If you haven't already gathered from my previous articles on demakes, I'm a huge fan. The way that the retro gaming community reimagines games in a different light for older systems fascinates me no end, and they usually bring about completely unique experiences that make you see a game in a completely different way. Take the Elden Ring SNES demake, for example, or the Halo GBC demake - they're super fun to play, and while sometimes a little on the short side, evoke nostalgia for older systems and tickle my brain in the right way.
I came across this Resident Evil demake by Grammy_Games this morning called 'Grim Beginnings', with Game Boy box artwork that takes me right back to the 90s. It reminds me of the days of Amazing Tater and Super Mario Land: 6 Golden Coins, with cute characters about to go on an adventure. Even though the zombies are after flesh, they look happy as they're trying to eat a panicking Jill Valentine. Maybe they're just loveable, misunderstood creatures after all!
If you've ever wondered what a funny, cutesy-looking version of Resident Evil would be like, then Grim Beginnings has all of your answers. It stays true to the first part of the game, covering the mansion segment, and takes about 2 hours to finish. You play as Jill with the option to switch costumes, and you can only use a handgun. Still, it's great fun, and while the gameplay is nowhere near as pant-wettingly scary as the original games, the colour palette still evokes that sinister, bloodthirsty feeling. The zombie dogs look like they might want to roll over and let you tickle their stomachs more than maul you, but I'm fine with that.
Created in GB Studio, Grim Beginnings has been a labour of love for Grammy_Games and is currently only 90% finished, though very playable. It doesn't have background music, but that's what Spotify is for. All in all, it's a neat little game that you should definitely download and play on Delta or your chosen emulator, especially if you were a big fan of the original game! Check out Grim Beginnings on Itch.io for more info!
