Resident Evil 2 is considered a classic, and one of the best games in Capcom’s genre-defining survival horror series. Following the success of a remake for the original Resident Evil, the company has released another fresh take on the classic with the Resident Evil 2 remake. This version retells the story of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield attempting to survive the infested Raccoon City.
The critical consensus has been largely positive, with most critics agreeing that Capcom has modernized the classic with enhancements that make it look and feel both fresh and respectful to the original. The gruesome horror game also includes some callbacks to secrets from the original, and Capcom is planning a free post-launch DLC mode to give it more longevity.
Check out our and story recap and pre-order guide for everything you need to know before you get started. Read below for a sampling of reviews, and check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic for more impressions from around the industry.
- Game: Resident Evil 2
- Developer / Publisher: Capcom
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Release date: January 25
- Price: US $60 / £40 / AU $77
GameSpot – 9/10
«Resident Evil 2 is not only a stellar remake of the original, but it’s also simply a strong horror game that delivers anxiety-inducing and grotesque situations, topping some of the series’ finest entries. But above all, the remake is an impressive game for the fact that it goes all-in on the pure survival horror experience, confidently embracing its horrifying tone and rarely letting up until the story’s conclusion. Though Resident Evil 2 has its roots firmly in the past, it reworks the familiar horrors into something that feels brand new and all its own.» – Alessandro Fillari Full review
CNet – No Score
«Despite a few niggles, the Resident Evil 2 remake drags the 1998 classic into 2019 wonderfully and represents the pinnacle of the survival horror genre. If you’re looking for a tough, old school adventure with plenty of scares, come and explore in the Raccoon City Police Department.» – Sean Keane Full review
The Guardian – 5/5
«For veterans who remember the original (and I reviewed it at the time), it is an unmissable nostalgic treat. For those who don’t know their T-Viruses from their Code Veronicas, the experience is easily vivid and entertaining enough to stand on its own merits. This is horror game design as true craft.» – Keith Stuart Full review
Game Informer – 9.5/10
«Over the years, Capcom has experimented with several different approaches to Resident Evil, but this is one approach I hope gets revisited. Resident Evil 2 not only looks great, it plays well, and it forces you into a series of dark encounters that are a total rush. Resident Evil is finally running on all cylinders.» – Ben Reeves Full review
EGM – 9.5/10
«In the end, however, that-and the other minor complaints I had here and there-did nothing to lessen the unadulterated joy and emotional attachment I felt during my entire playthrough of Resident Evil 2. More than just a new chapter in Capcom’s legendary franchise, this is the culmination of said franchise’s 22 years of existence, and the near-perfect combination of retaining everything we once loved about Resident Evil while trying to figure out how to move those things into the future.» – Mollie L Patterson Full review
US Gamer – 4.5/5
«The sense of fear and terror when playing Resident Evil 2 never leaves you. It’s unlike anything else I’ve encountered in a Resident Evil game previously. I’m just going to go ahead and call it: Resident Evil 2 is the best Resident Evil game in the franchise and represents a series and developer at its peak. Don’t be distracted by the pretty graphics and gore, Resident Evil 2 is straight-up dangerous.» – Matt Kim Full review
Destructoid – 9/10
«My complaints about the Resident Evil 2 remaster are minimal. An argument could be made that Capcom could have done more, but the spirit of the original has been preserved and in many cases, enhanced. I hope every legacy game in the series gets this loving treatment, as I’ll probably be playing them for the rest of my life.» – Chris Carter Full review
Games Radar – 4/5
«A beautifully made and reverent take on the original game that works both as a remake and a completely new game.» – Leon Hurley Full review
