PE jumped on the RE bandwagon, but I think PE2 was a lot harder due to the limited ammo and fewer rpg elements. It was also a lot scarier because everything was deserted, and things popped out at you, and being alone in a desert town vs a giant flamethrowing elephant is really creepy. Mobs also chased you and were fast, and i died to those horses a million times ughhhh.
PE1 had a deeply complex story and as a 6th grader playing it back in 98, it actually spurred my interest in science/biology and i knew what mitochondria and atp were before everyone :)
Shame on square for the shameless product placement though lol.