Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

STAAAAARS

so much better than OG 2 imo

it takes like 4 playthroughs of each to really realise this game is a tinge better than 2
it's very close though

Not sure why it has to be a competition when the original re2 and re3 are both masterpieces

Honestly the best of the PS1 era. I love how the game puts you contastly on nerve-wracking situations, so there's always a sense of paranoia and fear to move on.
The only thing I disliked was the forced Nemesis battle on the clocktower. On my first run I got myself softlocked since I didn't have any health items on that save and my ammo just wasn't powerful enough to defeat it. Kind of a bummer. I replayed to whole thing up to that point and made sure to save at least four mixed herb items, and I beat the bastard on my first try just by literally spamming the granade launcher and upping my health once in a while. My point is: this battle isn't difficult, you just have to be lucky enough the first time to have kept enough useful items, because otherwise you're absoltuely fucked. Even considering this, it's an absolutely stellar game.
Going for the remakes of both 2 and 3!

A welcome step up in challenge from 1 and 2, but the level design is a step down. I prefer the hub-based structures of the mansion or the police station over 3's outdoor treks from one small building that you're only in for a few minutes to the next.