Resident Evil 3remake is set to release this April, which isthe latest title in the originalREtrilogyto get a remake. However, aside from zombies and other monsters, the first threeResident Evilgames had something else in common given that they all took place in Raccoon City, or at least in its outskirts as is the case in the firstResident Evil. ThroughoutResident Evil’s23-year history, Raccoon City has been re-imagined countless times, but how willResident Evil 3remake portray the doomed city?
In 2019’s remake ofResident Evil 2, players were given a glimpse of what it’s like to roam the zombie-infested streets of Raccoon City. However, given that the game mostly took place insidethe Raccoon City police station, sewer, and Umbrella laboratory, players weren’t really able to see just how bad the outbreak hit the once peaceful community. In 1999’sResident Evil 3,players were able to see more of Raccoon City, but due to hardware limitations at that time, the city mostly comprised of narrow alleyways and out of place doors.
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Now, with today’s modern gaming technology, video game developers are able to create realistic and expansive worlds that players can explore and interact with. Speaking to the Official Xbox Magazine, game producer Peter Fabiano revealed that Raccoon City inResident Evil 3remake will be bigger than ever. With all the exciting new information that has been revealed so far about the game, here are all the reasons whyResident Evil 3remake’s map may just be far more impressive than the original.
Resident Evil 3 Will Allow Players To Explore More of Raccoon City
Of course, apart from a massive visual upgrade, Raccoon City inResident Evil 3remake will be more expansive, encouraging players to savor the city in ruins. However, Fabiano clarified that while players can do a little bit of exploration,Resident Evil 3remake is not an open-world game. The upcoming title will still follow a strictly linear progression, but players can enter some shops and buildings and even interact with a few items in the game, which is something that cannot be done in the 1999 title.
There will also be multiple routes that Jill can take to reach her objective, which will give players a chance to strategize which path would be the safest to take, especially when Nemesis can just pop in at any moment. Moreover, the city will remain recognizable to fans but will obviously be richer in detail and will employ a faithful ’90s aesthetic.
There Is Fast Travel, Sort of
Given that players will be exploring Raccoon City itself rather than just one building, the remake will be introducing some sort of a fast travel system for players to get around the city. It appears thatJill Valentinewill be able to utilize the subway system to visit various areas of the city, and the subway will be serving as some sort of a hub connecting the game’s many locations. This feature is not present in the original 1999 title, although players were able to access a cable car. However, the cable car would only take them straight to the Clock Tower before it gets destroyed for good.
Raccoon City Will Feature Tons of References From The Original
Apart from the many new changes that will be introduced inResident Evil 3remake’s Raccoon City, it appears that Capcom is also committed to making the town feel familiar to fans who have played the original game. Fabiano revealed that there will be tons ofeaster eggslying around the city, and some eagle-eyed fans have already identified a few based on recent trailers and gameplay footage of the upcoming game.
One returning location that players will be able to explore is the Stagla gas station from the 1999 game.Resident Evil 3veterans would remember that it is in the gas station where the oil can be found, which has to be mixed with an oil additive before it can be used to restart the cable car. Players would also remember that immediately after leaving the area, the gas station would blow up, and it will be interesting to see whether this will also happen in the remake.
Apart from the Stagla gas station, some players also identified other easter eggs in the remake such as unique markings on the floor, and various posters that were featured in the original. One such poster promotes an upcoming performance of the Big E band, which players can find in one of the alleyways of the original game. These small details show just how dedicated Capcom is in revitalizing Raccoon City by making it bigger and more alive while making it feel familiar at the same time.
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Resident Evil 3’s Environment Offers New Way to Combat Enemies
Another feature that will be returning inResident Evil 3is the explosive items that are scattered all around Raccoon City, as confirmed inthe gameplay preview. Just like in the original game, these explosive items will help players curb the threat of the infected or temporarily slow down Nemesis. It is currently unclear how diverse these explosive items will be in the remake, but the original game included red barrels, wall bombs, and even street lights. So far, we’ve seen the return of red barrels and the addition of electrical generators, but it is interesting to see whether Capcom will add more of these explosive items in the remake.
Additionally, thesered barrels and electrical generatorswould also give players a chance to strategize their use. Should players use the red barrel now to kill a few zombies, or would it be better to save it for later when Nemesis shows up? This returning feature definitely adds another layer to the game’s survival-horror mechanic where resource management is king.
Overall, it is evident based on recent information released thatResident Evil 3’s map will be much more expansive than its original counterpart. Given this, it is interesting to see whether the more vibrant Raccoon City would also bring additional storylines that could center around other characters such as Brad Vickers, Mikhail Viktor, Dario Rosso, or even perhaps other unknown citizens of the doomed city. Luckily, players will soon be able to experience Raccoon City themselves witha playableResident Evil 3demo coming out soon, followed by the game’s release date shortly after.
Resident Evil 3is scheduled to release on July 18, 2025, for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
