The police station is one of the best levels in gaming; ornate, intricate, and dynamic, the multilayered complex is thrilling to explore, untangling lock-and-key puzzles that excellently demonstrate how the level design loops in on itself while also having to problem solve to handle zombies more durable than your ammo supplies can handle and on top of that, managing the persistent stress that Mr. X provides. However, not a single other aspect of Resident Evil 2 is as satisfying, making for a lumpy, uneven but ultimately worthwhile experience. The focus on appealing to modern sensibilities means that it fails to be as scary or cathartic as Resident Evil Remake. The precision pacing that defines much of the mainline franchise has been reingerned to ensure that the player is always progressing at a steady clip without too much friction, which means the stress has no tangible stakes to it and thus cannot compound into horror. Furthermore, the camp has been glossed up into a position where it's neither ironically enjoyable nor sincerely compelling, with the story having little to latch onto in terms of subtext. Leon’s commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities in the face of disaster is commendable, as is Claire’s motherly protection of Sherry, but these are character beats that are just as flat and empty as the societal narratives that cops are structurally heroic and that gender roles are innate and natural, as the game’s story lacks any texture beyond those base assumptions. Frankly, given how miserable the sewer section is, and how the lab doesn’t offer much to tie the experience together or distinguish the game amongst its peers, I find myself half wishing that RE2 Remake had the courage to end after the police station, where it could at least stand as a testament to excellent level design. However, the strengths of its first-half are certainly enough to ensure that RE2 remains a good game at its core despite its blemishes.