Resident Evil 2 Remake vs. Resident Evil 7
Round 2: Gameplay
When we talk about gameplay, we’re talking about the general flow of the game, how it plays, as well as the puzzle elements, which are a big part of the series.
First off, Resident Evil 7 adopts a first-person perspective, which is a first for the series. While I did have my doubts at first, it ended up being an excellent decision for the game. Opening doors is ridiculously tense in RE7, and the first-person perspective just lets you get all close to the disgusting grimy house.
However, RE7 also feels a tad clunky, mostly because of how slow Ethan is. He can sprint, but not very fast. He can change weapons on command, but not very fast. It’s all part of the RE7 immersion, as Ethan isn’t supposed to be a seasoned fighter, but this can make combat feel a little clumsy overall.
The puzzles in Resident Evil 7 aren’t that great either. It was nice that Capcom decided to bring back puzzles that involved you having to open door A so you could get item B so you could open door C, that would let you get the key to open door D.
But the Baker house itself, which was easily the best part of the game, is such a short segment, and the rest of the game’s areas never feel quite as fun to explore.
Puzzles in RE7 feel very straightforward and simple, which is not always the case in Resident Evil 2. The iconic police station is so tightly designed, and even the Baker house couldn’t hope to compare.
The game doles out its hints and key items at a very careful pace, allowing you to get acquainted with the station, unlocking shortcuts, and eventually getting to the point where you won’t even need the map to navigate the area any longer.
It’s not just the station either; even the later areas in the game are a joy to explore once you’ve gotten a hang of the general layout. Puzzles can be delightfully obtuse at times, requiring you to jot down quick notes to keep track of all the clues you’ve found so far.
Most importantly, however, Resident Evil 2 is much more enjoyable to actually play. Gun upgrades are plentiful in this game, allowing you to get a real sense of power and progression as you unlock more customization options.
Leon and Claire are much easier to control than Ethan, making them feel like action game heroes rather than scared survivors. I mean, sure, you could argue that this makes the game less scary, but you can’t deny that it’s just a much more enjoyable experience overall.
Winner: Resident Evil 2. Better puzzles, better gunplay, this is an easy pick.
