Resident Evil 0

About Resident Evil 0

Resident Evil 0 serves as the prequel to the original mansion incident, dropping players into a nightmare scenario in 1998 near Raccoon City. Developed by Capcom Production Studio 3 and released on January 19, 2016, this remastered edition updates the 2002 classic with high-definition visuals and widescreen support. You can play it on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or PC. The story follows rookie cop Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen after their helicopter crashes near an abandoned train called the Ecliptic Express. This single-player shooter-adventure blends survival horror mechanics with character switching to solve puzzles and fight off infected creatures.

Gameplay

You control two distinct characters, Rebecca and Billy, often swapping between them instantly during exploration or combat. Each has specific skills you must use to progress. Rebecca carries a medical sprayer and uses her agility to reach tight spots, while Billy wields heavy weapons like a knife or shotgun to break barriers. The core loop involves solving environmental puzzles that require both characters to interact with objects simultaneously or in sequence. You manage inventory carefully since storage space is limited. Combat feels weighty and deliberate rather than fast-paced, forcing you to aim precisely at enemy weak points while conserving ammo. Switching partners mid-fight can turn the tide when facing larger threats.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community rates this title heavily towards a creepy vibe with four votes, followed by three dark votes. Metacritic holds it at 69 out of 100 while IGDB lists a 72 average across 213 user ratings. Players spend an average amount of time here to unlock achievements, which total 47 in the game. The community has struggled with the rarer tasks since only 3.20% unlocked "Who Needs Partners?" compared to the overall 20.4% average completion rate for all trophies. Review snippets often mention the challenging co-op mechanics even in single-player mode. The price sits at a historical low of $4.99 on GOG, making it an accessible entry point for fans of the genre despite mixed critical reception scores.

PlayPile's Take

This game works best if you enjoy methodical survival horror and don't mind managing two characters manually. The 47 achievements offer decent long-term goals, especially that elusive partner task requiring specific coordination. At $4.99, it is a steal compared to modern pricing. You should skip this if you want fast-paced action or a simple control scheme. The remaster improvements are noticeable but the core experience remains tied to its 2002 origins. Finish the campaign and hunt down that rare achievement to see if the puzzle design holds up for you today.

Storyline

The story of Resident Evil 0 takes players back to 1998. Reports have been mounting about unusual murders on the outskirts of Raccoon City. The city’s Special Forces division, S.T.A.R.S., sends their Bravo Team - including rookie cop member Rebecca Chambers - to investigate. On route, the team’s helicopter suffers engine trouble and is forced to make a crash landing, where they find an overturned prisoner transport vehicle. Splitting up to search the area, Rebecca discovers the Ecliptic Express, a train stopped dead on the tracks. Inside, she meets death row convict and ex-Navy lieutenant Billy Coen. Throughout the game, you will take control of both Rebecca and Billy, at times switching between both characters in order to proceed. Learning the advantages of each character is the key to solving puzzles and surviving the nightmares that lie ahead.