The Resident Evil 2 Remake Is Getting A Demo Today

The Resident Evil 2 demo has gone live on all platforms, giving players a shot at exploring Raccoon City before the game launches in a couple of weeks. And by "a shot," we mean "one."

As a matter of fact, the trial version of Resident Evil 2 is actually called the "1-Shot Demo" because that's about all you'll have time for if you want to see everything it has to offer. When you first start playing the demo, an internal timer clocking just 30 minutes will begin to count down. Once you hit that limit, you're done with the demo.

You actually get more than one shot if you manage to complete the demo in less than 30 minutes but, based on the buzz around social media, it looks like most players are wrapping things up in around 25. Those who have decided to jump back in after completing the demo the first time have learned that the game literally ends once the limit is reached, so maybe just take your time with the first run and get as much enjoyment out of the experience as you can manage. This is a horror game, after all, so it's meant to be taken at a more leisurely pace. Also, what good would sprinting through the demo be just to get partway through another run and have it end?

The only other piece of content included in the demo, according to Polygon, is a new cinematic trailer for the game that should give players a better idea of what they can expect once Resident Evil 2 launches on Jan. 25 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The trailer isn't included under that "1-Shot" umbrella, though, so feel free to watch it as many times as you like. It's also worth pointing out that the demo will only be available for a limited time, from Jan. 11-31.

When the full game launches, players will get to take on the role of Leon Kennedy, who arrives in Raccoon City for his first day on the police force only to discover the city has been overrun by undead monsters. The perspective jumps around a bit as the narrative unfolds, giving players a chance to take control of Ada Wong, Claire Redfield and other members of the Resident Evil cast.

Even long-time fans of the Resident Evil series will likely want to check out this Resident Evil 2 remake because it's a true "remake" in every sense of the word. It has been built from the ground up for modern platforms and, while the main story remains the same, the team at Capcom has changed things up a bit in order to keep even seasoned vets guessing from time to time. The game looks great, though, and is spooky as hell thanks to the renewed focus on tension and limited resources.

But thanks to the new demo, you don't have to take my word for it. Go try it out for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments below.