last escape...” [/i]
✦ RE3R
Just like the original Jill, the Jill from the remake is a product of her time. Remake Jill is significantly more aggressive, dynamic, and outwardly defiant. She follows trends in modern female protagonists from other games, embodying what’s currently quite popular—namely, the archetype of the “strong” female heroine, the so-called “badass” with a layer of sarcasm and defiance (Leon S. Kennedy just rolled over in his grave). This Jill is not characterized by stoicism or groundedness; her trauma has taken over her personality. Jill’s response to this trauma isn’t quiet melancholy—it is fierce, raw anger. She uses sharp sarcasm and profanity as armor to mask her vulnerability, which is a fairly common trope for portraying seasoned operatives who’ve been through a lot. To many, this approach may seem more realistic, although in my opinion, it’s simply more popular, since there are many characters in the RE franchise who behave the same way.
In my point of view, this Jill lacks many of the traits that were shown in the original game. Compare her reaction to the wounded Mikhail in the original and the remake:
• [i] “Mikhail: ...My team was sent here to rescue civilians. [coughs, the camera pans down, showing that he is injured.] Jill [sarcastically]: Right. How's that going for you?” [/i]
Despite everything, Jill still agrees to work with people connected to Umbrella in order to save as many civilians as possible. Although she supposedly possesses the same kindness and desire to help everyone else, all of this is laced with a thick layer of sarcasm that stands in stark contrast to the original Jill. I want to emphasize that this is just my take on it, but I believe that sarcasm is a personality trait that doesn’t suit Jill in such large doses. We can see similar aspects of her personality even in RE1R, but it was toned down and not used in nearly every scene to show just how “badass” this character is. Even in the original, there weren’t that many cheesy lines, which... Well, says a lot.
[h2] ★ Interaction with the Nemesis ★ [/h2]
✦ Original RE3
Nemesis is an overwhelming, terrifying obstacle. Jill reacts to it with genuine horror and professional focus. Her priority is to find a way past or through it to keep moving. You can tell just how exhausted she was at the end of the game by what she says to Nemesis:
• [i] “You want S.T.A.R.S.? I'll give you S.T.A.R.S.!” [/i]
The only cheesy line we get, as if it were a reward, when we defeat Nemesis in the final stage. Nemesis truly feels like an unstoppable threat—one that has already killed one of your teammates and is now closing in on you unhindered. There’s no time to waste on idle chatter; you need to focus solely on your own survival.
✦ RE3R
Nemesis is a personal enemy she actively mocks. Jill screams insults at it, turning her fear into pure, defiant spite.
Nemesis in RE3R is a missed opportunity. It’s psychologically important how characters view their enemies, how they address them, and exactly how they react. Mr. X (RE2/RE2R) is incredibly intimidating to many players, and none of the main characters would ever dare to say things like “a b/tch who can’t even swim” or “hey, f/ckface!” on the Tyrant because it’s out of place and ruins the whole unnerving atmosphere (just to clarify: I'm not talking about the final lines; I'm only referring to how the characters treat their enemies throughout the game). If the main character isn't afraid, why should I be?
This Jill isn't afraid of Nemesis; she's annoyed by his presence and is ready to fight him no matter what.
[h2] ★ Visual Design ★ [/h2]
✦ Original RE3
A blue tube top, black miniskirt, and a white sweater wrapped around her waist. What a product of late-90s game design.
✦ RE3R
Jill's look has been completely redesigned to prioritize realism and practicality: a layered tactical tank top, utilitarian cargo pants, combat boots, and a shoulder holster.
This take might be quite provocative, but I believe that games don’t necessarily have to lean toward realism when choosing outfits for their characters. It’s just a game, and as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t really matter what a character wears, as long as their personality and character development throughout the story are completely captivating. I have to admit that I prefer the original outfit simply because of how iconic and memorable it is, as opposed to the tank top and jeans that have become the go-to look for female characters in modern games—as if no other clothing in the world existed. However, I can understand why Jill’s look was changed—let’s be honest, female characters wouldn’t be dressed like that today to avoid causing any controversy or conflict.
[h2] ★ Conclusion ★ [/h2]
It’s important to remember that this is a remake, and a remake is definitely not a remaster, which has to stay true to everything in the original game. It was obvious that many things would be changed in the name of realism or modern trends, just as they would be in any future Capcom remake. However, for me, this will remain a disappointment, given how much my favorite heroine has been altered just to conform to modern standards. Still, all that’s left is to accept it and welcome the new Jill—the gritty, unyielding action-thriller protagonist whose survival is driven by fierce defiance and explosive grit.
