Platform Evaluated: PC (GOG)
PC Specs: Ryzen 5 9600X | XFX Radeon RX 9070 | 32GB DDR5 RAM | 1440p Ultrawide (4:3 Pillarboxed)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 22, 1996 (PlayStation), June 26, 2024 (GOG release)
MSRP: $9.99
Recommended Version: GOG
Editor’s Note: Copy Purchased by Reviewer
Overview
After a string of bizarre murders in Raccoon City, the R.P.D.’s S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team is sent to the city’s outskirts to investigate, only to vanish into the Arklay Mountains. Alpha Team is dispatched on a simple rescue mission, but after a terrifying attack forces them into an isolated mansion, their assignment devolves into a living nightmare.
Visuals & Technical Performance
While the visuals clearly hail from the mid-90s, the presentation has aged with a unique atmospheric charm, particularly the pre-rendered background art, which holds up remarkably well on modern displays.
The GOG release runs smoothly out of the box with zero technical hiccups. On modern 1440p ultrawide displays, the GOG wrapper cleanly handles the native 4:3 aspect ratio using side pillarboxing. Active gameplay runs at a consistent 30 FPS, which is fantastic performance for a classic 32-bit PS1-era title. Modern players will also appreciate seamless controller support, which natively detects Xbox Series X/S and PS5 DualSense gamepads out of the box without requiring third-party mapping software. Crucially, this port includes the uncut live-action opening video and uncensored in-game gore, giving Western players the complete, unedited release.
Gameplay & Core Mechanics
The core gameplay remains a masterclass in foundational survival horror, built around tight inventory management, exploration, puzzle solving, and careful resource conservation. The fixed camera angles create genuine tension; hearing a zombie shuffle or moan around a blind corner before you can see it is a timeless mechanic.
The boss encounters are arguably the easiest and least threatening in the entire franchise, but the general enemy variety keeps the mansion dangerous. The puzzles hold up well, and the overall gameplay loop remains incredibly satisfying.
Story, Lore, & Worldbuilding
The narrative setup is top-notch. What starts as an isolated rescue operation quickly expands into a corporate biohazard conspiracy, pieced together through discoverable journals and file notes scattered across the estate.
However, the experience is noticeably hampered by its rushed 1996 localization. Beyond awful dialogue, the written text suffers from laughable translation errors. This includes referring to the standard semi-automatic 9mm Beretta pistol as an “automatic,” or mislabeling the grenade launcher as a “Bazooka.” These quirks undercut the tone, but they remain a fascinating artifact of early Japanese-to-English game translation.
Audio, Sound Design, & Music
The vast majority of the soundtrack is fantastic, delivering eerie tracks and dread-inducing ambient pieces that sell the mansion’s isolation. Environmental audio, weapon fire, and enemy sounds are all punchy and effective.
Unfortunately, the voice acting remains notoriously terrible. While a segment of the fan base views this with nostalgic fondness as a “B-movie homage,” this was never Capcom’s intent; it was simply the result of an unrefined translation and hiring local, inexperienced voice talent in Japan. It unintentionally hampers the tension.
Value & Replayability
Replay value is great. Playing as Chris Redfield delivers a “Hard Mode” experience with restricted inventory space and tougher encounters, while Jill Valentine offers an “Easy Mode” route equipped with the lockpick and additional inventory slots. Both campaigns feature distinct character interactions, multiple story endings, and unlockables.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Satisfying Gameplay Loop: The foundational survival horror mechanics of inventory management and spatial navigation hold up brilliantly.
Excellent GOG Optimization: Modern controller support (Xbox Series X/S, PS5 DualSense), 4:3 pillarboxing, and uncut FMVs make this the definitive PC release.
Atmospheric Visuals: Pre-rendered backgrounds age gracefully and preserve classic 90s aesthetic charm.
Atmospheric Soundtrack: Iconic ambient music that builds incredible tension throughout the mansion.
Strong Replayability: Two distinct character routes, branching scenarios, multiple endings, and unlockables.
Cons
Terrible Voice Acting & Localization: Flat delivery and translation errors (”automatic” Beretta, “Bazooka”) undermine the horror atmosphere.
Lackluster Boss Encounters: Some of the simplest and least threatening boss fights in the series.
Original instead of Director’s Cut: It’s a shame the game is the original and not the refined Director’s Cut.
Verdict & Paladin Index Scorecard
Back in the late 90s, after playing Resident Evil 2, I played Resident Evil, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While it lacks the mechanical refinement and polish of its legendary sequel, exploring the mansion remains a thrill to this day. The terrible voice acting and stiff dialogue hurt the tension, but the core game design, resource management, and worldbuilding are undeniably brilliant.
It is a slight shame the GOG release is based on the 1996 original rather than the Director’s Cut, missing out on Arranged Mode, the custom handgun with headshot criticals, and alternate enemy placements, but this remains an outstanding preservation release. For survival horror enthusiasts and franchise fans, the original Resident Evil on GOG enshrines itself as an absolute classic that deserves a spot in your horror library.
While GOG deserves massive praise for keeping these PC versions preserved and playable on modern hardware, Capcom should really give the original Resident Evil trilogy the official HD Remaster treatment on modern consoles. Since Resident Evil is Capcom’s flagship franchise, they should follow the blueprint established by their Devil May Cry and Onimusha HD collections. Updating the visual presentation and adding native trophy and achievement support would be the ultimate love letter to survival horror fans who want to experience where it all began. Regardless, this is a strong recommendation.