It really is ironic, but Code Veronica is definitely the RE game that has aged the worst. 'Aging' can be a hard thing to define, but in Code Veronica's case, while it was graphically impressive for the time it hasn't kept up to even the pre-rendered backgrounds of RE2/RE3, and the lack of it being shiny new highlights that the all-3D direction hit RE's charming art style. Worse, it has some of the most annoying enemies in the series (Bandersnatch's can go fuck themselves, and with the increased insect enemy variety comes increased poison enemies, among other things), the puzzles feel worse and just not fun than about every other RE game, and the backtracking in it is the worst due to the great lengths they make you backtrack, and how often you do; you have to go to completely different ends of facilities that are actually rather spacious and filled with dangers.
I don't have anything against Steve, because he's hilarious.
It's a shame since Code Veronica has some definite good parts. I think some of the locations are actually pretty cool, the island prison, the Ashford private residence, the underwater cavern accessed by submarine, an arctic facility, and even the callback recreation manor... But their presentation lets them down. I actually think Code Veronica's soundtrack is up there as one of the best in the series. There's some story beats and scenes I like a lot personally, and the three main villains (Alexander, Alexia, and their father) are all memorable and interesting villains that fit the series as the quirky twisted sort which suites the franchise well. While people blame it as the entry that starts making the series 'go off the rails', I think having Wesker return as his pseudo Matrix rip-off self and play as a villainous side character is an interesting role and idea. There's a few pretty good gameplay moments and parts where things together here and there, I remember some scenes pretty fondly.
But it is definitely the RE game that could work best with a full-on remake. There's a lot of potential for there to be a great game there, but I think they didn't get the execution right. The locations are never as interesting as they should be, the pacing is the worst in the whole series, there's just a lot they missed the mark on.
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Zero in comparison since it's often put against Code Veronica maybe doesn't have some of the highs that it has, but it's a lot more consistent, and hasn't aged that badly. Environments are gorgeous, I do like Zero's puzzles, and though there's a few kind of shitty/dull parts, I think it's paced a lot better, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Zero actually has better enemies than Code Veronica. Code Veronica has a lot of interesting monster ideas, but I never felt their execution was ever really on the mark and made most of the fights more of a chore than not. Zero may have 'simple' enemies, but they're a lot more fun to fight, do feel more natural, and at least aren't spammed like they are sometimes in Code Veronica.
Also, Code Veronica has the worst 'extra mode' and unlockables in the whole series.
I can't help but think the reason they haven't taken their port of Code Veronica on PS3/360 and put it on current platforms/Steam yet is because they want to do something more extensive with the game eventually, but to be seen.
