Resident Evil 0 (Zero): HD Remaster for Windows

Is it worth returning Resident Evil Zero?

Resident Evil 0 (Zero): HD Remaster is an upresed rerelease of the 2003 Nintendo GameCube game. But does it have enough new features to make it worth returning to this story that tells the origins of the Raccoon City Outbreak?

The more Resident Evil "fan service"

In its day, Resident Evil 0's big selling point was that you could control two characters at once: Rebecca and Billy. This feature remains to this day, and you must learn to use each character's unique abilities if you hope to solve the cooperative challenges.

This function was the only spark of originality in a game that was strictly more-of-the-same. Nowhere is this truer than when you consider the narrative premise of "discovering how the nightmare began", a fine concept that deflates when you discover that there is nothing substantial or interesting to find.

Resident Evil 0 is a traditional "Resi" that is aimed squarely at the exposed, zombified brains of fans of the saga. The puzzles do not make sense outside of the logic of the franchise, locations are tributes to previous installments, and the plot will make no sense to newcomers.

Wesker mode

The brand new Resident Evil 0 Remaster is similar to what we saw in Resident Evil Remake Remaster: high resolution graphics, 5.1 channel surround sound, optional modernized controls, and widescreen support.

But the star of this remaster is Wesker Mode, an extra that is unlocked when you end the main game. Albert Wesker, the charismatic villain of the series, takes the place of Billy.

On a plot level, this changes nothing. In fact, during cutscenes, Billy reappears as usual. But the incentive to controlling Wesker is using his superhuman powers. With these Resident Evil 0 becomes an exaggerated action adventure, an ideal change after having been frightened throughout your first play through.

Only for fans

Do you like the classic "Resi" games? Well Resident Evil 0 will offer you a good dose of that. But it feels diluted. The remake lacks the atmosphere of Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 3. Even in 2003 this game felt like a symbolic parting gift for his fans as the series changed direction. Now, it just feels like an empty gesture, with the Wesker mode offering the only real draw for long time fans.