Resident Evil HD Remaster

Resident Evil HD Remaster is a reworked version of the survival horror game that Capcom newly developed for Nintendo GameCube in 2002. The new edition brings the mansion adventure to newer systems with higher-resolution backdrops, reworked sound, an optional widescreen format and alternative controls.

In the remote Spencer villa, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine search for missing members of their special forces unit. Zombies, puzzles and limited supplies turn every exploration into a decision about your own survival.

Resident Evil HD Remaster was first released on Nov 27, 2014 in Japan and Asia for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. In Europe and North America, these versions followed on Jan 20, 2015. The HD versions for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One also arrived in January 2015.

On Steam and the German-language PlayStation Store, the date for PC and PS4 is Jan 19, 2015, while Capcom gives Jan 20 for the international launch. The Nintendo Switch version was released on May 21, 2019.

Resident Evil HD Remaster was released natively for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The PC version runs on Windows and is available through Steam.

The PS4 version can be played on PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility. The Switch version is compatible with Switch 2. These newer systems do not have separate native versions.

Resident Evil relies on fixed camera angles, locked doors and interconnected rooms. The way through the mansion opens up as you find items, decode codes and solve puzzles.

You can fight enemies with firearms, but ammo and healing items are scarce. Often it is more useful to dodge a zombie and save resources for more dangerous encounters.

Resident Evil HD Remaster is a standalone game. The Resident Evil Origins Collection combines it with Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster. On Steam, there is also a Deluxe Origins Bundle with costume packs for Resident Evil 0.

These bundles contain several products but do not change the standalone release of Resident Evil HD Remaster.

For the Steam version, Capcom lists at least Windows 10, an Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 at 2.8 GHz, 2 GB RAM and 20 GB of free storage. Graphics cards listed are a GeForce GTX 260 or Radeon HD 6790.

At least 4 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 560 or Radeon HD 6950 are recommended. Mouse and keyboard are supported, and an XInput-compatible controller is recommended.

In 1998, the S.T.A.R.S. special forces unit loses contact with its Bravo Team. While searching the woods near Raccoon City, the Alpha Team is attacked by dogs. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine flee to a remote mansion, where the missing comrades and a dangerous secret are hidden.

The villa, its outbuildings and the surrounding facilities form one connected maze. Many rooms only gain a purpose later, once you find keys or new equipment.

At the start, you choose Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine. The choice affects equipment, inventory slots, encounters and parts of the storyline.

Jill has more inventory space and can open certain doors with a lockpick. Chris has less space for items and more often needs the right keys. Both experience the same core story from different angles.

Every item takes up a slot in the inventory. Keys, weapons, herbs and ammo must therefore be chosen carefully. Surplus equipment can be stored in item boxes, whose contents can be reached from several locations.

Herbs can be combined. Saving at typewriters requires limited ink ribbons in classic mode. Anyone who pushes deep into the mansion unprepared risks a long way back.

The Spencer estate is home to more than ordinary zombies. Mutated animals and other biological creatures also block the way. Some defeated zombies can later return as faster and more dangerous Crimson Heads if their bodies are not destroyed in time.

The game therefore rewards careful fights and a precise knowledge of the rooms. Not every enemy has to be defeated to move the story forward.

The HD version offers the original controls and an alternative movement option. In the classic scheme, your character moves relative to the direction they are facing. As an alternative, they respond more directly to analogue stick input.

You can switch between both versions during play. The camera mostly stays fixed to set angles, which play a major role in how the mansion is presented.

Capcom reworked backgrounds and characters for higher resolutions and added moving 3D elements to some environmental details. You can optionally switch from the original aspect ratio to 16:9. In widescreen, the camera framing follows your character so that the edges of the backdrops remain reachable.

Reworked audio tracks and support for 5.1-channel output add to the visual changes. The fixed camera work is kept.

Resident Evil HD Remaster is designed for a single player only. The PC version supports Steam achievements, cloud saves, leaderboards and trading cards. The Switch version can be played on the TV, in handheld mode and at the table.

Online co-op and local multiplayer are not part of the game.

On Steam, German interface text and subtitles are available. English voice acting is included. Other text languages include French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

The Nintendo Switch version also includes German on-screen text. The European rating is PEGI 18.