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Third time the charm?

Back in May I wrote about Capcom´s upcoming HD remastered edition of Resident Evil Zero, so it´s been quite a while since I wrote anything new about RE0: HDR. Well, it´s time for a “little” update now, since Capcom has released a new video (and information) about RE0: HDR. For starters, it´s been 15 years since I’ve seen the Resident Evil N64 prototype video (it was originally shown at TGS around 2000 sometime). So that was a really pleasant retro flashback for me. However, as we all know by now, Capcom scrapped the N64 edition and brought the game to the Gamecube instead (RE 0 got released to Gamecube back in 2002).

This is what the Resident evil Zero prototype (2000, TGS) looked like on the N64

To be honest, I think that Capcom made the right decision to do so though, as Gamecube was the superior console between the two (N64 Vs GC), at least when it comes to hardware muscles and specs. Still, It´s hard to tell which game that would have been the best one though, as the N64 version was just a short prototype build (the game was never ever completed or released). Anyhow, this is what Capcom had to say about their “Resident Evil 0 – Prototype to HD Remaster” video:

“Resident Evil 0 is an HD remaster of the 2002 classic. However, a prototype of the game was originally created in 1999, with one show at TGS before production was switched to a new console generation in 2000.” – Capcom

The Gamecube edition of Resident Evil Zero got released back in 2002.

Shinji Mikami never liked Rebecca Chambers

I have watched the video, and I have to say that I’m rather impressed when it comes to the graphical facelift of Resident Evil Zero (the difference is like night and day in comparison). However, it remains to be seen if Capcom has added some more gameplay value, new features, and surprises (pleasant as unpleasant) to the game. Speaking of surprises, I had no idea that Shinji Mikami (the father of Resident Evil, and the original game director of Resident Evil Zero) disliked Rebecca Chambers, nor that he was against the idea of adding her to the game (the staff wanted Chambers in the game, Shinji didn’t). In fact, this is what Shinji Mikami said about Rebecca Chambers back in 2014:

“If I had to name the woman character I most disliked in my games it would be Rebecca Chambers. She’s submissive, she’s not independent. I didn’t want to include her but the staff wanted that kind of character in the game, for whatever reason. I’m sure it made sense to them. And in Japan, that character is pretty popular.” – Shinji Mikami, the original game director of Resident Evil Zero

I agree with Shinji for most part, since I never really liked the fact that Capcom portrayed Rebecca Chambers as a vulnerable, immature crybaby. I know that Chambers was just 18 years old in Resident Evil 1 (and RE0 takes place before RE1), still, Capcom could have made her independent like Heather from Silent Hill 3 for example. Oh well, one can only hope that Capcom has tuned down those “aspects” a bit in RE0: HDR.

There´s a huge difference between the RE 0 prototype, the original and the HD remastered edition.

Ayumi Hamasaki is Rebecca Chambers, and Rebecca Chambers is Ayumi Hamasaki?

One more funny thing that I’ve learned today, did you know that Rebecca Chambers character was based on the J-pop star Ayumi Hamasaki? In fact, Hamasaki was even the spokeswoman for Resident Evil Zero in Japan. I had no idea (whatsoever) to be honest. I don´t mind though, as I’m a huge fan of miss Hamasaki (and her music). So I find that to be pretty cool at least, I don´t know if Hamasaki will be the spokeswoman for RE0:HDR though. I guess that we will find out at the very start of 2016, because that´s when the game gets released to Windows, PS3, PS4, 360 and Xbox One.