Many games from the 90s are still incredibly fun to play today. There is no reason why they shouldn’t be. Just like movies from 30 or 40 years ago can still be watched without any problem, the same goes for video games. They may have had different design ideas, different limitations, but that doesn’t mean they are outdated or surpassed. And the first three Resident Evil games prove that perfectly.
Recently, a age rating leak hinted that the first Resident Evil was going to be released in its original 1996 version for PC. And that’s exactly what happened. But those who were expecting a release on Steam will be disappointed. GOG, the digital store for preserving old games from the creators of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, has made the game’s port. They have it exclusively, with numerous improvements, to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible on modern PCs.
Of course, the good news doesn’t end here. The entire Resident Evil franchise revolutionized the survival horror genre, something we will be able to experience throughout 2024. Because GOG has confirmed that Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis will also be available on the platform this year, being available for all PC players. Offering us an experience exactly like the original, but without frame drops or texture loading issues.
While it is true that all three games have remakes, these ports were really necessary as a preservation and accessibility measure. Although the first Resident Evil is accessible on PlayStation Plus and its remake is quite faithful to the original, it was not available as a standalone download on any service. In the case of its second and third installments, their remakes were much more divergent and, furthermore, they are currently absolutely impossible to play legally, at least until GOG publishes them on their platform.
If you are interested in knowing more, the youtuber Suzi Hunter, better known as TheSphereHunter, has made a promotional video about the importance of the franchise where she has spoken with the technical producer and the business development manager of GOG. Resident Evil is now available for €9.99 and also in a bundle with its two sequels for €24.99.
