Remake is better, but the first part of Resident Evil 3 finally comes to PC

Okay, cards on the table, I think. Resident Evil 3 is the weakest game in the original 90s trilogy. It’s still good. But Resident Evil 1996 and RE2 are much better. The problem is the Nemesis. It’s a great idea, a seemingly unstoppable monster that hunts and harasses you throughout Raccoon City and can appear at any time, but it ultimately means that almost every boss fight in Resident Evil 3 is the same, and after enough encounters the Nemesis becomes less scary and more frustrating. Resident Evil 3 Remake is a better game (more on that later), but with rumors of RE9 and a new version of Code Veronica, it’s very good news that the original Resident Evil 3 is finally coming to PC.

Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2, the original versions, have historically been hard to get on PC, at least until earlier this year when they were finally ported to GOG. The GOG version of RE2 has smoothed textures and the option to skip loading sequences between rooms, which is great for cutting down on speedrun times. All in all, it’s a great re-release, and now Resident Evil 3, the survival horror game that came out in 1999 and was, up until then, just as hard to get, is coming to PC.

I’ve criticized it, so let’s talk about why RE3 works. The vision of a devastated, overrun Raccoon City is truly atmospheric – the opening street sections and later hospital and park are among the most eerie in the series. The game has some of the best Resident Evil weapons, thanks to the Magnum and assault rifle, and combat is given an extra dimension by the ammo crafting system.

It may seem trivial by 2024 standards, but the opening cutscene in Resident Evil 3 is something incredibly unique, terrifying, brutal, and raw. There’s also a water sample puzzle that’s a total pain, but worth experiencing in person just to wonder what the hell the designer was thinking.

I’ve written before about why Resident Evil 3 Remake is better than the original, and one of the most underrated games in the entire horror franchise. That said, it works much better if you’ve played the original. The Resident Evil 3 PC release date has been confirmed for Wednesday, September 25. A price hasn’t been confirmed, but both RE 1996 and RE2 are available on GOG for $11.37 / £8.99 each. Alternatively, you can buy the entire trilogy in one bundle for $26.56 / £20.99.

You can also try out some of the best old games that are still playable today, or maybe even the best zombie games available on PC.

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