RE3R has a lot of short comings, but I don't think Capcom phoned it in. It's so close to, imo, being the best RE game, but it's unfinished. It surpasses RE2R in art direction, atmosphere, its cast of characters, and attention to detail (there is a lot of optional dialogue from observing the environment that flesh out the characters more).
Had RE3R expanded the city segment, added the clock tower as an playable area before Nemesis Phase 2, and included Mercenaries, I think RE3R would be game of the generation tier.
Wow, that's a complete flip on your initial review. I thought I read a pretty negative first take after your first playthrough. I'm actually really glad things turned around on subsequent playthroughs for you man.
That said, "best RE game" is a pretty big statement to make. I have to respectfully disagree. It was super linear, there was no resource management, the zombie physics/damage models were a big step down from RE2, the gamma and beta hunters were uninteresting bullet sponges compared to the g-adults in RE2, and the lickers/paleheads (IMO the best and coolest mob enemies in the game) are ripped straight from RE2. Nemesis also had no real stalking factor to him (other than one section, but this wasn't really stalking as much as it was him sprinting into a grenade and getting instantly downed one or two times). It's been said a thousand times but every section with him devolves into set pieces that just have you sprint through a linear corridor while things blow up around you. IMO Mr. X gave more of a fear factor and impacted gameplay in a more unique way. Birkin is also a better designed and more interesting RE monster/antagonist (best in the entire series actually IMO). I also disagree with it having better atmosphere. I thought that aspect was severely lacking (though I definitely agree with better cast and dialogue; Carlos, Mikhail, and ESPECIALLY Nicholai were all stand out characters).
You could make the argument that RE3 is a different experience because it's meant to be a more action heavy RE game, but the action aspect is better and more satisfying in both RE4 and 5. Both were longer games with plenty of enemy types, bosses, great pacing, and satisfying conclusions. The shortness combined with all the cut content (cutting Neme phase two especially rubbed me wrong) and the IMO awful pacing (constant sprint through) just tanked the experience for me.
More recently, Evil Within 2 was both a better horror and action experience, and a more satisfying game in general (better enemies, bosses, gameplay, and story). RE3 just had too many shortcomings for me to give it a pass. I really wanted it to succeed too. I even got the collectors edition (though that was also for the Jill statue to complement my RE2 Leon statue).
EDIT: Also, no ink ribbons. What the hell?
respawnfirst.com
...and those are literally just a few, hell remaster SF 2010: The Final Fight lol...
