Capcom Set the Gold Standard for Remakes With Resident Evil

In any medium, a remake is a tricky choice. You don’t want to alienate old fans by changing everything completely, but you want new fans to enjoy modern amenities. I think Capcom have perfected the art with their many remakes in the Resident Evil franchise.

These games have laid out the template and set the gold standard going forward for video game remakes. Capcom achieved the rare feat of both revitalizing their classic titles while still moving their games forward. Also, the remakes have brought an entire franchise, once spread across generations, all onto the same platform.

These remakes aren’t just nostalgic revisits; they are high-quality reimaginings that cater to both seasoned fans and newcomers alike. A huge part of this lies in their ability to blend the tone and gameplay of modern Resident Evil entries with the spirit of the originals. This is something I feel many remakes fail to do. They either try to much to recapture the original experience or they go too far in modernizing everything.

Titles like the Resident Evil 2 remake retain the core horror elements and characters that fans love. However, they introduce fresh mechanics, revamped visuals, and improved gameplay that align with more recent releases. In this way, Capcom has created a bridge between the old and the new. They’re crafting remakes that feel both like historical preservation and an evolution of their games moving forward.

Of course it helps that Resident Evil games had infamously aged poorly to modern gamers. Early Resident Evil titles had some less popular gameplay element such as tank controls, fixed camera angles, and visuals constrained by the hardware. Which can be a turn-off to more modern audiences. The remakes remove these barriers, replacing them with fluid third-person gameplay, more detailed environments, and more dynamic combat systems. This has lead to many people who missed out on the originals to finally go back and pick up those pieces of the story.

One significant outcome of this remake strategy is how it smooths the transition between older and newer titles. For a new player, starting with the 1996 original and working their way to the most recent entries would result in a jarring shift in quality and mechanics. However, with the remakes, players can now play everything in order without feeling like they’re stepping back in time. Their consistent quality prevents players from experiencing a massive drop in design or technical fidelity from game to game.

In some ways, Capcom’s handling of the Resident Evil remakes is kind of like Taylor Swift’s approach to re-recording her discography. Fixing a few things that need fixing, updating things with newer technology, but preserving the core experience. They invite a new generation into their respective worlds without sacrificing what made the originals beloved. Although, some fans will of course disagree as some fans often do.

The Resident Evil remakes should be used as a blueprint for other game developers looking to breathe new life into their classic titles. We’ve already seen how this strategy can work in other contexts, such as the critically acclaimed Dead Space remake. Much like Resident Evil, Dead Space took a beloved original and rebuilt it with a few new ideas. However, they preserved the essence of what made it a classic. The success of these remakes demonstrates that, when done right, a remake can do more than just bring back an old game—it can actually move your series forward.

Capcom has proven that revisiting a classic with fresh eyes and a modern touch doesn’t mean compromising on the soul of the original. The Resident Evil remakes are more than just nostalgia trips; they are masterclasses in how to balance innovation with tradition. Honestly, I’m sure we’re going to see more companies follow this “remake your whole franchise” model. And if they do it well, I welcome it.

Ultimately, the Resident Evil remakes have set the bar. Not just in survival horror but in the broader realm of video game remakes. They are a testament to the power of reinvention, showing that it’s possible to honor the past while embracing the future. Capcom has set a template for the gaming industry that others should follow, proving that with the right approach, a remake can serve as both a celebration of gaming history and a new benchmark for modern design.