The PlayStation 1 was home to some of the most influential video games of all time. From fighting games likeTekken, to sports games likeTony Hawk’s Pro Skater, tomascot platformers likeSpyroandCrash Bandicoot, to sprawling RPGs likeFinal 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 originalResident Evilwas another iconic example.
Released in 1996, the firstResident Evilis 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 originalResident Eviland 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.
PlayStation Should Follow in Resident Evil’s PC Gaming Footsteps
The Original Resident Evil Trilogy is Now Available on GOG
While the 2015 remaster of the originalResident Evilhas 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 theoriginal 1996 PC version ofResident Evilto 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 addedResident Evil 2to join its older sibling. Once again, this port of the game tried to replicate the original 1998Resident Evil 2experience 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: Nemesisjoined the GOG party, meaning that the originalResident Eviltrilogy 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 originalResident Eviltrilogy 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 originalResident Evilgames 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 the1990sResident Eviltrilogycome to the PS5 via PlayStation Plus and its Premium tier. The firstResident Evilgame 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 originalResident Evil 2and3should offer the boost that PS Plus' Premium tier needs.
Thanks to Capcom’s recent remakes,theResident Evilfranchisehas garnered quite a few new fans, many of whom have never played the original games. IfResident Evil 2and3joinedResident Evil 1on 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.
Resident Evil 2
WHERE TO PLAY
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?
