PLAYSTATION 4 2019
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aist-deep in a fatberg, we’ve just survived a fight with – blown the chops off, in fact – a giant alligator in the sewers beneath the Raccoon City Police Department. It’s an infamous sequence from the original Resident Evil 2 that sticks in the mind of anyone who played it. Now given Capcom’s beautiful remake treatment, it feels as fresh as any Kratos death blow. And the way Leon S Kennedy delivers his pulpy lines – “Chew on this!” – with shameless gusto makes our return to Raccoon City even more enjoyable. Out latest hands-on with the Resident Evil 2 remake has us pounding the sewers and killing oversized reptiles as Leon, but we also get to test how corporate spy Ada Wong plays on PS4. At first she’s guiding Leon around, handily filling him, and us, in on what’s happening in Raccoon City. The exposition could feel clumsy if it weren’t for the stunning visuals: street lights reflecting off the shiny, rainslicked streets, and new-Ada’s Corey Hart fashion sense hiding a secret or two (sunglasses at night are retro cool). Just when you think it’s starting to feel a little staid, a truly emotional scene behind the Kendo gun store tugs on the feels – but we’ll leave you to experience that for yourself. What we will reveal is that overall, storytelling in this Resident Evil 2
THE INSIDE VIEW
NAME YOSHIAKI HIRABAYASHI PRODUCER, RESIDENT EVIL 2, CAPCOM “It’s not one specific thing that excited me, so much as being able to use all the graphical technology and gameplay knowhow we’ve built up over the years and put it to use to create a modern horror experience. Horror is a really direct way to people’s hearts and minds, and so I think it makes a great match for satisfying interactive entertainment.”
matches anything we’ve seen from Sony’s studios.
LADY IN RED Some puzzling and zombie bashing later, the pair split, Leon heading to his sewer scrap and Ada to explore the NEST facility. She’s on the hunt for Annette Birkin and the G-virus. Why and for whom? We’re not so sure, but we’re having a ton of fun fending off the undead in her best red frock – yes, Ada’s classic Resident Evil 2 outfit is in the game, in addition to her sunnies-andtrenchcoat getup. In fact, it’s just one of many costume changes for Ada. We’ll leave the exact
R ESIDEN T E V IL 2 The triple threat on test! We play as Leon, Claire, and Ada Format PS4 ETA 25 Jan Pub Capcom Dev Capcom
