I can't wait to see more of Wesker in the Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake, and his very first cutscene in the original PS2 game spells out why
Jul. 24, 2024Anatomy of a Scene | An unhinged Wesker is my favorite Wesker – but what will he be like in the Code Veronica remake?
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“Greetings! You must be the lovely Claire Redfield,” a voice booms from behind. The words are drawn out and savoured by their speaker, spoken in a round transatlantic accent that demands attention and stops Claire in her tracks as she reaches Ashford Mansion. It’s the moment Resident Evil: Code Veronica truly banks itself as one of thebest Resident Evil games ever: it has its greatest villain, after all.
Not only is this introductory scene incredibly campy and fun, it marks a pivotal moment in the series as a whole – even for a non-mainline entry in theResident Evil timeline. As we anticipateCapcom’sCode Veronica remake, I’m digging through this scene in the 2000 original – and examining how the publisher has treated iconic scenes in past remakes – to make some predictions. Just how much of Code Veronica’s inherent silliness might be scrubbed away in the name of modernity?
“Oh little fishy, come see my hook”
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Okay, that might sound a bit dramatic. We’ve already seen the likes of remade Wesker inResident Evil 4 remake, and truth be told, I don’t hate him.
The decision to trade his swaggering transatlantic accent for a more conventional American one is a sign of the times, showing how representations of good versus evil in pop culture, movies, and games have shifted in the last two decades. The trend of an archetypal British baddie working opposite an all-American hero is out, and with that, the “othering” of Wesker as a bit of a theatrical drama queen.
But OG Code Veronica’s Wesker needs that dramatic flair like oxygen. It’s inherent to his character, I note during my most recent PS2 playthrough. From the slow clatter of his footsteps as he saunters up to Claire, to his requisite slicked back blonde hair, shades, and long black trench coat, Albert Wesker easily surpassesmy love of the most underrated Resident Evil villainof the early 2000s, and that’s down to his combination of aesthetics and attitude. The guy knows how to make an entrance, and Capcom does well to deliver it with panache through dramatic panning shots as he monologues at Claire. Who is he, she asks? “Let’s just say I’m a ghost, coming back to haunt your dear brother.”
But the thing is, I just cannot imagine a gruff American Wesker having the same penchant for dramatics. Original Wesker is a classic vengeful baddie, but remake Wesker feels more like a secret agent gone darkside after his showing in Ada’s DLC.
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OG Code Veronica’s Wesker needs that dramatic flair like oxygen.
Part of the charm of classic Resi is how unabashedly silly it can be. The amount of times I let out a snort of well-intentioned laughter while watchingthis YouTube compilationof Wesker’s Code Veronica moments is proof enough of the timeless hilarity of a horror game that knows it’s a bit off-the-rails. At the same time, though, with regards to Wesker, it’s not all about scheming and plotting as he rubs his hands with devilish delight. His narrative and lore importance substantiates claims that Code Veronica should be considered canon, after all. Maybe his more serious implications to the plot are what Capcom will focus on when characterizing him in the Code Veronica remake, introducing us to a more modern iteration of Wesker to reflect the changing times. And I certainly don’t expecthimto Spider-Man-jump out of there.
At the end of the day, I do have hope for how the remake might treat my favorite villain’sshockappearance in Code Veronica. The scene in Resident Evil 4 Remake whereAda and Leon reuniteis one example of how Capcom can be trusted to update the tone of a memorable moment without scrapping it entirely. The duo’s flashy Matrix-style slowed down moves have been traded up in the remake for a zippier scuffle to gain the upper hand. Ada’s iconic backflip is replaced with a still impressive high kick, subsequently caught by her sparring buddy before hitting its target. But still, Leon has the last laugh in both versions, and it’s a doozy of a Kennedy quote: “Try using a knife next time. Works better for close encounters.”
As long as Capcom is able to bring that same respect for a character’s DNA to its depiction of Wesker in the Code Veronica remake, I’ll be happy enough. Just excuse me for a while as I prepare to mourn the loss of his sassy 2000s side.
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