Resident Evil 3 Remake Now Available Natively on Nintendo Switch 2

Resident Evil 3 Remake on Switch 2

Resident Evil 3, a 2020 remake of the 1999 survival horror game, is now available in native form on Nintendo Switch 2. The game focuses on Jill Valentine's escape through a ruined Raccoon City, offering an intense survival and action experience. Unlike the original Switch version, which used a cloud-based approach, the Switch 2 version provides a smooth and accessible adventure without technical limitations.

Jill Valentine’s Escape in Raccoon City

The narrative places players alongside Jill Valentine as Raccoon City descends into chaos due to a biological catastrophe that transforms its residents into ravenous undead. Jill must escape the ruined city while evading Nemesis, a creature created by Umbrella to eliminate remaining members of the S.T.A.R.S. After surviving the Spencer mansion, Jill was sidelined from the elite unit by a corrupt municipality and now lives in isolation, convinced that the pharmaceutical company is hiding dark secrets.

Connections to Resident Evil 2

The events of Resident Evil 3 unfold in parallel to Leon and Claire's adventures in Resident Evil 2. Jill begins her escape several hours before their arrival in the city, allowing for interesting connections between the two games. Some locations are revisited at a different point in the catastrophe, and certain details clarify what happened just before the arrival of the two other protagonists. The journey also crosses paths with Carlos Oliveira, a mercenary from a rescue unit sent by Umbrella. Together, they attempt to survive and find an escape. Carlos has his own playable sequences and brings a welcome variety with a more generous arsenal.

Gameplay Mechanics and Evolution

On the mechanics side, the foundations remain close to Resident Evil 2. The shoulder camera, limited inventory, powders allowing the creation of ammunition, and storage chests are all present. However, the pace changes radically. Resident Evil 3 provides more ammunition, places more enemies on the path, and significantly reduces the number of puzzles. The few puzzles remaining are simple. Exploration becomes less labyrinthine, with smaller and less winding areas than in the police station of the second episode.

New Mechanics and Player Strategies

This evolution could have transformed the entire game into a simple shooting game. Capcom fortunately retains enough constraints to avoid this. Zombies remain tough, ammunition is not unlimited, and some encounters quickly deplete reserves if shots miss their targets. Jill has a major advantage: the dodge. A press at the right moment allows her to avoid an attack, and in case of a perfect execution, she can benefit from a brief slowdown to immediately target the opponent. The mechanic requires some training but completely transforms encounters once mastered. It becomes essential against certain bosses. The knife no longer has a durability gauge, unlike in RE2. It cannot, however, be used to free oneself when a zombie grabs the character. Various electric generators and different explosive elements placed in the environments allow neutralizing multiple enemies at once.

Nemesis as the Primary Antagonist

The main attraction of the game remains Nemesis, who takes on the role of pursuer held by Mr. X in RE2. The comparison stops quite quickly. The Tyrant in the police station moved slowly, appeared in a fairly organic manner, and mainly required changing routes. Nemesis is much more violent. He runs, jumps, uses his tentacles, and can reduce the distance between himself and Jill in seconds. Turning his back on him is not always enough to solve the problem. The dodge, grenades, and elements of the environment become the best means of gaining a few seconds. His appearances lead to several spectacular confrontations, especially when he evolves and gradually abandons his humanoid silhouette. He perfectly represents the direction taken by the game: less slowness, less waiting, and more direct confrontation. However, he paradoxically causes less fear than Mr. X. The reason comes from the way Capcom uses him. A large part of his appearances is scripted, and his true free chase phases remain relatively short. Mr. X could turn a calm exploration into a nightmare simply because his footsteps were approaching. With Nemesis, the game clearly indicates when it is time to run.

Changes and Omissions in the Remake

Resident Evil 3 takes more liberties with the 1999 game than Resident Evil 2 did with its model. Some changes work very well. The characters are better integrated into the narrative, several sequences gain in staging, and the whole has a more natural continuity. Capcom, however, did not stop at modifying existing content. Several passages have simply disappeared. The famous bell tower is no longer really explorable. The real-time choice system from the original episode has been removed. The Mercenaries mode has not been reused. Several environments and creatures have also been abandoned. Spiders, crows, and the Grave Digger are missing. These absences are felt all the more since the game is already very short. Some additions partially compensate for these cuts, including a much more developed hospital and several new sequences. It is, however, difficult not to imagine what this adventure could have become with a few more hours. The downtown area remains the most successful part. The streets offer enough small areas to explore to maintain a sense of freedom while keeping the pressure constant. The following parts become progressively more linear. The passage to the police station creates a friendly link with RE2. The hospital has some very good moments. The following environments are visually successful. However, the impression of discovering an entire city in decline gradually fades.

Visual and Technical Performance

This native version immediately makes the original Switch's cloud version forgettable. The lighting effects highlight the destroyed streets and dark interiors with stunning realism. The fluidity remains constant, whether playing in television, portable, or table mode. The RE Engine performs remarkably well. The faces retain a lot of detail. The materials are very clean. The numerous light sources in Raccoon City give a lot of depth to the environments. Neons, flames, burning vehicles, smoke, sparks, and explosions contribute to the spectacle without giving the impression that the console is struggling to keep up. The fluidity appeared to be impeccable throughout the adventure. No annoying slowdowns disturbed the most intense phases. The result is extremely beautiful and fluid to the eye. A technical detail deserves to be mentioned: the frame rate of enemies in the distance is reduced to improve overall fluidity. Nothing that will ruin the gaming experience, but something that can momentarily take the player out of immersion. The music uses recurring themes to build tension at the same time as the danger. The pump shotgun strikes with a deep and satisfying sound. The physical effects, such as the tearing of flesh or the cracking of a zombie's skull, sound disturbing, wet, and biting. The music of the save rooms remains particularly calming and inviting. The original game offered one of the best examples, and this remake continues this tradition. The French dubbing, however, disappoints. Jill Valentine's performance in the French version appears out of sync with the rest of the cast. We quickly switch to the original English version, on which we enjoy more.

Short Campaign and Replayability

Resident Evil 3 remains a particularly short adventure. It generally takes around six to seven hours to complete the first playthrough by thoroughly exploring the environments. Players who are already familiar with the route will finish much faster. Unlike RE2, no second campaign equivalent to Leon and Claire's is waiting for the player. Jill and Carlos are controlled during the same story, and the adventure follows a unique path. Replayability mainly relies on additional difficulties, challenges, and the shop unlocked after completing the game. The Nightmare and Hell difficulties are a good way to prolong the fun. The placement of some enemies and objects can change. The opponents obviously become much more dangerous. For those who enjoy learning a game by heart, optimizing their routes, and trying to improve their ranking, Resident Evil 3 can easily exceed the duration of its single campaign. This Switch 2 edition arrives without Resident Evil Resistance, the asymmetric multiplayer mode that accompanied the game for free at its 2020 launch. The servers closed in the same year as its launch. Its absence makes the content of this new version even lighter. At 29.99 euros, the problem is less difficult to accept than at the price of a new game sold full price in 2020. However, it is impossible not to mention it.