Wanting to play Resident Evil series for the first time, need advice

Topher

Topher

Identifies as young
I played the Resident Evil remaster on Steam a bit and that old play style with fixed camera angles and wonky controls just doesn't jive with me. So before I invest any further in these games, is there any advice on how I should approch the series for a guy who has played none of the games and only has a general idea of what is going on? Any games I should avoid? Or games I should play first before others, etc.

Appreciated.
 
As someone who loves the series and has played them all I'd say just go straight to RE2 and RE4 Remakes. RE7 is must play too, one of my favourites in the entire series. I finished Village twice but I'd say 7 is superior (same 1st person style, connected storyline). Original releases haven't aged well (tank controls etc) though both 5 and 6 are still worth checking out today. 6 gets a lot of hate but having recently replayed it (got the plat trophy when it originally released) I appreciate it's four distinct campaigns and CAPCOM throwing everything + the kitchen sink into it lol.

I'm sure this thread will be filled with differing opinions but I'd hope all Resi fans can agree RE2R and RE4R are god-tier, must-play titles.
 
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Youtube story recaps of zero an one. Re1make is truly great though...

Play remakes 2-3-4.

Youtube story recaps of Code Veronica (fixed camera), 5 and 6.

Play 7-8.
 
Embrace tank controls! Lol. It really does become easier in a hour or 2. The slow turn adds to the suspense.
 
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Go and play Zero, it's a funny game...

Thierry Henry Smile GIF by hamlet
 
RoboFu said:
Embrace tank controls! Lol. It really does be one easier in a hour or 2. The slow turn adds to the suspense.
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Is that what they are called? Tank controls? Came across the first zombie and I was trying every button combination I could think of to kill the damn thing. Weirdest interaction ever. I just stood there gaping while the damn thing kept taking bites out of me. I may have to do the youtube version for the story on that one.
 
Honestly, playing the first one with tank controls and fixed angles should be the first step. This is what defined the series. It provides a very unique experience for several reasons. There is both an artistic vision and technological-constrained vision on top of this game-design.

Do you simply want to play and have fun or are you more interested by also understanding a bit of the history behind the series and its evolution ?

Then the recent remakes are fine of course. If you can't play the first one, then play Remake 2.
 
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I find that newcomers who tend to play all the other games down to the classic ones usually start with the most recent one. Then they love it enough to try out the others. Slowly getting interested in the lore and the characters.

Don't force yourself to start from the very beginning. Just try 4 and 2 remake and dip your toes if you feel like you'll like it. 2 is more survival horror while 4 leans more into action. That's generally the divide between RE fans.
 
I'd say go 2 then 3, you can get them cheap in a bundle together as there on sale all the time. Then you got the option of 7 and 8 which are first person or 4 which is the most recent one.
 
Start with RE2 Remake. It's the perfect title for newcomers - doesn't have a weird story and you fight mostly traditional zombies, it's not punishing on normal difficulty when it comes to conserving ammo or saving and it plays like a modern game. If you'll like it you can continue with 3 & 4 or check out 7 & 8.

This is not a series where knowing the whole story is necessary to enjoy the product. You can go back to 1 and other RE games once you're done with the more modern ones.
 
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Topher said:
Is that what they are called? Tank controls? Came across the first zombie and I was trying every button combination I could think of to kill the damn thing. Weirdest interaction ever. I just stood there gaping while the damn thing kept taking bites out of me. I may have to do the youtube version for the story on that one.
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It would help if you looked at the controls. It's a PC port of a 21 year old remake of a 27 year old game.

If you really don't have the patience for the older games just go straight to the 2, 3 and 4 remakes and the new games 7 and 8. All of them good games.

But true RE is 1-3 with a fixed camera.
 
AV said:
It would help if you looked at the controls. It's a PC port of a 21 year old remake of a 27 year old game.

If you really don't have the patience for the older games just go straight to the 2, 3 and 4 remakes and the new games 7 and 8. All of them good games.

But true RE is 1-3 with a fixed camera.
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Eh....I "looked" at the controls my man. They were only shown with keyboard and mouse while I was playing with controller as I always do with third person games. Like I said, just didn't jive with me. So yeah, remakes from 2 and and up seem to be the way to go.

acm2000 said:
Just Play 7 and 8 and sack off the rest, up to date modern controls and gameplay without the old crap to deal with.
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2-4 have modern controls though, correct?
 
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Topher said:
I played the Resident Evil remaster on Steam a bit and that old play style with fixed camera angles and wonky controls just doesn't jive with me. So before I invest any further in these games, is there any advice on how I should approch the series for a guy who has played none of the games and only has a general idea of what is going on? Any games I should avoid? Or games I should play first before others, etc.

Appreciated.
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The tank controls is what defined the series in the first place. Stick with it for 1 remake.

Resident Evil 2 through 4 remake have modern controls.
 
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Topher said:
2-4 have modern controls though, correct?
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Yes. I didn't play 4, but 2 still has a level-design pretty close to the originals. It gives a good "feel" about the original progression, without the heavy controls.

3 Remake is very action oriented, less annoying with keys/unlocks and backtracking. It was a blast, super super fun.
 
You can actually change the tank controls to more normal ones in the RE1 remake. Then you don't have to slowly turn when changing direction. You can try that. I recommend the tank controls though.
 
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cireza said:
Yes. I didn't play 4, but 2 still has a level-design pretty close to the originals. It gives a good "feel" about the original progression, without the heavy controls.

3 Remake is very action oriented, less annoying with keys/unlocks and backtracking. It was a blast, super super fun.
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Nice. Definitely going to start with 2 and go from there. I hear what everyone is saying about giving the first game a go with the tank controls. I think I will give that a go later if I find the series grips me enough to go back and experience it as originally designed.

To answer your question above, I really didn't go in to this with the motivation of learning the history of the series, etc. Just looking for some good fun games, but also find out what everyone else find so appealing about the series.
 
Topher said:
To answer your question above, I really didn't go in to this with the motivation of learning the history of the series, etc. Just looking for some good fun games, but also find out what everyone else find so appealing about the series.
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Sure :) I tend to analyze games as I play them, some kind of habit I have because I enjoy it. This is why I would most probably always start with the first game, even if that brings my back into the 80s lol. In particular, this helps understanding what features each entry has brought up to the table. Often, the foundations of an excellent entry were there on a previous game that isn't always remembered as fondly.

2 Remake sounds a like good pick, enjoy !
 
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I just did this. I played RE4 Remake and then RE2 Remake.

RE2 Remake has atmosphere almost on par with Bioshock.

HOWEVER, if you dont like puzzles, in nearly every room, literally, then it isnt for you. But still worth a shot simply for the atmosphere and zombie gameplay.

RE4 was also dope. Less puzzles, more action. Controls were good, gameplay feels dated after TLOU 2, but you really appreciate the impact the game had. classic
 
Same here, for some odd reason the RE games are a big blind spot and I'd like to get into them.
I bought the RE2 and RE3 remakes because I figured it's a good way to start. Can't tell exactly why but for some reason RE2 never really clicks with me despite me liking similar games full of backtracking etc.

I'll follow the thread, maybe my approach is wrong and someone might shed some light on how to go about it.
 
Topher said:
My lucky day. Humble Bundle has RE2 Remake on sale for $10. Bought and downloading....
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RE2 remake was one of the best games I played in the last few years. Hope you like it.

Yeah, being that you don't like the tank I'll skip recommending the originals, but definitely play RE2make, Re3make (if you like 2 a lot), and the RE4 remake.
 
DownLikeBCPowder said:
RE2 remake was one of the best games I played in the last few years. Hope you like it.

Yeah, being that you don't like the tank I'll skip recommending the originals, but definitely play RE2make, Re3make (if you like 2 a lot), and the RE4 remake.
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skit_data said:
Same here, for some odd reason the RE games are a big blind spot and I'd like to get into them.
I bought the RE2 and RE3 remakes because I figured it's a good way to start. Can't tell exactly why but for some reason RE2 never really clicks with me despite me liking similar games full of backtracking etc.

I'll follow the thread, maybe my approach is wrong and someone might shed some light on how to go about it.
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Re3 remake is also on sale for the next 24 hours on Humble Bundle so I'm going to jump into RE2 right away and come back with my thoughts later. If I like enough then might as well get RE3.
 
Topher said:
My lucky day. Humble Bundle has RE2 Remake on sale for $10. Bought and downloading....
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Prepare yourself to sink some 50ish hours of your life.

Topher said:
Re3 remake is also on sale for the next 24 hours on Humble Bundle so I'm going to jump into RE2 right away and come back with my thoughts later. If I like enough then might as well get RE3.
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Try getting RE3 Remake for 5 bucks of less, it's worse than the original and RE2 in every possible way.

Then play RE 7 > Re VIIIage and RE4 Remake.

You can thank me later.

Topher said:
Re3 remake is also on sale for the next 24 hours on Humble Bundle so I'm going to jump into RE2 right away and come back with my thoughts later. If I like enough then might as well get RE3.
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I agree, if you are trying to get into the series, it's best if you avoid the originals with tank controls first.
 
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Tank controls are like controlling a drone or an RC car.
That's how you can make sense of them. Don't think of them as videogames.
This also works for the first four Silent Hill games to a lesser extent.
 
For any newcomers. I would say RE2 remake, RE3 Remake, RE4 Remake and Separate Ways, then RE7 and RE8. So you are on the right track! And plus that covers everything in chronological order (2 and 3 happen at the same time).
 
I'd finish the first if you haven't, it's important in the series and you can finish it in 3-4 hours. Play on easy or even use a guide if you must. Things get good from there, just play all the numbered entries in order from 2 remake until 8. Once you are done you can maybe play some of the secondary releases. Definitely skip zero, probably code Veronica too until it gets a remake.
 
Stick with RE1, RE3 and RE1 remake. The tank controls are part of RE game design and associated with the theme of survival horror. Trust me, it will stick with you.
 
Remake 3 is short and not how I remember the original. I think I got that and RE2 for £10 on sale so can't complain. I'll get round to finishing 2 someday.
 
If you did not like Resident Evil's progression in the mansion I think the Resident Evil 2 Remake might also not jive with you outside of gameplay mechanics. Personally, I think Resident Evil 3 Remake and the two versions of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 6 could be a good experience for you. Even Resident Evil 5 if you have someone to play it with as AI companion is dumb as bricks and makes the whole game feel like an escort mission.

P.S. It is worth mentioning that I am biased against the original Resident Evil 3 and consider it the worst mainline installment. Absurd backtracking, boring locations, poor dialogue that lacks B-horror charm, and a practically invincible enemy that assaults you randomly throughout the game are not my ideas of a good time. In contrast, I absolutely love the remake as it feels like an horror action movie with adventure game elements.
 
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When I was a teenager I played RE4 on GC first, then I played REmake, then the ports of 2,3, and CV. REmake had basically the same tank controls as RE4 just a different perspective, so that was easy to adjust to. If anything I would suggest that. Play RE4 original, then retry REmake. I think playing all the original PS1/GC games is a must, as the originals all have aspects to them that the Remakes don't that are worthwhile. Original RE2 and RE4 are still better than the remakes imo, and RE3 is better than it's remake by a country mile.

Tank controls really aren't that hard to get a grip on.
 
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Topher said:
Re3 remake is also on sale for the next 24 hours on Humble Bundle so I'm going to jump into RE2 right away and come back with my thoughts later. If I like enough then might as well get RE3.
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I think you're in a good position to like RE3make potentially. I think it's a good game on its own, just not the best remake in terms of the original. So considering you haven't played the original, I think if you like Re2make you'll like Re3make just fine!
 
Draugoth said:
Prepare yourself to sink some 50ish hours of your life.



Try getting RE3 Remake for 5 bucks of less, it's worse than the original and RE2 in every possible way.

Then play RE 7 > Re VIIIage and RE4 Remake.

You can thank me later.



I agree, if you are trying to get into the series, it's best if you avoid the originals with tank controls first.
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lol what. You can beat RE2 easily in 10-15 hours. Even newcomers.
 
Topher said:
Is that what they are called? Tank controls? Came across the first zombie and I was trying every button combination I could think of to kill the damn thing. Weirdest interaction ever. I just stood there gaping while the damn thing kept taking bites out of me. I may have to do the youtube version for the story on that one.
Click to expand...

Topher said:
Eh....I "looked" at the controls my man. They were only shown with keyboard and mouse while I was playing with controller as I always do with third person games. Like I said, just didn't jive with me. So yeah, remakes from 2 and and up seem to be the way to go.
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What in the blazes are you doing? Look up some proper controls, not controls for an input you aren't using. Can't write it off when you're there trying Street Fighter inputs and wondering why it doesn't work!

Classic RE controls could hardly be more simple:
Forwards/backwards and turning for movement​
Aim on a shoulder button, usually R1​
Interact/Okay/Attack​
Run/Cancel​
Menu​
Map​
They did swap a couple functions at some point to put run on X instead of Square, but that's generally it. The core gameplay is directions and 3 buttons.

Start again and give it a proper chance, you uncultured swine.
 
Don't skip any of them, all mainline games are great, just start with the first game, install the mod that removes the door transitions and switch to analog stick controls and you're good; you can skip side games like operation raccoon city.

You could also somewhat skip zero because the item management in that game goes a bit overboard, and it's not really referenced in other games ever again; definitely do play revelations, after re4, and revelations 2, after re5.

RE5 can be played with traditional tank controls, but it also has a setting that allows strafing, which was the default for the x360 release (because of the gears of war crowd), however it's the last game in the series where you can't move and shoot, but you'll get used to it quickly; at least the zombies aren't bullet sponges like in re2 and the melee attacks are super satisfying.

The first dlc, lost in nightmares, also has a neat hidden feature to change the camera for the first part of it to fixed, instead of third person, so it looks like playing the first game.

RE6 is a gigantic game, because it has 4 different campaigns that mimic the feel of several different games.
The leon campaign is more like re4
The sherry campaign is more like re3
The chris campaign is more like re5
The ada campaign is more like re2, this campaign was a secret and the only one not playable in coop, but people complained so capcom patched it so it's playable from the start and in coop; do not play it in coop and save it till last.

I doubt many people are still playing it now, but RE6 also has this unique coop feature during several chapters; in some of them 4 of the main characters will be present because the campaigns overlap at those points, if you are playing online during, the other 2 characters might be controlled by other random players instead of AI. This same method was later also used in DMC5

RE7 is quite a departure from the previous games but is still very cool, it starts off pretending to be supernatural horror, but halfway through it starts going back to conventional RE stuff.

RE8 is basically RE4 but in first person, it has a 3rd person mode now, but the game wasn't really built for it, with all the door/wall peaking and such but it's still a great option to have
 
Soodanim said:
What in the blazes are you doing? Look up some proper controls, not controls for an input you aren't using. Can't write it off when you're there trying Street Fighter inputs and wondering why it doesn't work!

Classic RE controls could hardly be more simple:
Forwards/backwards and turning for movement​
Aim on a shoulder button, usually R1​
Interact/Okay/Attack​
Run/Cancel​
Menu​
Map​
They did swap a couple functions at some point to put run on X instead of Square, but that's generally it. The core gameplay is directions and 3 buttons.

Start again and give it a proper chance, you uncultured swine.
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Uh....keep reading

Topher said:
Nice. Definitely going to start with 2 and go from there. I hear what everyone is saying about giving the first game a go with the tank controls. I think I will give that a go later if I find the series grips me enough to go back and experience it as originally designed.

To answer your question above, I really didn't go in to this with the motivation of learning the history of the series, etc. Just looking for some good fun games, but also find out what everyone else find so appealing about the series.
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So, as a self-professed diehard RE fanatic, here's my advise.

The modern remakes will play like the games we play every day, they're a lot easier to get into and enjoy.

*but*

I would very highly recommend you also check out where the series started, don't go for any kind of chronological track, that will not make any sense. See if you are able to get into the games in release order, and yes that even includes playing the OG RE1 before the REmake.

Not only will that help you paint a cohesive narrative through-line with the franchise (because there are things in the REmake which play off of nostalgia and your prior knowledge of the games), but also it will give you a first hand look into the series' evolution and either make you appreciate how drastically they pivoted to RE4 even more, or turn you into one of the "NOT MY RE" folks that revolved back in the day.

-

I understand going back and starting from scratch on a 27 year old franchise is not an easy task, but it's my personal recommendation.

Otherwise if you just want to do the modern games, the remakes (REmake 1, 2, 3, 4) will also suffice.
 
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Word of advice, if you play Resident Evil 3 Remake save your grenades for the Nemesis. It is basically a fuck off item outside of boss battles.

adamsapple said:
I would very highly recommend you also check out where the series started, don't go for any kind of chronological track, that will not make any sense. See if you are able to get into the games in release order, and yes that even includes playing the OG RE1 before the REmake.
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Hard disagree. The games can be played completely out of order as they individually provide the player with enough backstory and characters' personalities are not very consistent across games.
 
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It sounds like you already have the gist of RE.

In that case I would go with RE2 Remake and it's dlc RE3 Remake - *totally ok to refer to RE3R as that. Then play RE4 Remake and it's recently released dlc. Skip all the rest including RE5, RE6 and then play RE7 and RE8 including dlc.

If you want more then by all means go back and play Zero, Code Veronica and the other mainline releases you skipped. It does look like other RE games will eventually be remastered. Personally I'd rather see a remaster of Code Veronica than RE5 next but that's just me. Tbh, all the remaining non-remastered games with the exception of RE7 and RE8 are in dire need of remastering anyways.
 
NeverYouMind said:
Hard disagree. The games can be played completely out of order as they individually provide the player with enough backstory and characters' personalities are not very consistent across games.
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Eh, I dunno about that. Imagine playing RE3 Nemesis (not the abhorrent remake) without RE. You won't know Jill or Brad's back story, all the notes and files about "The mansion incident" and Chris and Barry won't have the same feel if you haven't seen them before.
 
adamsapple said:
Eh, I dunno about that. Imagine playing RE3 Nemesis (not the abhorrent remake) without RE. You won't know Jill or Brad's back story, all the notes and files about "The mansion incident" and Chris and Barry won't have the same feel if you haven't seen them before.
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The story is basically he is the pilot that fucks off during the intro sequence of RE1 and doesn't return until the end of the game. Mansion and zombies are pretty much referenced at the start of every game. As far as Chris and Barry...
 
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