Although Resident Evil 4 completely rejuvenated what was starting to become a tired and stale franchise when it was released back in 2005, it’s still worthwhile for fans to experience some of the earlier titles in gaming’s defining horror series. Which is one of the reasons why Nintendo Switch owners will probably be glad to learn that Resident Evil Zero (review) has just been released on the Nintendo eShop, and can be yours for a reasonable $29.99. If you’re willing to fork over a little extra cash, a physical edition which also contains the remake of Resident Evil can also be purchased for $59.99.

Originally released on the GameCube back in 2002, when Capcom had an agreement with Nintendo to keep the Resident Evil franchise exclusive to Nintendo systems, Resident Evil Zero serves as a prequel to the original game, taking place shortly before the incident at the Spencer Mansion. You play as Rebecca Chambers, a member of the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team who serves as a medic, and throughout the majority of the game, you are accompanied by Billy Coen, a former Force Reconnaissance Officer who has been convicted of multiple murders, although he may have been used as a scapegoat. Billy is controlled by AI, making him an invaluable ally against the legions of zombies and monsters you’ll be facing. The game also contains zombie monkeys. We don’t know why we felt the need to mention that.

Anyway, the Switch version of Resident Evil Zero is a port of the 2015 remaster, which features vastly improved graphics when compared to the original in addition to including bonus costumes and an alternate Wesker Mode. And while the controls may be considered dated by today’s standards, we still urge horror gamers to give this entry in one of our favorite franchises a go.