The early 2000s were a fantastic time for fans of *Resident Evil*. After the release of *Resident Evil 3: Nemesis* in 1999, Capcom was experimenting and trying new things with the survival horror genre, leading to excellent games like *Resident Evil – Code: Veronica* and the *Resident Evil 1 Remake*. Then came the groundbreaking *Resident Evil 4* in 2005, which completely wowed players with its innovative gameplay. Not every attempt was a success – some games, like *Resident Evil: Dead Aim*, didn’t quite live up to expectations. *Resident Evil Outbreak* falls into this category, but it’s surprisingly good considering the technology available at the time. Sadly, Capcom’s ambitious online cooperative game was ahead of its time and didn’t receive the recognition it deserved.
Resident Evil Outbreak Was a Great Game at the Wrong Time
Resident Evil Outbreak was an early attempt to create a multiplayer survival horror game on the PlayStation 2. It used Sony’s new online service, which launched in North America in 2002, a year before the game came out. Online console gaming was still very new and undeveloped at that time.
Despite its potential, *Outbreak* faced significant challenges. Many PlayStation 2 owners didn’t have the necessary adapter to play online, and even those who did experienced problems with poor connection quality and the absence of voice chat in 2003. To make matters worse, players in Europe and other PAL regions couldn’t access the online features at all, which hindered the game’s success in those areas.
Despite its flaws, *Outbreak* was a solid game. It successfully brought the gameplay style of the *Resident Evil Remake* to the PlayStation 2, which was significant since the remake was originally only available on the GameCube. The game also featured eight playable characters, each with unique abilities.
Each character has unique abilities. Kevin Ryman deals extra damage with quick shots, while David King can fix and craft weapons with collected materials. Jim Chapman has a risky skill – he can feign death to avoid zombies, but he gets infected more quickly as a result.
The interactions between the eight characters made every situation thrilling. There are five different scenarios to experience, each with unique goals. While it might seem simple by today’s standards, when *Outbreak* was released in 2003, it felt like a fresh and innovative take on the survival horror genre.
Although *Outbreak* was successful enough to receive an expansion in 2004, it always seemed like a game that came out before its time. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it likely would have been more popular if internet connections were faster and online voice communication was more common.
Resident Evil Outbreak Deserves a Remake
Capcom hasn’t forgotten about *Outbreak*, and they’re proving it with a new game, *Resident Evil Requiem*. This game will feature the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft, a character from *Outbreak*. Capcom previously mentioned Alyssa in *Resident Evil 7*, showing they’ve been considering her story for a while.
Considering this, now could be a great time for Capcom to revive *Outbreak*. They’ve experimented with multiplayer *Resident Evil* games over the past ten years, with mixed results. While *Resident Evil: Resistance* and *Re:Verse* each had some players, they didn’t quite capture the true *Resident Evil* feel and were ultimately abandoned, even by dedicated fans.
Outbreak felt like a traditional Resident Evil game, but it allowed players to team up. Considering how popular the Resident Evil remakes have been lately, Capcom should consider giving this beloved, but lesser-known, title a modern makeover.
This game is well-made, and including the expansion would give players a lot to do. Capcom could even generate extra revenue by selling additional characters and storylines as microtransactions. While success isn’t certain, *Outbreak* would likely be much more successful if released today than it was back in 2003.
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2025-10-20 18:14