Resident Evil HD remake

Downloadable game for PS4,PS3 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC

IT is remarkable to think that zombies have been lurking in Resident Evil's darkened corridors for almost 20 years.

Resident Evil was released on the PlayStation in 1996 and since then there have been countless sequels and spin-offs attempting to recapture the glory of Capcom's scary and atmospheric original.

So it was always going to be inevitable that the creators would revisit the survival horror game that started it all off.

But confusingly, this is really a remake of a remake because Resident Evil was last seen in 2002 on the Nintendo GameCube.

Back then, the gameplay was improved with a new running system and 180-degree turn and there was new visuals and sound.

There were new defensive weapons like daggers and tasers as well as new areas and harder puzzles.

So this high definition update is basically a spit and polish version of the 2002 remake.

But the most important change this time is the controls. Resident Evil's 'tank-like' controls were a big turn-off for some players and an obstacle for newcomers, particularly given the finesse of modern games.

The developers have finally acknowledged this with a much-needed new control system where you can push the analog stick in the direction you want to run (die hard fans can still revert back to the old controls).

For those new to Resident Evil – or at least its origin story – the game sees Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, from an elite task force called S.T.A.R.S, trapped in a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of the now infamous Raccoon City.

You can play as either character, with the game offering a slightly different narrative experience with each.

What is interesting about Resident Evil is that it was made when game design ideas had not quite caught up with the graphical capabilities of Sony's then new PlayStation.

The groundbreaking console came just a few years after the comparatively rudimental Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive

But it made Resident Evil better for it with a curious combination of Super Metroid exploration and backtracking and puzzles presented in a point-and-click style.

The game was also clearly inspired by old school horror films.

Pacing along the creaky floorboards, navigating the claustrophobic corridors and hearing thunder on the other side of the rotting window panes is enough to create a sense of dread.

Many of the camera angles are inspired and, as with classic horror, there are plenty of moments where you jump out of your skin.

The fact the game still has that power after two decades is a reminder of how groundbreaking and influential it was.

That said, with its old fashioned elements like sparse save points and your character's limited ability to carry supplies, some may be unconvinced what a new generation of gamers will take from this.

These elements were added to the game to build tension but the by-product was it also created frustration.

Aiming can also be tricky, you can occasionally find yourself moving in the wrong direction due to problems with your point of view and some of the puzzles are obtuse.

But it is all forgiveable for a master class in old school horror and suspense and the legacy the game left.

DAVID MORGAN