As lead programmer, Sakata was a vital part of the original game’s development with a deep knowledge of the systems that made Resident Evil 3 the classic we remember today. This put him in a unique position to evaluate how the experience could be improved for a new generation of players.
The remake is a more straightforward and fast-paced experience than the original that covers Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira’s escape from a zombie-infested Raccoon City while evading a bio-engineered monstrosity known as the Nemesis. It’s a more action-oriented and hectic game complemented by the original title’s dodging mechanic, a vital part of the many boss battles against the Nemesis, who pursues you throughout the campaign with a laser-targeting rocket launcher and flamethrower. You’ll spend most of the game shooting, running, and dodging until the credits roll.
Beyond replacing the top-down fixed camera angle of the original and limited shooting mechanics for an over-the-shoulder system, Sataka also focused on improving the pace of the story, the character designs, and the scope of the environments, according to Fabiano.
“The director wanted to be able to tell one consistent story this time around. We were able to better develop characterizations, especially in the relationship between Jill and Carlos. In addition, we expanded upon the look and feel of Raccoon City itself. It’s almost like its own character in the game, beginning to fall apart but still holding on to bright areas of life.”
While the original was designed to feel like a more open-world experience largely set in the streets and varied locations of Raccoon City, as opposed to the haunted house-like environments of the first two games, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis feels pretty cramped by today’s standards. At times, its cluttered, apocalyptic streets still feel like the long hallways of the Spencer Mansion. With the remake, Capcom wanted to get closer to the original team’s vision of a more open Resident Evil.
