Resident Evil

It's clear from the start that, without a doubt, this is the best version of Resident Evil out there. While some of the game's legacy design choices may be hard to stomach in 2015, Capcom has ensured this gothic horror adventure is more approachable than ever before. By adding a no tank-control option and new Very Easy mode for newcomers, there is no longer any excuse to let this survival horror classic shamble on by.

It may seem like an old reviewer's cop-out to say it, but Resident Evil is a game you will either love or hate. You will either love it for the new ground it breaks and the way that it's been rescripted to scare old fans anew, or you will begrudge its retreading of a tiresome and irritating path to the point that its unparalleled visuals mean virtually nothing. For me, it's a shockingly scary game which really keeps your heart pounding, besmirched by only a degree of old-hattedness. Have no fear though, ...

In many ways, the first Resident Evil is – and can only ever be – a product of its time. Even when tuned and honed and buffed to perfection, it has its own idiosyncratic personality and ways; change them and you change the game. Cumbersome and horrifying in equal measure, it refuses to let you have your brains and eat them, so while series veterans will know what to expect, new players should prepare themselves for a schooling in game mechanics which have largely fallen out of fashion. Context is essential, then, but the Switch port shows this classic at its absolute best and there’s arguably ...

I love coming back to Resident Evil, and this version does a good job of updating the look and feel of an old game for a modern audience. Some of the older visual flaws detract from the experience and pulled me out of tense moments, but the gameplay hooked me right back in. Resident Evil relies on atmosphere, tough limitations, and danger creeping around all corners, and this port recaptures the formula of a classic, relentless survival-horror game.

The Resident Evil "REmake" is frequently offered as an example of just how fantastic the series was back in the day. With its stunning visuals, impressive additions, and less embarrassing opening cutscene, it's easy to forget that this enhanced version of the survival horror classic sold well under two million copies on the GameCube. However, now that Capcom's giving it a second shot – and on more than one platform – it may spell a resurgence for the popular update. But does it live up to its reputation – even over a decade later?

Resident Evil still holds up after 13 years as a masterclass in survival horror, this HD remaster making it utterly essential once more.

The PlayStation survival horror classic makes an unlikely appearance on the DS, complete with some surprising new twists and all of the original's memorable scares.