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Resident Evil 2 Is Simplifying Its Campaign Mode
Get ready for a more streamlined style of gameplay as Resident Evil 2 heads back to Racoon City and hopes to simplify its main story mode. Resident Evil 2 became known for its "zapping system" back in 1998, but players are warned that things will be a little different in 2019's revamped version of the title.
It has been 20 years since gamers could first play as the fiery Claire Redfield or rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy, and while some things will undoubtedly be the same in the remake, Capcom is changing one of the game's biggest features. Although there will still be separate campaigns for both Claire and Leon, there will no longer be the four-option scenario system of Leon A/Claire B and Claire A/Leon B.
The zapping system may have made RE2 famous and again appeared in Resident Evil 0, but according to game producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, it won't be returning to the series any time soon. Speaking to Rely on Horror, Hirabayashi revealed why developers are getting rid of one of Resident Evil 2's unique mechanic:
"We still want to replicate that feeling of seeing two sides to the same story through both character’s perspective in their own way. So for that reason we have a Leon campaign and a Claire campaign, they’re separate and you can choose which one you want to play first."
While some people loved the zapping system, there's no denying it could become tedious as players were forced to retread the same ground just to get a different perspective. By giving Claire and Leon their own distinct campaigns for the remake, it should at least alleviate some of the familiarity and add to the replayability factor.
For anyone worrying that the fizzing dynamic between the two leads won't be explored, rest assured that Leon and Claire will meet at various points in the story. Just as Resident Evil 2's original release saw decisions impact the other character's path, the same type of gameplay is expected to factor into the remake - just with a more modern twist.
Considering RE2 was teased as a ground-up rework rather than a remaster back in 2015, it is no surprise that Capcom is changing a lot of how the game works. With Resident Evil 2 being held by some as the best in the zombie franchise's 22-year history, there is always a danger that the remake could overreach and lose some of what made the original great. That being said, with 2019's game promising to introduce deleted concepts from Resident Evil 1.5 and a flashy E3 trailer showcasing a modern over-the-shoulder camera, there is plenty for fans old and new to look forward to.
Resident Evil 2 will be released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on January 25, 2019.
