Gameplay
For the most part, the gameplay is the exact same in both Resident Evil 2 and 3. These games are third-person, over-the-shoulder shooters, and you’ll obtain a variety of weapons to help you kill a ton of zombies and other Umbrella monsters along the way.
In addition to that, you’ll be exploring large areas, backtracking and solving puzzles, and carrying key items around and using them in the right place to progress. There are a couple of big differences, though. Resident Evil 2 is a lot more atmospheric and puzzle-focused, while Resident Evil 3 feels more like an action game.
Resident Evil 2’s first half takes place in the RPD, where you’ll be running back and forth between various rooms, trying to figure out which puzzle piece goes where. Resident Evil 3 is a constant war between Jill and Nemesis, as he follows you around Raccoon City, and you’ll need to figure out how to fend him off while trying to get to your destination.
Resident Evil 3 also introduces a quickstep mechanic, allowing you to dodge enemies a little more easily. If you pull off a perfect dodge at the right time, time will slow down a little, and you can fire off a few shots at your foes. It becomes critical on higher difficulty settings, and trying to pull off perfect dodges becomes quite fun.
Boss fights are also way better in Resident Evil 3. For a series with boss fights that have always been about shooting an enemy in the big glowing red spot until it dies, saying that the bosses are better here doesn’t really account for much, but it’s definitely a big step up. The fights with Nemesis are exciting because he has so many moves to watch out for, and dodging him becomes a key part of survival.
Winner: Resident Evil 3. It’s a very close one here, as deciding which game’s better really depends on whether you’d prefer puzzles or action in your Resident Evil games, but we have to give the edge to Resi 3.
