Is this game supposed to be this annoying? (rant/help)

[Gozkiel]

I'm new to the RE franchise and I've decided to play this as my entry point but I can't help but get annoyed with the game design. The inventory slot is so limited even with two characters that I end up leaving things on the ground and coming back to it later all the while waiting for the door open slowly each time I enter a new room. It's also really easy to pick up the wrong item when they're next to each other or outright miss them on the 1st and 2nd attempt.

I've come to a point where I'm more stressed about managing the items around the map than dealing with the enemies. I'm no longer immersed and can't even enjoy getting through the game knowing most of my effort has gone to tolerating the game design than actually using skill or problem solving. I've just finished the train sequence and I don't even have the motivation to continue. I did go around and explored the building just to scope the size of it but lost all hope when I found the map.

You guys got any tips and tricks to make this experience more enjoyable? I'm already looking into the door mod to make navigation a lot faster. I'm also thinking of playing and finishing RE1 first instead of this.

[Andremdk]

12 slots in your inventory isn't that bad, just try and only keep stuff you think you really should need for the moment. Trying to carry everything all the time isn't recommended, there won't be space for every item at the same time.

Managing items is part of your survival.

Door skip mod is welcome, but I don't know if it conflicts with achievements.

RE0 happens before 1, but you need to play RE1 first because of the lore and it is an easier game too. Save RE0 for when you finish RE1.

[rarestMeow]

Originally posted by Gozvern:

I'm new to the RE franchise and I've decided to play this as my entry point but I can't help but get annoyed with the game design.

that is your mistake, anon

Resident Evil Zero is the game for the veterans of genre, and was designed to be as obtuse and annoying as possible. you picked the wrong game to start the franchise

play Resident Evil Remake - it is more a novice-friendly experience

no patronizing or condescending, anon, you just made a bad choice to play Zero first

if you are familiar with emulators then play Resident Evil Code Veronica from Dreamcast or PS2 - arguably the best designed old-school Resident Evil game. original Resident Evil 2 on PSX comes very close (and even better in some regards). but Zero is just wrong game to start with. it will deal nothing but headaches

Originally posted by Gozvern:

I'm also thinking of playing and finishing RE1 first instead of this.

best choice, imho, Zero sucks ass anyway

Originally posted by Gozvern:

I'm already looking into the door mod to make navigation a lot faster.

check this
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Resident_Evil_Zero_HD_Remaster#Essential_improvements

Originally posted by Gozvern:

IIs this game supposed to be this annoying?

yes

[Lanzagranadas]

You're not supposed to start with RE0. This game was mainly designed as an extra challenge for people who were already experienced and very familiar with all the classic RE tropes. Once you're already experienced with the basic RE formula, learning what RE0 adds isn't too complicated.

It's not a good starting point, because trying to learn the classic RE formula while also learning RE0's own twists and additions on top of that is too much. It's called RE0 because plot-wise it's a RE1 prequel, but it was actually the fifth released classic RE game.

[Gozkiel]

Originally posted by Lanzagranadas:

It's not a good starting point, because trying to learn the classic RE formula while also learning RE0's own twists and additions on top of that is too much. It's called RE0 because plot-wise it's a RE1 prequel, but it was actually the fifth released classic RE game.

Originally posted by rarestMeow:

that is your mistake, anon

Resident Evil Zero is the game for the veterans of genre, and was designed to be as obtuse and annoying as possible. you picked the wrong game to start the franchise

play Resident Evil Remake - it is more a novice-friendly experience

no patronizing or condescending, anon, you just made a bad choice to play Zero first

Thanks for the information too, no wonder it felt so tedious. I'll go with RE1 first then and return to this in the future.

[Hux]

The classic RE are puzzle games. Every part of the game is a puzzle, including inventory management. If you don't like the style, you probably won't enjoy RE1 remak/remaster either or any of the other classics.

[Gozkiel]

Originally posted by Hux:

The classic RE are puzzle games. Every part of the game is a puzzle, including inventory management. If you don't like the style, you probably won't enjoy RE1 remak/remaster either or any of the other classics.

It's not the puzzle that's the problem, it's the tedious effort to make the game design of inventory management work. It's like playing chess but the bane of playing is lifting the piece from the board.

Just started RE1 and I think there's been less items to juggle around and the storage compartment proved to useful. I think my issue with RE0 is really just the unfamiliar controls combined with the items having to be placed on the ground which makes picking things up so frustrating.

[Hux]

Originally posted by Gozvern:

Originally posted by Hux:

The classic RE are puzzle games. Every part of the game is a puzzle, including inventory management. If you don't like the style, you probably won't enjoy RE1 remak/remaster either or any of the other classics.

It's not the puzzle that's the problem, it's the tedious effort to make the game design of inventory management work. It's like playing chess but the bane of playing is lifting the piece from the board.

Just started RE1 and I think there's been less items to juggle around and the storage compartment proved to useful. I think my issue with RE0 is really just the unfamiliar controls combined with the items having to be placed on the ground which makes picking things up so frustrating.

I know what you mean. You do get used to it though. I tried it again about 6 months ago and enjoyed it more than ever. I just enjoy the planning and making choices, but of course I've played it quite a few times so I have at least a rough idea what to do. It is a challenge :)

[Unseen]

Re0 is like re1 lost levels. It’s re1 but challenge amped. I enjoyed it however on the hardest difficulty from what I remember that last boss was ridiculous and unbeatable. Well for me anyway maybe I didn’t conserve my resources right. This and re1 are the only res I want on steam cause they are true horror classics. Could care less for streamlined remakes.

[That one Jawa]

RE zero is a very challenging game. It seems to aim at just making your time more annoying than anything. Its not that bosses or puzzles etc are particularly hard, its more that everything just feels like a ball ache to do because you have 2 characters to keep an eye on, limited space and constant backtracking in a bad kind of way. for me I am at the end of my first playthrough now and died at what was supposed to be the final boss fight. ANNOYINGLY I saved just before the second tyrant fight and now I lost over an hour of progress. How the hell was I supposed to know a boss fight was there and why no save right before it like the other bosses? My opinion they planned it and wanted you to do this so you either got lucky and won or had to start over again.

Seriously wanted to like this game since it has some really cool elements but my god everytime I start enjoying it the game does something to test my patience. I thought RE HD was hard but it was fair. So were the other games. But this just feels like an otherwise easy game stretched out by constant double backtracking (since you need to move 2 people around and both need or are at least safer to be in other areas) and awkward camera angles on boss fights which again was NOT a problem with RE 1

[Unseen]

Re1 is a true classic just purchased it for the nostalgia. I completed everything in 1 back on gc including the 2 hour hard run for the unlimited rocket. 1 is hard but fair because it’s not based on agonizing gameplay but tactics and placement. 0 is the exact opposite although I still love 0 and I’ll probably get it next. I could never fully complete 0 on gc. That last boss is a sponge who takes up the whole room and navigating it with the limited resources you are given sucks. I could of tried again, but I just didn’t want to go through all that just to fail again. They could of given us a stash to make things a little easier. The borrow system was not helpful because chances are both billy and Rebecca will need everything they got. And having to bounce it back and forth, and also having to drop valuable items just to carry everything made it even harder. It’s funny how Rebecca went through all this with an escaped criminal, and in re1 just acts like a cheery secretary. The girl should have major ptsd but she acts like a soldier and doesn’t even tell Chris anything about the horror she went through. For surviving 0 she gets my vote as number 1 baddest female in re there is.

Also 0 was awesome for the scorpion and several other enemies. Love the frogs but god that’s messed up how they can kill you. Also why I’m hesitant to get 5 I don’t wanna go through another buddy system.

[That one Jawa]

Originally posted by Unseen:

Re1 is a true classic just purchased it for the nostalgia. I completed everything in 1 back on gc including the 2 hour hard run for the unlimited rocket. 1 is hard but fair because it’s not based on agonizing gameplay but tactics and placement. 0 is the exact opposite although I still love 0 and I’ll probably get it next. I could never fully complete 0 on gc. That last boss is a sponge who takes up the whole room and navigating it with the limited resources you are given sucks. I could of tried again, but I just didn’t want to go through all that just to fail again. They could of given us a stash to make things a little easier. The borrow system was not helpful because chances are both billy and Rebecca will need everything they got. And having to bounce it back and forth, and also having to drop valuable items just to carry everything made it even harder. It’s funny how Rebecca went through all this with an escaped criminal, and in re1 just acts like a cheery secretary. The girl should have major ptsd but she acts like a soldier and doesn’t even tell Chris anything about the horror she went through. For surviving 0 she gets my vote as number 1 baddest female in re there is.

Also 0 was awesome for the scorpion and several other enemies. Love the frogs but god that’s messed up how they can kill you. Also why I’m hesitant to get 5 I don’t wanna go through another buddy system.

Completed the game myself and have no intention of going back. Especially since the cool unlockables being infinite ammo are locked behind the annoying "leech mode" which I looked up a guide on youtube takes nearly 2 hours! no thank you. Why couldn't it be like every other RE game and just be "complete game in 2 hours" or something? Just makes the time I played the main story feel less valuable when there is almost nothing decent to unlock.

Also another issue to point out that you touched on is the borrowing system between AI. Nothing worse then when it locks you from being able to switch like in the final boss fight. What is the point in giving those extra med items when you cant give it to you partner/use it on your partner? If the boss ignored you and goes for Rebecca you have zero ways of healing her. You can't switch and you can't heal her. I had 2 first aid kits and was fully capable of using them for her and the game doesn't allow it. Luckily I won but I would have been pissed to get to the final lock and have her die.

As you mentioned RE1 was hard but very fair. I played the HD on game cube a few years ago and I loved it. Stressed me out at times and I used a guide but it was good fun and when I beat it I felt proud. This I just felt stressed and the ending was not worth it one bit. Like I said it didn't help that the unlockables felt more like another chore I had to do to get my reward instead of actually being rewarded. Unlike the other games that give you your stuff and say "now beat it with these items in 2 hours to get something awesome".

For me I always prefer RE4 because I love its reward system and pay off. Even in the newer games like 2 and 3 remake plus 7 and 8 it really gives you a reason to return to the game and beat it on harder settings. Hell I need to go back and do the same for RE 1 and unlock that inf launcher someday but when I have more time. I also got to beat RE2, 3 and veronica since I haven't played the originals yet. But from what I played of 2 on the dream cast I loved it.

I think zero is the only one (aside from 6 and the horrible spin offs after re 5) that I will never touch again.

Edit: I should also note I am only 25 and didn't grow up on the franchise until I was about 13 playing RE 5 and 4. Hated 6 even then. But I love and respect the original games (especially nemesis since Remake butchered the original especially nemesis design). So I don't want OG fans thinking I am just trashing zero because I am young or am bad at the game or something. I love a challenge and I like games that don't hold your hand with tutorials every 3 seconds hence why I mostly play old games not new stuff. But I just don't get the appeal of Zero. Felt like such wasted potential especially with Rebecca. But I totally get why people love the others (though I have little experience with Veronica I haven't even seen videos on it) since from the bits I played its very balanced and the puzzles are actually fun and though the story is.....well.....cheesy, its the good B movie kind.

[Lanzagranadas]

Originally posted by Unseen:

I enjoyed it however on the hardest difficulty from what I remember that last boss was ridiculous and unbeatable. Well for me anyway maybe I didn’t conserve my resources right.

I mean, the final boss is actually unbeatable by traditional means (much like other bosses in the franchise). But once it takes enough damage and Rebecca runs for the valves you don't need to damage it much more, just pace your attacks wisely to keep its attention on Billy.

[That one Jawa]

Originally posted by Lanzagranadas:

Originally posted by Unseen:

I enjoyed it however on the hardest difficulty from what I remember that last boss was ridiculous and unbeatable. Well for me anyway maybe I didn’t conserve my resources right.

I mean, the final boss is actually unbeatable by traditional means (much like other bosses in the franchise). But once it takes enough damage and Rebecca runs for the valves you don't need to damage it much more, just pace your attacks wisely to keep its attention on Billy.

This!

Yeah that was my mistake the first 2 times. Then I realised it was just a game of patience and kind of sacrificing billy (make sure to grab the health items pre fight) to keep the boss on him and let rebecca do her thing. Beat it first try after that.

[rarestMeow]

Originally posted by Ugandan Samurai:

If the boss ignored you and goes for Rebecca you have zero ways of healing her. You can't switch and you can't heal her. I had 2 first aid kits and was fully capable of using them for her and the game doesn't allow it.

for lurkers - you can heal Rebecca at this part. you actually _can_ switch at Rebecca but you cannot leave the inventory screen as her

so you can walk to her, open inventory, give Rebecca healing item, switch to her, heal her while still in inventory screen, switch back to Billy and exit inventory screen. or something like that

I was struck by the same sh1t my first walkthry and couldn't believe that game was that badly designed --and after jerking around found that Rebecca can actually be healed... in very odd and unorthodox way but still can be

[Unseen]

Yea I mean the game wasn't to hard on the lower difficulties and actually gave you that false sense of, I can beat this in 2 hours on hard. That's the thing trying to rush a speed run with this inventory system. I sometimes felt like RE1 was to easy at times, even the remake, the crimson head was fun like nemesis but you can still beat it back and plan for it.

And Ugandan my first RE was 2 on N64 over 20 years ago but you might be interested to know many of us from the old days don't have nostalgia glasses for RE. RE4 is actually my 2nd fav re, and 2 even though it was my first one, I also thought it was the most overrated. 2 is pretty much 1 with lamer enemies. And 4, my biggest problem with 4 is its even easier than 1 and all the RE's I've played. 2 I don't remember being to difficult but it was the first one I played and I didn't try for all the unlocks. And the PSX original well I had that for a while, and while its amazing for its time, I just couldn't get into it like the RE GC remake. Its still a classic and revolutionary but the whole feel of the psx original feels b movie cheesy. Which to me kind of downgrades the feel of the actual horror. But maybe I'm just unfairly judging it because the RE1 remake was so good.

Silent Hill is also a horror game I have some issues with. I beat SH2 on xbox and enjoyed it. But 1 I've never been able to beat just for being aimlessly long, and confusing. Its not really ridiculously hard like 0, the enemies are not ridiculous. Its all the puzzles and the open ended city and the pacing. Its a crawling game.

RE4 on the otherhand, its to short even though its long (if that makes any sense), its to easy even on pro. Its the only other RE I mastered (all goals and challenges), Leon seems unstoppable. It just, I mean I know some people bash 1's tank controls, but I tend to think the tank controls in these old horror games are what made them challenging and more about strategy than being an unstoppable guy who spam suplexes dudes on their head after shooting them in the knee over and over. Still RE4 is my 2nd fav one just for being an enjoyable game and revisiting what I think RE went away from after 1. Making generally creepy enemies that were horrifying but not just night of the living dead leftovers. RE1 and 0, as much as 0 has problems I still love it. I just look at it as an advanced RE1 that's really trying to be overly difficult like mario lost levels. But the real problem imo is the last boss cause a lot of everything else like the enemies were great. They could of fixed this, by not having such a rough boss on harder difficulties. Although in 4 on pro krauser was pretty difficult, he was nowhere near as bad as 0 once you got his patterns down.