Why Classic Resident Evil Fans Should Keep an Eye on Phase…

The first few Resident Evil games are beloved for a reason. Though their gameplay and visuals might feel and look a little dated now – almost 30 years after their initial release – that doesn't take away from the monumental impact the classic Resident Evil entries had on the gaming landscape, with them essentially popularizing the survival horror genre as fans know it today.

Though the Resident Evil remakes have done a great job of modernizing the classic franchise formula, they're obviously quite a departure from the original thing. For an experience more closely aligned with Resident Evil and other classic 90s horror games, fans need only look to the indie scene, where games like Phase Zero are offering a more traditional survival horror adventure.

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By Liam Ferguson

Resident Evil Fans Need to Keep Phase Zero On Their Radar

How Phase Zero Captures The Spirit of Classic Resident Evil

Being developed by Warsaw-located SPINA Studio, Phase Zero is an indie horror game that's currently in the works for PC. Phase Zero's Steam page describes the upcoming game as a "modern reimagining of the survival horror golden era classics," and its reveal trailer and confirmed features paint that picture clearly.

The most overt feature that immediately ties Phase Zero to classic Resident Evil games is its overall presentation. With its 32-bit character models, 3D pre-rendered environmental backdrops, and its darker lighting, Phase Zero captures the aesthetic of PS1-era horror games perfectly. These visuals should go hand-in-hand with Phase Zero's static, "curated" camera angles, and its retro audio effects and soundtrack.

Phase Zero's setting and premise also take clear inspiration from Resident Evil, as well as t he original Silent Hill. Phase Zero will see players take control of Guy and Mary, dual protagonists who need to survive a chaotic night in Flint Peak, a post-industrial harbor town that's been suddenly struck by a mysterious illness that's creating "grotesque" mutant monsters and zombies.

Though a full gameplay deep-dive hasn't been given just yet, Phase Zero's reveal trailer did showcase some familiar mechanics, and the game's Steam page says it features the "DNA of the PSX masterpieces." Players can expect staple survival horror mechanics like weapon and ammo scavenging and puzzle-solving to be present.

Phase Zero Will Be The Latest in a Long Line of Throwback Indie Games

While it looks to be offering a wholly unique experience, Phase Zero is the latest in a long line of recent indie games that have been loving homages to PS1-era horror. The last year has seen excellent indies like Crow Country, Fear the Spotlight, and Mouthwashing release, all of which were designed to hearken back to the survival horror genre's 90s roots. SPINA isn't even the only indie Polish studio with a throwback horror game in development, with Sonka's Holstin also on the way.

There's clearly a strong market for these classic survival horror experiences, and Phase Zero is already seeing the fruits of its hard work, achieving over 10,000 wish lists in the week following its announcement. There's no confirmed release date for Phase Zero yet, but a playable demo is said to be "coming real soon," according to the developers.

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