
Those who spent the early 2000s enamoured with the original’s gorgeous remake now had something new to toy with, and keep in mind this was before Resident Evil 4 marched onto the scene and changed games forever. It took a familiar formula and turned everything on its head. Obviously, it’s all drenched in the cheesy dialogue and campy atmosphere you’d expect from mid-noughties Resident Evil, yet the fixed camera angles still imbue it with a palpable sense of horror. There are loads of other great personalities to choose from beyond these two as well, all of whom have their own motivations and bespoke skills that can be used to survive each scenario. Kevin Ryman is a hardened member of the police department, while Alyssa Ashcroft is an investigative reporter eager to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and exactly how it’s involved in the city’s sudden destruction. If you aren’t familiar with Outbreak, it follows a selection of characters as they’re forced to work together to survive in the wake of the Raccoon City incident. Back then these obstacles simply felt like normality, so taking a game hampered by them in terms of modern standards and updating it for contemporary audiences could have so much potential. You’d need to fumble with an adaptor, register for an account, and organise lobbies for you and friends before even entertaining the idea of playing the game you bought.

#RESIDENT EVIL OUTBREAK PC REMAKE FAN PS2#
Launching for the PS2 in 2003, Outbreak was an experience that could be played either on your lonesome or with friends through online multiplayer, which at the time was still in its infancy on console.

The original duo of games haven’t aged beautifully, but that’s part of the point. Related: Resident Evil Infinite Darkness Is A Bunch Of Beautiful Nonsenseīut a return to Resident Evil: Outbreak would remedy so much of that apprehension, partly because it features a concept that can be toyed with and expanded upon in so many distinctive ways. I've been hurt too many times before to remain hopeful. Everything else is doomed to be forgotten, with the recent delay of Resident Evil Re:Verse doing very little to instil confidence that it will be anything more than yet another clumsy excursion featuring all the visual hallmarks of the property with absolutely none of the substance. That’s exactly what Outbreak did so many years ago, and it’s one of the few titles of its ilk that stand the test of time in the eyes of serious followers. More power to it, but I wish these games made a more concerted effort to feel like they belong in the world of Resident Evil. Despite the majority of fans decrying Project Resistance, Operation Raccoon City, and so many others as missing the mark, the publisher seems determined to keep jumping into the pool of multiplayer. If you’re willing to search far enough, you’ll find some of the most laughably awful squad-based shooters in recent memory, with Capcom shoehorning its beloved franchise into online blueprints it never belonged in. I reviewed Umbrella Corps, so I know perfectly well how deep the barrel of so-so Resident Evil multiplayer outings can go.
