An HD remaster of Shinji Mikami’s 1996 survival horror classic, Resident Evil, is set for download-only release on January 20, 2015. It will be available for $20 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xb0x One.
The PS4 and XB1 versions sport a 1080p resolution, while PS3 and X360 feature 720p, both of which promise a drastic improvement over the original, which released in an era before high definition displays. Windows users of course have a range of visual options to suit their machine. The update also includes improved lighting and multiple control style options.
You play as either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, elite operatives investigating the disappearance of their fellow team members in a zombie-infested mansion at the outskirts of Raccoon City. In the process of exploring the mansion, the player solves puzzles, uncovers clues, and gets attacked by zombified Rottweilers and other horrors of mad science. Player actions alter the plot, leading to a range of different endings.
The original Resident Evil was a defining game for the survival horror genre, and has since spawned five numbered sequels, a host of spin-offs, and a series of films and other media. It was also one of the most important games of Sony’s first PlayStation console, which turned 20 on December 3, 2014.