Resident Evil 3 is a solid remake that improves on Resident Evil 2 in some areas, while unfortunately falling short in others. The story is noticeably better than RE2's, with a more engaging narrative and stronger focus on its characters. However, the game lacks the incredible atmosphere that made RE2 so memorable.
Story & Writing - 8/10
The story is one of the strongest parts of RE3 for me. Compared to the RE2 remake, I found myself much more invested in what was happening and more interested in the characters and their journey. It still has the classic Resident Evil campiness, but it works well here. Jill and Carlos have a great dynamic, and the story gives the game a stronger sense of momentum than RE2.
Atmosphere & Sound Design - 7/10
This is where RE3 unfortunately falls behind its predecessor. The game still looks and sounds fantastic, but it does not have the same oppressive atmosphere as RE2. RE2 made me feel like I was constantly being watched or hunted, with dark hallways and distant sounds creating tension even when nothing was happening. RE3 feels much more action-focused, which makes sense for the story, but it also means that a lot of that slow-burning survival horror tension is missing.
Gameplay & Mechanics - 8/10
The core gameplay is still very enjoyable. Exploration, combat, resource management and puzzles work well together, although RE3 leans noticeably more towards action than RE2. The faster pace works well for the game, and Jill's movement and abilities make combat feel more responsive. However, I do think the shift towards action comes at the expense of some of the survival horror elements. The fact that they gave Jill and Carlos two different "dodge" mechanics that fits their design and background also shows attention to detail (Jill dodges, whilst Carlos melees).
Visuals & Art Direction - 9/10
The RE Engine once again looks fantastic. Raccoon City is beautifully recreated, the character models look great, and the creature designs are excellent. Nemesis in particular looks absolutely terrifying, even if his implementation throughout the game is not always as effective as Mr. X was in RE2.
Replayability & Content - 6/10
This is probably the weakest area of the remake. RE3 is a much shorter and more linear experience than RE2, and there is simply less content to come back to. There are still reasons to replay it, especially if you enjoy higher difficulties and trying to improve your runs, but I wish there was more here.
Conclusion
Resident Evil 3 is a good remake that I enjoyed, but it feels like it is missing something that RE2 had. The story is better, the characters are more engaging, and the faster gameplay fits the game well. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is nowhere near as strong as RE2's, and the shorter, more linear experience leaves it feeling somewhat less substantial.
If I could take the story and characters of RE3 and combine them with the atmosphere and survival horror of RE2, I honestly think we'd have the perfect Resident Evil game.
Final Score: 73/100
