PlayStation Should Honor One Series’ Roots By Following its PC Gaming Footsteps

The PlayStation 1 was home to some of the most influential video games of all time. From fighting games like Tekken, to sports games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, to mascot platformers like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, to sprawling RPGs like Final Fantasy 7, the original PlayStation had countless acclaimed titles that made the console a must-have for any gaming enthusiasts back in the 1990s. The original Resident Evil was another iconic example.

Released in 1996, the first Resident Evil is widely considered to be one of the most influential horror games of all time, being one of the first pioneers of the survival horror genre and a major cause for the rise in popularity of zombie-based video games. The original Resident Evil and its two sequels are regarded as some of the PS1’s best offerings, and it’s about time the original games came to modern consoles, just as they’ve recently come to PC.

The Original Resident Evil Trilogy is Now Available on GOG

While the 2015 remaster of the original Resident Evil has been available on PC platforms like Steam since its launch, there was no way fans could officially purchase or play the original 1996 version of the game on PC. That is, until earlier this year. Back in June, GOG added the original 1996 PC version of Resident Evil to its store page, promising a completely authentic experience, with the only changes being improved compatibility and a handful of quality-of-life improvements like controller support.

Towards the end of August, GOG added Resident Evil 2 to join its older sibling. Once again, this port of the game tried to replicate the original 1998 Resident Evil 2 experience as closely as possible, again only providing a handful of quality-of-life changes that don’t really affect the core gameplay too much. At the end of September, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis joined the GOG party, meaning that the original Resident Evil trilogy is now officially available in its entirety on PC, something that hasn’t been the case for decades.

The Original Resident Evil Games Should Come to PlayStation Plus

While it’s great to finally have the original Resident Evil trilogy available on PC in an official capacity, it’d be even greater to see the classic games come to consoles, specifically the PlayStation 5. The original Resident Evil games were some of the most influential titles on the PS1, and though they launched on other platforms, they’re often synonymous with Sony’s first console.

To celebrate that shared legacy, it’d be great to see the 1990s Resident Evil trilogy come to the PS5 via PlayStation Plus and its Premium tier. The first Resident Evil game was a major draw for PS Plus’ Premium tier when it launched in 2022, and the subscription service’s most expensive tier could use another boost right now. Ports of the original Resident Evil 2 and 3 should offer the boost that PS Plus’ Premium tier needs.

Thanks to Capcom’s recent remakes, the Resident Evil franchise has garnered quite a few new fans, many of whom have never played the original games. If Resident Evil 2 and 3 joined Resident Evil 1 on PS Plus, it would give new fans an easy way to access these classic PlayStation experiences and see how they compare to their modern remakes.

The genre-defining masterpiece Resident Evil 2 returns, completely rebuilt from the ground up for a deeper narrative experience. Using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine, Resident Evil 2 offers a fresh take on the classic survival horror saga with breathtakingly realistic visuals, heart-pounding immersive audio, a new over-the-shoulder camera, and modernized controls on top of gameplay modes from the original game.

In Resident Evil 2, the classic action, tense exploration, and puzzle solving gameplay that defined the Resident Evil series returns. Players join rookie police officer Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield, who are thrust together by a disastrous outbreak in Raccoon City that transformed its population into deadly zombies. Both Leon and Claire have their own separate playable campaigns, allowing players to see the story from both characters’ perspectives. The fate of these two fan favorite characters is in players hands as they work together to survive and get to the bottom of what is behind the terrifying attack on the city. Will they make it out alive?

Released

January 25, 2019

Engine

RE Engine

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence

How Long To Beat

9 Hours

X|S Optimized

Yes

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

File Size Xbox Series

23 GB (January 2024)

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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