Resident Evil 2 vs Resident Evil Zero
Resident Evil 2 is a horror puzzle game from Capcom (1998) while Resident Evil Zero is a horror game from Capcom (2002).
Quick answer: Resident Evil 2 has the higher Metacritic, 89 to 83.
Resident Evil Zero
What each one is
Resident Evil 2 is filed under Horror and Puzzle. In contrast, Resident Evil Zero under Horror.
A deadly virus engulfs the residents of Raccoon City in September of 1998, plunging the city into chaos as flesh eating zombies roam the streets for survivors. An unparalleled adrenaline rush, gripping storyline, and unimaginable horrors await you. Witness the return of Resident Evil 2.
Resident Evil Zero is a 2002 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom for the GameCube. It is a prequel to Resident Evil (2002), following S.T.A.R.S. officer Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen as they explore an abandoned training facility for employees of the pharmaceutical company Umbrella in the outskirts of Raccoon City. The gameplay is similar to other Resident Evil games, but adds the ability to switch between characters to solve puzzles and use unique abilities.
Story, characters and reception
Plot
Depending on which order the scenarios are played in, the player experiences one of two courses of events which mutually contradict each other. This plot summary covers only the path followed by playing the Claire A and Leon B scenarios, which was suggested by Capcom to be the canon version of events. On September 30, 1998, two months after the events of the first Resident Evil , most citizens of the Midwestern American mountain community of Raccoon City… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Resident Evil 2 received critical acclaim upon release. Its original PlayStation release holds an average aggregate score of 93% at GameRankings based on 25 reviews, and 89 out of 100 points at Metacritic for both the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions based on 13 reviews. The majority of reviews praised Resident Evil 2 for its atmosphere, setting, graphics, audio, and overall gameplay, but criticized its controls, voice acting, and certain… (Wikipedia)
Plot
On July 23, 1998, a train owned by the pharmaceutical company Umbrella, the Ecliptic Express, comes under attack from a swarm of leeches. As the passengers and crew are attacked, a mysterious young man watches from a hillside. Two hours later, the Bravo Team of the Special Tactics And Rescue Service (S. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception (GameCube) Resident Evil Zero received generally positive reviews after its initial GameCube release in 2002. The graphics and atmosphere were universally praised, being described as "wonderfully spooky" and "moody" with an "astonishing level of detail". Scott Steinberg of GameSpy noted how the animated backgrounds, such as flickering lights and dripping water, brought the environments to life. (Wikipedia)
At a glance
| Resident Evil 2 | Resident Evil Zero | |
|---|---|---|
| GamingPickz Score | 8.6/10 | — |
| Steam rating | Overwhelmingly Positive (97%, 221,677) | — |
| Critic aggregate | 89/100 | 83/100 |
| Price | $39.99 | Unknown |
| Install size | 26 GB | — |
| Steam Deck | verified | Untested |
| Released | 1998 | 2002 |
| Developer | Capcom | Capcom |
Prices and Steam ratings are read live and move over time.
Resident Evil 2 vs Resident Evil Zero, point by point
Each facet side by side. A round is marked won only where a figure settles it; feel and "which is better" carry no mark, because no number we hold decides them.
Genre and premise
Resident Evil 2Horror puzzle gameResident Evil ZeroHorror gameWhat each is filed as. Each game describes itself in full above; we do not judge a premise.
How it plays
Resident Evil 2Zombies, Survival Horror, HorrorResident Evil ZeroNo descriptive tagsThe tags players apply most, in order of votes. A read on feel, not a verdict.
Reception
Resident Evil 2 ✓Metacritic 89Resident Evil ZeroMetacritic 83Metacritic's critic aggregate, from the game's Wikipedia reception where it was never on Steam.
Content and scale
Resident Evil 2221,677 reviews · 13 add-ons · 26 GBResident Evil Zero—Reach and footprint, not quality: more reviews or a bigger install is not a better game.
Price
Resident Evil 2$39.99Resident Evil ZeroUnknownRead live from Steam and subject to change.
Resident Evil 2 takes 1 of the marked rounds to 0. That is only what a number can decide, not which you will enjoy more.
Which to pick, by what you want
- The better reviewed of the two: Resident Evil 2 (Metacritic 89)
Where they differ
ZombiesSurvival HorrorHorrorSingleplayerRemakeThird Person
Tags players apply to one game and not the other.
Difficulty and who each is for
By the tags players apply, Resident Evil 2 is demanding, for players who want a challenge. Resident Evil Zero is middle-of-the-road on difficulty.
System requirements, side by side
| Resident Evil 2 | Resident Evil Zero | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960 | — |
| Minimum CPU | Intel® Core™ i5-4460 | — |
| Minimum RAM | 8 GB | — |
| Install size | 26 GB | — |
Can your PC run them? Check each against your own kit: Resident Evil 2 · Resident Evil Zero.
Accessibility features
Steam store pages declare 1 accessibility feature for Resident Evil 2 and 0 for Resident Evil Zero. A declaration is a floor, not a review.
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Common questions
How different are Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Zero in scope?
Resident Evil 2 has drawn 221,677 Steam reviews, ships 13 add-ons and installs in 26 GB. Resident Evil Zero lists little scope data.
Is Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil Zero better?
Neither carries enough reviews for us to score it reliably, so we do not call a winner. The table above shows what each does have.
Which is cheaper, Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil Zero?
One or both do not have a current listed price, so a straight comparison is not possible. See the table above.
Should I get Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil Zero?
Resident Evil 2 has the higher Metacritic, 89 to 83. It also depends on what you want: the "which to pick" section above calls out which is cheaper, lighter on storage, better on a Steam Deck and the safer bet by weight of reviews.
Do you rank one above the other for a fee?
No. Neither game, nor anyone else, pays for placement or a verdict here. The order and every figure come out of the same public data the rest of the site uses.
Related comparisons
All comparisonsHow we compare, and what we will not do
The GamingPickz Score is a composite of player sentiment (adjusted for sample size), the critic aggregate and popularity, computed by the same code every ranked list on this site uses. The Steam rating label is Valve's own, reconstructed from the positive percentage and review count. Prices are read live. We do not write an opinion of which game is "better": we report the numbers and say which wins each measurable question above.