Jill Valentine is a survivor. That’s her whole thing. But when Capcom dropped the Resident Evil 3 remake back in 2020, even her most die-hard fans weren't sure the game itself would survive the scrutiny. It followed on the heels of the Resident Evil 2 remake, which was—honestly—a masterpiece of modern survival horror. The expectations were sky-high. People wanted that same dread, that same expansive exploration, and that same sense of a city falling apart in real-time. What they got was... complicated.
It’s a fast game. Really fast. You can sprint through the streets of Raccoon City in under six hours on your first try if you aren't poking into every corner for gunpowder. This brevity became the primary sticking point for a lot of people who paid full price at launch.
The Nemesis Problem in the Resident Evil 3 Remake
If you played the original 1999 PlayStation classic, you remember Nemesis as a constant, looming threat. He could pop out anywhere. He followed you through doors when you thought you were safe. In the Resident Evil 3 remake, Nemesis feels more like a series of highly choreographed action set-pieces rather than a persistent stalker.
It's weird because Mr. X in the RE2 remake felt more like the original Nemesis than the new Nemesis does.
Once you realize that Nemesis only appears in specific, scripted "chase" segments, the tension evaporates. You aren't scanning the environment for the sound of heavy boots; you’re just waiting for the next cutscene to trigger. Capcom traded psychological dread for Michael Bay-style explosions. For some, it works. The spectacle is undeniable. The way Nemesis uses a flamethrower or leaps in front of you with a rocket launcher is visually stunning, thanks to the RE Engine's incredible lighting and particle effects. But for the purists? It felt like a step backward into the action-heavy era of Resident Evil 6.
Missing Pieces and The Clock Tower
We have to talk about the cuts. There’s no way around it. Fans were genuinely shocked to find that massive chunks of the original game were just... gone. The Graveyard? Deleted. The City Hall? Barely there. The Clock Tower? It’s reduced to a backdrop for a boss fight rather than a complex puzzle environment.
These weren't just small details; they were the heart of the 1999 version's identity.
By removing the "Live Selection" system—where players had to make split-second choices that branched the story—Capcom made the Resident Evil 3 remake a much more linear experience. You're on rails. It’s a polished, beautiful set of rails, but you don't have the agency that made the original feel so replayable. You can’t decide to hide in the basement or jump out a window to change how the next ten minutes of the game play out. You just run forward.
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Why Jill Valentine Still Carries the Experience
Despite the structural issues, Jill Valentine herself has never looked or felt better. Sasha Zotova, the face model for Jill, and Nicole Tompkins, the voice and performance capture artist, teamed up to create a version of Jill that feels battle-hardened and exhausted. She isn't just a "master of unlocking" anymore; she’s a traumatized super-cop trying to stop a bio-outbreak while suffering from PTSD.
Her chemistry with Carlos Oliveira is the secret sauce of the Resident Evil 3 remake.
In the original, Carlos was a bit of a cliché—the "smooth-talking mercenary" who didn't have much depth. In the remake, he’s genuinely likable. His expanded segments in the RPD (Raccoon Police Department) and the Hospital give the story more breathing room. The hospital section, in particular, is arguably the best part of the entire game. It captures that classic Resident Evil vibe: narrow corridors, limited ammo, and a terrifying new enemy in the form of the Hunter Beta. When you’re playing as Carlos defending the lobby from a literal horde of zombies, the game finally leans into its identity as an action-horror hybrid and actually sticks the landing.
The Nuances of the Combat System
If you look closely at the mechanics, this isn't just a reskinned RE2. The dodge mechanic is a literal game-changer.
- A perfectly timed dodge (R1/RB) slows down time.
- It allows for a "Perfect Shot" that automatically aims at a weak point.
- This turns boss fights into a rhythm game of sorts.
- It rewards high-skill players who take the time to learn enemy telegraphs.
This mechanic is what makes the higher difficulty levels—Nightmare and Inferno—actually playable. In these modes, enemy placements change, and Nemesis becomes much more aggressive. It’s here that the game finds its "soul" for a certain segment of the fanbase. It’s not about the horror of the unknown; it’s about the mastery of the mechanics.
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Technical Prowess and the RE Engine
One thing nobody can argue about is how the game looks. The RE Engine is basically magic at this point. The neon signs of Raccoon City reflect in the puddles of rain and blood with a level of detail that still holds up years later. The character models are some of the most realistic in the industry. You can see the grime under Jill's fingernails and the way her hair gets matted with sweat and soot as the night goes on.
The sound design is equally impressive. The moan of a zombie around a corner or the distant screech of a crow adds layers of atmosphere that the gameplay sometimes fails to capitalize on. If you play with a good pair of headphones, the 3D audio makes the city feel alive, even if the playable area is much smaller than we wanted.
The Resident Evil Resistance Factor
We also have to mention that Capcom bundled this game with Resident Evil Resistance, an asymmetrical 4v1 multiplayer mode. Honestly? Most people ignored it. Capcom clearly hoped it would be their version of Dead by Daylight, but it lacked the balance and long-term support needed to thrive. Looking back, many fans feel that the resources spent on Resistance should have been diverted into making the main campaign longer or including the missing locations like the Park or the Press Office. It’s a classic case of a studio trying to "add value" through multiplayer when the audience just wanted more of the single-player experience they loved.
What You Should Do Now
If you haven't played the Resident Evil 3 remake yet, or if you’ve been holding off because of the mixed reviews, here is the objective reality: it is a fantastic 7/10 game that could have been a 10/10 with another six months of development. It’s a polished, high-octane thrill ride that serves as a great companion piece to RE2, even if it doesn't quite stand on its own two feet as a definitive remake.
Actionable Insights for New Players:
- Wait for a Sale: Do not pay the original $60. This game is frequently discounted to under $15 on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox. At that price point, the "short length" isn't a flaw; it's a feature. It’s a perfect "one-sitting" game for a Saturday night.
- Master the Dodge Early: Don't play it like RE2. You cannot just kite enemies. You need to learn the timing of the dodge immediately, especially for the boss fights.
- Play on Hardcore First: If you’re a veteran of the series, "Standard" difficulty will feel too easy and contribute to the feeling that the game is too short. Hardcore forces you to respect the enemies and manage your resources, which extends the playtime and heightens the tension.
- Explore the Hospital Thoroughly: There are weapon upgrades and lore notes hidden in the hospital that are easy to miss but significantly improve your gear for the final act.
- Check the Shop: After your first completion, you unlock a shop. Buying the "S.T.A.R.S. Field Combat Manual" makes the perfect dodge window much wider, which makes subsequent runs on higher difficulties a blast.
The legacy of the Resident Evil 3 remake is one of missed potential, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. It’s a lean, mean, zombie-killing machine that looks incredible. Just don't go in expecting a 20-hour epic, and you'll likely have a great time.