This Steam Next Fest demo is unapologetically classic Resident Evil and I cannot wait for its full release

The latest iteration of Steam Next Fest has kicked off, so a torrent of demo downloads has begun. But I think I may have found one of my newest most anticipated games already. It's called Phase Zero, and it's reminiscent of games like Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in the best possible ways. And it all starts before you even get to the main menu, with this ominous warning screen that PS1-era survival horror games were known for. Screenshot by Destructoid Oh yeah. As a kid, this kind of screen really gave me the heebie jeebies. Now, it elicits a different kind of emotion in nostalgic excitement. Phase Zero starts off with the player character waking up in a hospital and being subjected to a waking nightmare. Zombies? Check. Clunky tank controls? Check. Inventory screen with a map, files, and equippable weapons? Check. Puzzle-like elements with hints found in notes all over the place? Check check. This is classic Resident Evil, as classic as it gets, and the little sliver of playable content has me fiending for more. This past weekend was a big one for Resident Evil, which confirmed RE9 as Resident Evil: Requiem coming in February, but the series' influence ahead of its 30th anniversary was seen throughout the showcases. Another that comes to mind is an upcoming title similarly called Ground Zero, funnily enough, which also got some love during the Future Games Show Summer Showcase. Screenshot by Destructoid The game's developer, SPINA Studio, describes Phase Zero as "a modern reimagining of the survival horror golden era classics" where "the story is told in a series like manner - each chapter stars one of the two heroes." Like classic RE, it has "prerendered backgrounds, fixed cameras and the DNA of the PSX masterpieces" and "it blends nostalgic design with modern quality-of-life improvements, while honoring its iconic roots." Yup, I can confirm. Screenshot by Destructoid The Phase Zero demo is absolutely worth checking out, and if you're like me, slamming it into your Steam wishlist is the next course of action. The post This Steam Next Fest demo is unapologetically classic Resident Evil and I cannot wait for its full release appeared first on Destructoid.

Jun 9, 2025 - 20:24
 0
This Steam Next Fest demo is unapologetically classic Resident Evil and I cannot wait for its full release

Phase Zero gameplay screenshot

The latest iteration of Steam Next Fest has kicked off, so a torrent of demo downloads has begun. But I think I may have found one of my newest most anticipated games already.

It's called Phase Zero, and it's reminiscent of games like Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in the best possible ways. And it all starts before you even get to the main menu, with this ominous warning screen that PS1-era survival horror games were known for.

A warning screen at the start of Phase Zero.
Screenshot by Destructoid

Oh yeah. As a kid, this kind of screen really gave me the heebie jeebies. Now, it elicits a different kind of emotion in nostalgic excitement. Phase Zero starts off with the player character waking up in a hospital and being subjected to a waking nightmare.

Zombies? Check. Clunky tank controls? Check. Inventory screen with a map, files, and equippable weapons? Check. Puzzle-like elements with hints found in notes all over the place? Check check. This is classic Resident Evil, as classic as it gets, and the little sliver of playable content has me fiending for more.

This past weekend was a big one for Resident Evil, which confirmed RE9 as Resident Evil: Requiem coming in February, but the series' influence ahead of its 30th anniversary was seen throughout the showcases. Another that comes to mind is an upcoming title similarly called Ground Zero, funnily enough, which also got some love during the Future Games Show Summer Showcase.

A note in Phase Zero
Screenshot by Destructoid

The game's developer, SPINA Studio, describes Phase Zero as "a modern reimagining of the survival horror golden era classics" where "the story is told in a series like manner - each chapter stars one of the two heroes."

Like classic RE, it has "prerendered backgrounds, fixed cameras and the DNA of the PSX masterpieces" and "it blends nostalgic design with modern quality-of-life improvements, while honoring its iconic roots." Yup, I can confirm.

Phase Zero monstrosity screenshot
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Phase Zero demo is absolutely worth checking out, and if you're like me, slamming it into your Steam wishlist is the next course of action.

The post This Steam Next Fest demo is unapologetically classic Resident Evil and I cannot wait for its full release appeared first on Destructoid.