It's a bold claim, we know, but Resident Evil 2 really is that good. Yep, Capcom kicked off its incredible run of recent remakes in 2019 with RE2 - and the game is finally coming to Xbox Game Pass later this month. We really didn't expect this one to come to the library after waiting almost five years, but we're very glad it's here, because it means more Xbox fans can enjoy it in 2024!
For those of you who aren't caught up with all things Resident Evil these days, the folks over at Capcom rebooted the series with 2017's Resident Evil 7. RE7 was the shot in the arm the series needed, and shortly after that, the team decided to tackle a full-on remake of 1998's Resident Evil 2 - modernising the game from top-to-bottom including a switch to a third-person viewpoint.
And, let's be clear, it was an absolutely masterful effort. Even if you've never played the original this is a great place to start with modern RE, and it'll get you properly acclimatized to what Capcom has been pumping out since: fantastic third-person survival horror games that sit right atop of the genre.
Although Resident Evil 3, Village, and Resident Evil 4 Remake are also brilliant, there's an argument to be made that 2 could be the best one. The pacing is top-notch, the RPD station is a fantastic locale for a survival horror game, Mr. X is an absolute menace, and the overall atmosphere just fits the series perfectly. There's a lovely mix of puzzles and action in here too - and just writing this up makes us want to replay it to be honest!
It's quite replayable as well, which is just a nice touch in general. You have two slightly different campaigns to play through with the 'Leon' and 'Claire' character options, and the way the game is structured means no two paths through the RPD complex have to be the same. Resident Evil has often been good at letting the player mix and match with different paths, strategies, equipment, playstyles and such - and RE2 is no different.
If it's not obvious enough already, we absolutely recommend giving Resi 2 a whirl on Xbox Game Pass. It remains one of our favourite experiences from the Xbox One generation, and the fact that it's coming to the service this month is bloody brilliant. Just be prepared, you'll probably want to go on and play the rest of the remakes if this is your first time playing Resident Evil 2!