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What makes Resident Evil 2 so good, anyways?

I like RE4's plot and setting and its easily one of the best in the series on every front.

RE5/6 is were things got truly awful and uninteresting.

Disagree on RE2/3.I actually do enjoy the stories for what they are and its all enriched by strong art direction and excellent pacing.Their stories are really gamey stories of old.Its not like today's cinematic stories in games.I like them because the way they are executed is unique to games.

Perhaps they were limited by tech ,and not by choice.But I still believe they are unique for what they are and stories aren't done like that in games any more.
I think we're agreeing. I'm not saying the stories were shit, I'm saying the world the game presented was shit. It had a real gritty, grimy feel to it. It felt cold. Dangerous. You felt like a tiny piece of and utterly chaotic and unpredictable reality. Nemesis crashing through walls enhanced that feeling, for example-- it's a great example of where gameplay successfully complements narrative.

RE5 and 6 don't have that.
 
Man, when I was a kid I played RE1 and loved it, then looked at all the preview articles for RE2, I wanted to play it so, SO bad. But I couldn't cuz by dad's Playstation broke :[ And I wouldn't for another several years. However, by the time I played it, I pretty much spoiled everything for myself by reading online walkthroughs :/

Still, cherished every moment I could play it at a friends' house.
 
This topic reminds me that I need to finish my BIO2 development article. :(

Incidentally, CODE:Veronica was actually started because of the team's refusal to port BIO2 to the Sega Saturn. It was a make-up gift to Sega fans.
 
I think we're agreeing. I'm not saying the stories were shit, I'm saying the world the game presented was shit. It had a real gritty, grimy feel to it. It felt cold. Dangerous. You felt like a tiny piece of and utterly chaotic and unpredictable reality. Nemesis crashing through walls enhanced that feeling, for example-- it's a great example of where gameplay successfully complements narrative.

RE5 and 6 don't have that.

I totally agree with you there mate.

Do you think a RE2 remake would work? Personally id love to see it happen if it was done correctly and stayed true to the original.
 
I don't know why, but every single time that I have ever attempted to get into this game, something prevents me from doing so. The farthest that I ever get is towards the middle of the police station before I lose interest.

I really hate it, because I found the Resident Evil 1 remake to be one of the best experiences that I had last year with a game. It was scary, compelling, atmospheric, memorable, and interesting. The art design was beautiful, but horrific, and the gameplay was actually fun. I was so excited to start Resident Evil 2 to continue the series, but it just felt so horribly clunky and dull in comparison to REmake, and even Silent Hill 1 for the same system. Since then, I've more or less lost interest in the series because of how cheesy RE2 feels, and its really a shame, because I own RE0, 1,2,3,4 and the REmake but I really don't want to start RE4 without beating RE2.

I don't get it. RE2 is all of those things you listed about RE1. It's less cheesy than RE1 and probably just second to RE:Remake as the least cheesy of the series.

I like it because of the
terrifying storyline - more so than the others for me because of the little girl wandering around and because of Mr X stalking you
the wonderful eerie music - You'll find none of this in RE4 or any RE after. I think it has by far the best music out of any survival horror game.
limited ammo - You always seem to run out of ammo at the worst possible time for maximum scares such as when you're going to the car garage and the sewers
The art design - I actually like it better than REremake because RERemake makes the mansion seem like a haunted house. It's too over the top. The police station in RE2 feels more real. This is why I also don't want a RE2 Remake.
So many holy shit jump out scares that always put you on edge. Lickers, spiders, alligators, Mr X many times.

Definitely one of my favorite games ever made.
 
I think we're agreeing. I'm not saying the stories were shit, I'm saying the world the game presented was shit. It had a real gritty, grimy feel to it. It felt cold. Dangerous. You felt like a tiny piece of and utterly chaotic and unpredictable reality. Nemesis crashing through walls enhanced that feeling, for example-- it's a great example of where gameplay successfully complements narrative.

RE5 and 6 don't have that.

I am sorry.I re-read your post and I completely misunderstood your usage of "shit is super bad".

I competely agree with what you said here ,and the poor mess that are RE5/6 in comparison to such wonderful games.
 
I don't know why, but every single time that I have ever attempted to get into this game, something prevents me from doing so. The farthest that I ever get is towards the middle of the police station before I lose interest.

I really hate it, because I found the Resident Evil 1 remake to be one of the best experiences that I had last year with a game. It was scary, compelling, atmospheric, memorable, and interesting. The art design was beautiful, but horrific, and the gameplay was actually fun. I was so excited to start Resident Evil 2 to continue the series, but it just felt so horribly clunky and dull in comparison to REmake, and even Silent Hill 1 for the same system. Since then, I've more or less lost interest in the series because of how cheesy RE2 feels, and its really a shame, because I own RE0, 1,2,3,4 and the REmake but I really don't want to start RE4 without beating RE2.

So, what do you think GAF? Should I give RE2 ANOTHER chance after multiple instances of trying to get immersed in its world? Should I just leave it at REmake and forget about the rest? Or should I just skip straight to the one that I actually kind of want to play (RE4)?

OP, I believe this is what the problem is. You played a more refined version of the series and regressed to playing it on a time where it was still trying to incorporate the gameplay system. Your expectations were already set in stone the moment you played the REMAKE first.
 
Not exactly. Wesker plotted to use the t-Virus to force a mass extinction and forced evolution of humanity, but he didn't see himself as a God at the time.

"God" didn't become a thing until BIO5. The G-Virus (God Virus) is named as such because Birkin's goal was the creation of a new humanity, but he again didn't see himself as God-- it's just a reference.

What I'm referring to though is just the idea of a "superior being"/super soldiers being notable since the first game and the introduction of said mutations (Alexia, Wesker) aren't anything particularly jarring considering the history of the franchise and the creation of tyrants.
 
The biggest stretch CV went for was Alexia's fire power. Nothing else is terribly out of line considering what preceded it.

4 was an enormous departure in tone and execution.

Well, there was singing cloak man in 0. That game was all kinds of goofy.
 
well i wouldn't hype it to be one of the best re games, but it is good. i hope capcom remakes 2, 3, and code veronica.


oh what the hell, and while you are at it capcom, give me outbreak 3.
 
The suspense, limited ammo, limited health packs and everything out to get you. A ton of replay value, but it has so much backtracking on some of the puzzles. Inventory management and limited saves too with the ink ribbons. Felt like you really had to survive or your fucked.
So many scary moments playing it at night. So many death sequences with Leon and Claire. Superior in everyway to its predecessor.
 
I've started and stopped RE1/REmake/2/3 so many times in my life but never finished any of those 3. I've only finished RE4 and RE: Revelations. I want to get to RE2 so badly but I feel I have to finish RE1 all the way through. To make matters worse, I'm stuck with RE1: DC on the Vita. Bleh. No way to play REmake.

I'm going to go play RE1 right now to get it out of the way so I can (eventually) play RE2. Wish me luck.
 
I've started and stopped RE1/REmake/2/3 so many times in my life but never finished any of those 3. I've only finished RE4 and RE: Revelations. I want to get to RE2 so badly but I feel I have to finish RE1 all the way through. To make matters worse, I'm stuck with RE1: DC on the Vita. Bleh. No way to play REmake.

I'm going to go play RE1 right now to get it out of the way so I can (eventually) play RE2. Wish me luck.

If your RE1:DC version is the one with the terrible altered music, absolutely do not play that game. That will totally ruin your experience.

I once got that game by mistake on Ebay instead of the real RE1. Because when I bought it I forgot what was meant by the DC edition. Threw it right in the trash where it belongs.
 
If your RE1:DC version is the one with the terrible altered music, absolutely do not play that game. That will totally ruin your experience.

I once got that game by mistake on Ebay instead of the real RE1. Because when I bought it I forgot what was meant by the DC edition. Threw it right in the trash where it belongs.

Not sure how I'd be able to tell. PS Vita with the PSN "PS Classics" version.
 
Honestly, I prefer RE3 over RE2. I like Jill more as a playable character, you actually got to explore the city unlike the 5 minutes you take to do so in RE2, the puzzles were better (honestly, up until RE3 there really wasn't any challenge to the puzzles), Nemesis proved to be a very relentless and persistent enemy (at least compared to Mr. X), and you get to see Raccoon City blow up at the end.

That doesn't mean that RE2 is bad or anything, it's just that RE3 was a more enjoyable experience for me.
 
I really don't like this misconception. :(

They only have English voice acting. Stylistic choice. They are written in Japanese, then translated into English and such (badly). The original Japanese script is the subtitles in the Japanese versions. If you're bilingual, they can be pretty hilarious considering the voice acting and subtitles barely match.
This is really interesting. Is there a properly translated Japanese script for these games somewhere?
 
I never realized this was on PSN.

I've only ever played REmake (one of my favorite games of all time) but I always reeally wanted to play RE2. I think I'm going to have to do this.
 
I'm in the same boat as Soultron, but only with REmake. I bought it around '05 and never really got far in it. I tried again last year and it didn't stick then, either.

Magically, the game clicked late last month and I've been slowly going through it, enjoying it immensely. I definitely had to put it on Easy, though, otherwise I probably would have never played it to completion. I'm taking my time with it, but at the same time, I'm eager to finish it so I can get to the others. I wonder if anyone can tell me if I'm nearing the end or not: I just reached
the motherfucking sharks and died to them. I've encountered Lisa and beaten the Yawn once.
 
I'm in the same boat as Soultron, but only with REmake. I bought it around '05 and never really got far in it. I tried again last year and it didn't stick then, either.

Magically, the game clicked late last month and I've been slowly going through it, enjoying it immensely. I definitely had to put it on Easy, though, otherwise I probably would have never played it to completion. I'm taking my time with it, but at the same time, I'm eager to finish it so I can get to the others. I wonder if anyone can tell me if I'm nearing the end or not: I just reached
the motherfucking sharks and died to them. I've encountered Lisa and beaten the Yawn once.

Length spoiler
about halfway, maybe a little less.
 
I would give it another chance. The only REs I've played are REmake, Zero, 4, & 5.

I was bored yesterday, had some spare money in my PSN wallet, and bought RE2. I finished the Leon A path in 5 hours and now I'm onto Claire B.

The controls are a bit clunky, but they work and aren't dampening the game experience. Since I have no nostalgia goggles on, it was a short, tightly packed, and well paced game.
 
It's a game that is literally filled with "oh, shit" moments throughout. The appearance of the games Licker FMV is terrifying because back then there were no continues. Even though that's relatively early in the game, if you die there you have to start all over again because you've likely not come across a typewriter yet to make a save. I think a lot of people forget that the save system in the original RE games added a ton of tension to the action portions that made up the gameplay.
 
Unfortunately the PSN version is the altered music one so if you're looking to play the game digitally, you have to suffer through it.
It feels like the music states are arbitrary in this version. I'm playing as Chris and some times the M Room 1F where you meet Rebecca has music, other times it won't. It's silent most of the time, in fact. Was RE1 always like this?

Been playing since writing in this thread last. Just got the real shotgun, need to go unlock the remained of the Armour Key doors now.
 
personal insults now? Wow you fans. Whatever.

Those 'fans' was one 'fan', and you should report it if it's an issue to you. No one here is babysitting.

As for the rest of us who are curious to how a game that is largely like the others has nothing appealing at all despite, from what it sounds like, enjoying at least the first two games.

But you can choose to ignore the conversation with a convenient scapegoat; that's perfectly fine. But your opinion is basically worth nothing for doing so.
 
So, what do you think GAF? Should I give RE2 ANOTHER chance after multiple instances of trying to get immersed in its world? Should I just leave it at REmake and forget about the rest? Or should I just skip straight to the one that I actually kind of want to play (RE4)?

Definitely give it a couple more tries. For all the reasons stated above (especially Y2Kev's essay), it is an absolutely fantastic game. It's why when you Google "Most Wanted HD-remakes" RE2 is right towards the top along with other all-time greats like FF VII.

For me personally, I found that playing PS1 RE1, RE2, and RE3 made me appreciate REmake (superbly improved graphics and atmosphere) and RE4 (revolutionary action/TPS controls) much, much more.

Good luck, and if you play it again let us know how you like it!
 
The atmosphere, the music, and most importantly, the FEELING that you're actually alone in all this and separated from all forms of communication, just living by ammo and herbs.

I just remember the first time I arrived to the Marshalling yard, the atmosphere creeped me out and sensing that zombies would anytime pop in and attack:

hqdefault.jpg


The music made it scarier as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7qVxKj40Ps

I don't think I could enjoy that part of the game again after Zero magical space-time elevator.
 
There was a place where after you exit a door, the narrow hallway splits into two and you hear lickers, but you can't see them nor where the hallways splits. I remember my brother turning on the rocket launcher cheat and spamming rockets until the lickers stopped making noise.

Unfortunately the PSN version is the altered music one so if you're looking to play the game digitally, you have to suffer through it.
Wait, really? I was planning to pick up a digital copy.
 
Reading this topic and thinking back to how I felt about these games when I was younger, and still do to an extent, really makes me wish they were still making 90's style survival horror. I'm not aware of even a single indie game that is in the same style. I really miss it.
 
Atmosphere, pacing, and the utterly gorgeous, sprawling, and eargasm-inducing soundtrack. Also the Police Station as a character. Location is such an important part of the early RE games, and to me I look at them as an entity unto themselves. I began thinking of this after re-watching The Shining last year, the idea of the "House" (or whatever the main location is in a "bottle" narrative) as being as much a character in the story as the people themselves. From these "houses" are begat the plot, enemies, and the means for which the characters progress through the story. It may sound a bit convoluted but I'm sure many horror storytellers (especially the RE devs) know just how important this concept is and nailing it in order to give the observer/player that feeling of the location being this ominous, mysterious, and dread-inducing entity that holds both the character's doom as well as their salvation within, something which RE 2 does so well. At least that's how I like to think of it :)
 
I thought the zapping/scenario systems was hella cool. Playing through one story, then realizing I can play the other side of the story was a really neat moment.

I just like it when continuity comes together like that, even though it wasn't truly perfect with RE2.
 
The atmosphere, the music, and most importantly, the FEELING that you're actually alone in all this and separated from all forms of communication, just living by ammo and herbs.

I just remember the first time I arrived to the Marshalling yard, the atmosphere creeped me out and sensing that zombies would anytime pop in and attack:

hqdefault.jpg


The music made it scarier as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7qVxKj40Ps

same for me and best song ever
 
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