Resident Evil 2 Steelbook Edition (PS4)

When I was 7 my older brother got a ps1 with Street Racer, Resident evil 1 and the new Resident evil 2. I have fond memories of the game although I probably shouldn't have been playing it at that age! Fast forward 20 years and we now have the long requested remake, that will have hundreds of thousands if not millions of people's nostalgia and memories riding on it.Visuals: 10/10I really can't fault them, the RE engine used for the sumptuous RE7 visuals has again been used, meaning one or two minor assets are in this game, but most of it is built from ground up. The lighting and colours/detail are all brilliant, the rain as it lands on Leon or Clair, droplets can be seen, or walking through the dark hallways with just a flashlight or the light outside the RPD and rain pouring in through broken window. Also impressive is the damage detail to both; playable characters and enemies. Leon if bitten will have a bloodied area that later will show as an actual bite mark, or if hit hard with a pole from a certain enemy or slashed, you can see their skin and blood through their clothing. Zombies can literally be blown to pieces or melted with acid grenade rounds, and act accordingly to damage (no legs? They'll crawl, no arms? They can't smash open doors, no limbs at all? They'll wiggle forward their best gnashing their teeth). When injured or on yellow "caution" health the playable character will hold their side and sometimes grunt in pain. When on "danger" red health, the character will limp/struggle to run forward whist holding their side and exhaling/grunting in pain with a very realistic grimace on their face. It's great and keeps true to the original minus them being very slowed down this time. There isn't a horrible amount of arcadey pop-ups and bottom ques/arrows etc in this like the black sheep few (5/6/revelations) the only HUD is a crosshair and 2 ammo numbers on the bottom right, both of which can be turned off but I wouldn't recommend as aiming becomes very difficult. The recreation of the RPD and parts of the city or underground are very faithfully done, with parts slightly changed to add something new or make way for new areas. Gun models look nice and creatures like lickers or more look better than ever. Animations and speech sync are also where you'd hope, overall visually pleasing to the eyes.Sound effects: 9/10This loses a point because the remake backing music seems often non existent in most areas, as though Capcom wanted the environment/ambient noises or zombies to be more heard. Normally this isn't a bad thing and works perfectly fine with many games (Dark Souls normally retains music for bosses or bonfires) but when you consider how much the brilliant original soundtrack added in terms of sheer horror atmosphere, it feels an opportunity lost. There is still the iconic safe room music or main hall theme, but they're quieter re-stylings. Thankfully Capcom included the option to get the official soundtrack as a DLC, and having it selected actually takes the game up a notch, it does have a big impact. Some areas won't have music as per the original, others will be filled with a pads/synth etc of dread as you enter a near pitch black office filled with zombies.The sound effects are from the original too but from what I can gather, only the menu/inventory effects, everything else is the new remake sounds. The weapons, general sound effects and creatures or zombies all sound fantastic, the licker this time doesn't make that long bated breath groan but instead growls a lot more. Birkin or G when you first fight him as half human half bio weapon, cleverly transitions between muffled human words (calling for their daughter Sherry and asking for help) to all out rage and screaming. Most importantly is the new dialog or voice acting, the original 2 games especially had at times comical voice acting and dialog, in this remake it's fantastic. The characters sound a lot more believable and as you'd imagine they should, they both sound inexperienced and often shocked by what they encounter with the real time speech they sometimes say. For instance if Leon gets jumped by a zombie or something unexpected happens he'll exclaim "son of a b****!" Or if a zombie gets back up when you think they're dead, he'll swear or say something if a bullet misses etc, it doesn't get annoying because it isn't constant, phrases don't feel repeated and the scenarios as with the original aren't constantly fighting.Gameplay 9.5/10The gameplay was a big thing before release, would it have the original fixed camera's? Tank controls? Or even RE7s first person. It's a 3D camera with 3D controls, and it works out brilliant thankfully. I think I like many were apprehensive about this because Capcom have never really perfected it, RE4, 5 and 6 were always awkward in this regard, aiming was awkward, moving was awkward. I think this is because those games all had tank controls with fixed 3rd person camera, but allowing the player to turn the character to face the camera and run towards it or move the camera 360° is where they got it right. It makes a much smoother and natural feeling experience, where aiming is no longer a pain, it's also nice sometimes being able to see the characters from the front or side (their detailed or customized weapons, the looks on their faces if injured) detail has been put into these other area's that are better seen when looked at from other angles.The inventory screen isn't exactly like the original, but it's the same premise as several squares making up inventory slots or space per item. You can move them, combine them with another, or examine them which sometimes is necessary to reveal clues which I believe wasn't an original feature; nor combining gun powders to make different ammo which was in the next game RE3, these are nice additions.Guns as mentioned can be customized which was an original feature but this time you can get several parts rather than one high powered part, which have various buffs i.e extended magazine for more ammo, muzzle break for less aim drift or recoil, but stuck for extra recoil dampening etc.There is again an item box and type writers, but only hardcore mode makes use of the original limited ink ribbon/saves feature. There's an added little mechanic where you can find square wooden boards to place over windows of your choice and avoid having zombies smashing and climbing through them later on. The game as per the original has brought back the great puzzle solving, which admitting is mainly a back and forth game of finding what went or goes where, but I love it and means keeping track of inventory space or memorizing what items are missing things. This his helped by the map that shows a little more than the original, you find blueprints for different area's yet again but certain things are now highlighted. Doors locked with a certain key or chained show when hovered over, but only if first discovered which applies to everything, including things like a PC, a statue holding something etc. This is a very helpful feature as when I'd gotten stuck I hovered over a door on the map I'd only passed near the beginning and forgot it had a padlock and chain waiting to be cut and the room investigated. Items once no longer needed aren't discarded but get a small red tick next to them indicating they've fulfilled their use and you dump these in the item box.In the options there's a nice amount to configure if you wish, which Capcom maybe learned after the RE6 camera complaints, one being the over excited camera wobble making people nauseous. You can change various things from FOV, camera wobble, camera speed when looking or aiming, de-acceleration when aiming etc. There's also 3 different control schemes than mainly change the run button including if it needs to be held down or toggled, I wanted it held like the original but found L3 annoying to hold so changed it to R1 which is comfortable.Why then didn't the great reimagined but faithful gameplay get a 10? I had to take half a point because unlike the original you can't really click on or investigate anything which is a shame. On the original you could click on most objects in the environment and read about them which would give text (in the form of the characters thoughts) and this made the world seem a lot more tangible and alive. But the rest is done so well this can be forgiven.There are 3 difficulties, essentially easy, normal and hard. I chose hardcore as like above didn't want to be able to save game just anywhere but rely on limited ink ribbons like the original, this however also makes ammo more scarce and enemies tough. How tough? If a zombie manages to grab you and make you fall to the floor, it can take your health from Fine to an orange Caution. One hit from a licker takes you from Fine to Danger, don't get me started on lickers, on hardcore in this remake they're terrifying. Thankfully you can sneak past them if you walk slowly as they're blind, and they can't open doors. I've not tried sneaking past them though, if you get close they'll clock you, and when they're on the ceiling of a narrow hallway, they can jump at and land on you from afar which doesn't normally end well.You do in this game like the RE1 remake have defense weapons, combat knifes are now fairly decent but can also be stabbed into a zombie and retrieved if they're killed. They take damage though and can break, defensive uses have about 3 uses at full weapon durability before breaking. There are also flash grenades and explosive grenades. A word of advice for hardcore mode, it might be wise saving 2 saves and alternative between each in case you end up saving it with not enough health or ammo up proceed. Also when you near to finding 3 medallions (the first objective of sorts) save up on shotgun ammo, you'll need EVERY last round against the first Birkin encounter, it's that difficult.Finally there's some nice fan service in the form of original outfits unlocked in game, and returning characters from the original, all changed up a bit to keep it fresh and keep veterans of the original guessing, and obvious re-appearance as per the original games story are playable characters Ada and the young Sherry Birkin. There's the 4th survivor Hunk and Tofu scenarios to unlock and a special Ghost Survivors game mode where it seems you can control Kendo the gun shop owner, the mayor's daughter and a yet unspecified umbrella employee, I have my guesses. These characters all meet unfortunate ends as everyone will know if not from the title, and it'll be great seeing what their back story's are.Verdict: 10/10I'm very pleased with the remake and that Capcom listened to the fans or kept it as faithful as possible to the original, it's a fantastic game and a true return to what ignited the survivor horror genre, it's even more suspenseful than the original and every bit as enjoyable if not more.Newcomers or those that never played the original won't need to have, as it was the first game to introduce these 2 characters and their story arc, plus Racoon city (not just the mansion in the mountains of the 1st game) so in it's own rights it's a standalone game. My only advice, get the original games soundtrack and use it, it really does add to the atmosphere.And negatives? Other than the lack of being able to read about objects and things in the environment, I felt Capcom dropped the ball with the different game editions. No one really wants to pay £55 for electronic downloadable data, people want something tangible for that money, so only including the DLC costumes and original soundtrack as a digital "deluxe" edition was a bad move, meaning day one DLC purchases for anyone wanting a physical copy plus any of the DLC. I got the steel book which is nice but only has the single Elza Walker costume from the unreleased RE 1.5. Otherwise if you haven't gotten the game yet, hurry up and get it! Play it with the lights off at night and headphones.

This is the best modern resident evil title to date. It stays true to the original while adding to it in the way of modern graphics, play style and updated layout. Gone is the third person view (a big drawback on resi 7) to replaced with the over the shoulder camera instead (which works particularly well). The classic jumps are still there, but now it's very deep in atmosphere too, especially when using the flashlight. It's a game that old school fans of the originals will enjoy but also easy to get into for first time players, even if you haven't played resident evil 1. All the classic characters/enemies appear to be there (haven't played both scenarios yet), and look so much better in the updated graphics.If you want a challenge, are a fan of horror or just looking for something new, buy this game.On a side note, psn is currently selling an add on to upgrade the game to the deluxe edition, with all the dlc content including all skins, original music and guns for £11.99, worth it if you want them, but not something you particularly need to enjoy the game.

RE2 remake/reimagined for a modern audience is a brilliant edition to the series with its fantastic gameplay and incredible graphics,as a life long fan whos been playing the series since 1996 this is up there with the best of them and not like the rubbish RE3 remake thats just been released.With the original trilogy being my favourite and RE2 1998 my best game ever i would have loved it if RE2 2019 had of been made in that same style back after RE 2002 remake, i think it would have been more faithful to the original but you cannot have everything you want in life.Buy it, play it now, highly recommended.

Brilliant remake of a classic game. This steel tin really captures the old key art from back in the day of the undead.

As a big fan of the RE franchise, this particular remake of the 2nd game is absolutely stunning, from returning to Raccoon City this game lives up as a true survival horror with great visuals and brilliant sound effects. It also does a fantastic job of rising tension and testing of player limits as you struggle to survive. To top it off there are a lot of puzzles to solve to gain unlockables, items and ammo to help you progress which is worth the time as it's only going to get harder. Any fan must have this added to their collection, a stunning remake well worth the money.

Capcom have done an amazing job of remaking Resident Evil 2. The game is definitely scary on your first run though and is designed to play multiple times for better scores and unlockables.The police station is just as iconic as you remember and all the other settings are well designed, apart from the sewer section which is my least favourite part.Overall I would give this a 9/10. One of the most enjoyable horror titles of this gen. you will definitely get your money’s worth.

I absolutely love the Resident Evil series and even more so once I learnt that Amazon had access to allow for the pre-ordering of the steel book edition. My personal preference to all of the games I own are to find out the steel book as most come with additional content and art.The game arrived on the release date and was enjoyable throughout and then post story with the additional online content that was released. Highly recommend to old and new players alike!

5 stars to the game itself but the condition this game arrived in was awful, bought this brand new or like new, sealed but had wear to the back of the case which is most unappealing for a games collector. the price was ridiculously high but i really wanted a copy of this version so i took the risk, turned out it was a bad move. buyers beware some collectors or special editions that say brand new or like new may not be at all.