Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) — The Survival Horror Classic That Won’t Stop Chasing You

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is a survival horror game from 1999 where you play as Jill Valentine, trying to escape a zombie-filled Raccoon City while a giant bio-weapon hunts you the entire time. It mixes tight resource management, puzzle solving, and one of the scariest stalker enemies in gaming history.

What’s the Deal With Nemesis?

Most horror games give you monsters that stay in their rooms. This one doesn’t. Nemesis is a hulking creature built for one job — killing S.T.A.R.S. members — and Jill is on his list. He shows up when you least expect it. He follows you through doors. He runs faster than you. And he growls “S.T.A.R.S.” in a voice you’ll hear in your sleep.

Here’s the twist: you can fight him. Knock him down and he drops rare weapon parts. So every encounter becomes a gamble. Do you burn precious ammo for a reward, or run and save your bullets for later? That choice is the heart of the game.

The Story in Raccoon City

The game picks up right before and after the events of Resident Evil 2. The T-Virus has turned Raccoon City into a disaster zone. Streets are burning. Zombies are everywhere. Jill just wants out.

Along the way she teams up with mercenaries from Umbrella, the shady company that caused this whole mess. One of them, Carlos Oliveira, even becomes playable for a section of the game. Trust is in short supply, and the story keeps you guessing about who’s actually on your side.

How It Plays

This is classic survival horror. Fixed camera angles. Limited inventory space. Ink ribbons to save your game. Ammo is scarce, so every shot matters. Sometimes the smart move is to just run past a zombie instead of fighting it.

RE3 added some new tricks to the formula, though. A dodge move lets you sidestep attacks if your timing is good. A gunpowder system lets you mix your own ammo — combine different powders and you get different bullet types. And “Live Selection” moments pause the action and force you to pick between two choices, which changes how scenes play out. Play it twice and you’ll see stuff you missed.

Why Players Still Love It

The pacing is faster than the first two games. More action, more explosions, more panic. But the tension never drops, because Nemesis could be behind any door. The pre-rendered backgrounds still look moody and detailed — honestly better than you’d expect from a PS1 game. Add an unlockable Mercenaries mode with timed runs and extra characters, and there’s a real reason to replay it.

If you’ve only played the 2020 remake, the original is a different beast. It’s slower, meaner, and Nemesis stalks you way more. Worth experiencing at least once.

Tips for New Players

Save your gunpowder early and read the mixing combos before you commit. Don’t fight every zombie — legs work fine for running. When Nemesis shows up, check your surroundings first. Some rooms have explosive barrels that do the hard work for you. And always keep one healing item on you. Always.

As always, remember to have fun!