There has been a lot of talk about what potential remakes are next from Capcom following the success of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 with an assumption that the next logical step would be Resident Evil 5. However, before we get to the fifth numbered entry in the classic survival horror series, I think many of us can admit that Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake is arguably the most deserving.
There is another deserving remake in the Capcom series and that’s Resident Evil: Outbreak but for today, the star of the show is Claire Redfield with the help of her brother Chris. I know Claire also had some help from Steve Burnside, a captive in the main location of Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Rockfort Island, but the more we can reduce the noise of Steve’s whiny voice in our heads, the better. Anyway, let’s get back to the topic at hand.
Check out the Resident Evil Code: Veronica trailer below!
Originally released for the SEGA Dreamcast in 2000, Resident Evil Code: Veronica is one of the last traditional games in the series not to have a remake. It has the customary tank controls but unlike the games that came before, Resident Evil Code: Veronica doesn't use pre-rendered backgrounds but instead uses real-time 3D environments and even adopts a camera that slowly follows the player, almost giving the impression that you are being monitored by a CCTV camera. It’s a nice touch and in its subtle way, adds to the tension even during the quieter moments. Yet, it still retained a somewhat fixed-camera perspective from the original games.
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Resident Evil Code: Veronica is also labelled as one of the most difficult and lengthy games in the series. Sure, it can be difficult if you fail to manage your inventory efficiently and what are the best items to use against certain enemies, then you may struggle more than you should. For example, there’s a certain boss battle in the game which has become quite infamous among players.
When fighting the T–078 as Claire in the back of a cargo plane, it’s a confined space and you can get your ass whooped easily if not careful, you may even arrive at the boss fight with not enough ammo and health items, essentially breaking the game with the player needing a miracle to progress. However, if you blast the T-078 with a few BOW rounds and explosive arrows, you’ll beat this naked mutant in no time. It’s all about knowing what to use and when.
To the old-school Resident Evil fans, Code: Veronica is one of the best of the series. Yet, if you’re a newcomer who may have been introduced by the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake, going back to tank controls, a restrictive camera and gruelling inventory management may be off-putting for some. This is a damn shame because Resident Evil Code: Veronica has everything that any survival horror purist would want in a game. But, to make this cult classic more appealing to modern audiences, it’s going to need somewhat of an overhaul.
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For starters, Capcom would probably have to cut out of the line when Claire Redfield calls Alfred Ashford a “cross-dressing freak”. I am about to go into spoiler territory here, so consider this to be your warning. In a nutshell, Alfred, one of the antagonists of the game, is obsessed with his identical twin sister, Alexia. But Alexia is far superior to Alfred in every way and Alfred develops an unhealthy obsession with his sister who he strives to be exactly like.
Without giving too much away, Alexia puts herself in cryogenic suspension for 15 years, and Alfred misses his sister just a bit too much. Alfred disguises himself as Alexia in her absence and develops very aggressive split personalities. He wears his sister's clothes, and makeup, wears a wig and adopts her mannerisms. Alfred is a freak, no doubt and he wears his sister's clothes as already established. However, Claire yelling the words “cross-dressing freak” wouldn't fly today and it certainly wouldn't suit the sweet yet badass personality of Claire that we were introduced to in the Resident Evil 2 remake.
What’s more, of course, the visuals would need to be improved and powered by Capcom’s in-house RE engine, I have no doubts that Resident Evil Code: Veronica would be a gorgeous game. It will also have to change the gameplay, similar to that of the Resident Evil 4 remake which in turn means that it will no longer have tank controls or a fixed camera. That’s all good because that’s exactly what needs to happen with a Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake on the most basic level.
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But what about its difficulty and campaign length? The modern-day game does not need to be restricted to a single difficulty setting. For example, the Resident Evil 4 remake has four settings with ‘Professional’ being the hardest and I’d expect Code: Veronica to share the same approach. One of the best things that Capcom does with its remakes is remain faithful to the source material but it's not shy of throwing in some new areas and enemies, which would be a great addition to a Code: Veronica remake.
As for the campaign length, this is where it gets a little more topical. It can take anything between 10 to 25+ hours to finish the original Resident Evil Code: Veronica depending on your skill level and how you approach the game. Like the Island in Resident Evil 4, some felt this section made the game longer than it needed to be but it was an integral part of the story and I’m glad it wasn't cut from the remake. I hope that Capcom will give Resident Evil Code: Veronica the same consideration by not only keeping Chris Redfield’s segments but also by not trimming down the visit to Antarctica later in the game.
At the end of the day, assuming we do get a remake of Resident Evil Code: Veronica, I just hope that Capcom treats it with the same care as all its other remakes (apart from 2020’s Resident Evil 3). It needs to cater to returning fans but also welcome those new. Capcom needs to find that perfect balance but given its previous track record, I trust this developer more than most. Arguably, Resident Evil Code: Veronica is the most deserving of a remake from the iconic survival horror series and if treated with the respect it deserves, Capcom will no doubt have another hit on its hands.
Topics: Resident Evil, Capcom, Features, PC, Retro Gaming, PlayStation, Xbox