Resident Evil 3 review: A tale of two game experiences

Resident Evil 3’s direction is substantially different than its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad game.

Title: Resident Evil 3
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Xbox One (reviewed on), PS4, PC
Release date: April 3, 2020

If you played the Resident Evil 2 remake last year, then you will find jumping into Resident Evil 3 is like riding a bike. Well, it may actually feel more like a  mountain bike or cyclo-cross. Both games have very similar game mechanics, menu layouts, and story beats, but that is where the similarities stop.

Resident Evil 3 is a much more action-packed and straightforward game than the Resident Evil 2 remake. That does not make it a bad game.

As I rolled the credits on Jill Valentine’s story, I was left wanting more. I knew if I started the game over again, then I wouldn’t have much to explore or experience outside of what I already had. Resident Evil 3 has significantly smaller levels and the story is much shorter, too. I was able to beat the story in a single day with different game sessions.

But even though the story is short, the game feels complete. I was holistically satisfied with Jill’s story. Part of me wanted the game to be longer, and I know it certainly could have been. The original Resident Evil 3 was filled with various sequences, and the remake has cut large portions out. Still, I find the remake to be a solid action-adventure story, which is exciting and disappointing at the same time.

After the story was over, I hopped over to Resident Evil: Resistance to escape from the evil mastermind and spawn zombie dogs on various survivors. I have to admit, just an hour into Resident Evil: Resistance, I wanted to return to Jill Valentine’s adventures. The multiplayer component of Resident Evil 3 is full of problems. From the crowded user interface to the chaotic fetch questing, Resident Evil: Resistance made me wish the campaign was longer.