In the days leading up to Resident Evil 2’s 20th anniversary on Jan. 21, 2018, Capcom’s R&D Twitter account was abuzz with what appeared to be subtle hints at something big. The Resident Evil developer has been hard at work at a remake of the widely popular Resident Evil 2 and it seemed plausible it would use the anniversary to launch a gameplay trailer or specific details.
Jan. 21, 2018 came and went, however, with nothing more than a Tweet apologizing for disappointing fans and that the quirky photos were just that. Before the anniversary ended, however, an anonymous 4chan user stepped forward with information that, despite the source, at least sounds plausible for the upcoming remake.
The team at Rely on Horror backed up some of the information revealed by the anonymous user, claiming their “own sources” corroborated some of the details, though they would not divulge which. Still, considering 4chan’s unreliability and the ability for anyone to post just about anything, it’s best to take all of this with a very large grain of salt.
The post, which covers 15 different points about the game, gets right to the point, first stating that the Resident Evil 2 remake will be sporting an “over-the-shoulder” gameplay style. This third-person camera angle was first used in the series in Resident Evil 4 and became the standard until Resident Evil 7 Biohazard introduced a first-person perspective. Players will allegedly be able to move while shooting, which seems more of a necessity in gaming these days.
According to the post, the game will retain elements of horror, likely due to the success of the seventh entry. Many elements from Resident Evil 7 Biohazard will also find their way into the remake, including a similar difficulty level system and hidden items not marked by the series’ staple “twinkle.”
If accurate, other elements mentioned in the post that should appease fans include:
- Developing the Rebecca Chambers picture found in a Raccoon Police Department trash can
- Expanded Ada Wong playable segment with access to more weapons
- Segments where players control Sherry Birkin, daughter of the mutated William Birkin, return with a "defense" mechanic
- Costume changes are returning, likely as DLC.
The 4chan post also lists changes that, if true, will be disappointing. These include cutting the crocodile segment and removing the “4th Survivor” and likely “Tofu” game modes. Whether the latter will appear as DLC after release is still unknown, though likely. Hopefully, that won't affect the appearance of ill-fated S.T.A.R.S. pilot, Brad Vickers.
Though Capcom has been tight-lipped about the Resident Evil 2 Remake, the post suggests a late 2018 release date. If that’s the case, chances are it will have a big showing at the 2018 E3 Expo. For now, gamers looking for their Resident Evil fix can do so with the Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Gold Edition and Resident Evil Revelations Collection for the Nintendo Switch.
