Capcom may be planning to release a brand new remake of the very first Resident Evil game, based on a new listing.
According to a listing on Justia, a new version of the first Resident Evil is in development, suggesting that it may be a full fledged remake. Resident Evil had previously been given the remastered treatment, with HD textures and other graphical improvements. However, it wasn’t a remake in the same vein as ones that Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 have received.
The high-definition version, Resident Evil HD Remaster, was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One in January 2015. The HD version features 5.1 surround sound support, a 1080p resolution, and a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The backgrounds were originally pre-rendered in a 4:3 format, but the designers decided against re-rendering them in a 16:9 format because doing so would let players see more of the surrounding area than was intended and lessen the immersion and danger.
In order to accommodate the widescreen aspect ratio of the remaster, the developers added vertical scrolling to the backgrounds, which react to the movement of the character. Players could now move their characters in the direction of the analogue stick thanks to a new control system.
The remaster was a commercial success, breaking sales records. It became the biggest launch title for the PlayStation Network and Capcom’s fastest-selling digital title in North America and Europe. By April 2015, the remaster had sold more than one million copies, according to Capcom. Resident Evil Zero also received a similar remaster in 2015 as a result of the commercial success of the Resident Evil HD Remaster.
The remaster received mostly favorable reviews from the critics. However, some critics pointed out that certain aspects that hadn’t aged well, such as the inventory system and the requirement to revisit previously explored areas. That said, the new control layout was thought to be more satisfying and intuitive, especially for new players.
