On RE2 Week, Resident Evil 2 turns 21 Years Old!

It's truly hard to imagine that come a few days from now, the long awaited remake of Resident Evil 2 will finally hit current generation consoles and PC - bringing a newly reimagined version of the title to gamers from this generation and those who grew up with the original. Speaking of that - today marks the 21st anniversary of the release of "Resident Evil 2" for the original Sony Playstation. On this January 21st in 1998 - gamers finally got the long awaited follow-up to the 1996 classic that helped redefine horror and adventure into a new genre called "Survival Horror" and sprucing things up by not only putting its setting in a city plagued by the undead, but by adding more replay value and mechanics that greatly improved upon its predecessor.


Known as "Bio Hazard 2" in Japan, RE2 was in development immediately after the release of the first game - but went through a hard development process that ultimately say Capcom dissatisfied with the first build of the sequel (leading to it being scrapped and called "Resident Evil 1.5" by fans). Eventually the team decided to start from scratch and move the release date forward to January of 1998, and that gample paid off with the Resident Evil 2 we all know and love from time and memorial. That game became the best selling game in a single platform, and would sell 4.96 Million copies on Playstation.

The game - focusing on an RPD rookie cop named Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, the younger sister of RE1 lead Chris Redfield, would see both playable characters enter Raccoon City just as the zombie outbreak commenced - forcing both to find shelter in the Raccoon City Police Department. Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse as the city is all but dead and overrun, and the survivors look for a way to escape while also discovering at the same time the secrets and people behind the chaos unleashed in The Umbrella Corporation.

Resident Evil 2 Commercial by George A. Romero
So even until this day, Resident Evil 2 remains a product of its time yet is beholden by many as one of the best Survival Horror games and sequels ever produced. That legacy is what drove many fans to request a remake after the success of the 2002 Resident Evil Remake - and that time is now with the upcoming release of Resident Evil 2 (2019). I along with the rest of the world cannot wait to see what lies in store with the new reimagining of a classic.

And here I am all celebratory and prepared for the new remake. HAPPY 21 YEARS, RESIDENT EVIL 2!