A group of fans launched a project called 'Resident Evil 2: Reborn' to recreate Resident Evil 2 from scratch with Unreal Engine 4. This version was to include improved 3D models, animations, textures, lighting and sound effects. It would also offer a choice between the classic fixed camera angles or the over-the-shoulder camera of Resident Evil 4. The non-profit project was to be released free for PC at the end of 2015. However, Capcom asked for the project to be cancelled, stating that it was working on an official remake. The team agreed and was invited to serve as consultants to Capcom.
In the final boss fight, Ada Wong suddenly appears and throws a rocket launcher that can be used to kill the boss. The same event occurs at the end of Resident Evil 4. This is one of the series' iconic moments.
It is the first Resident Evil game to give a final grade after you finish the game. The first game had no such rating. In the Japanese version the ranking was S, A, B, C, D, while in the Western version it was changed to A, B, C, D, E. The Western A corresponded to the Japanese S. However, the mention of an S ranking in Western manuals caused confusion.
If you check Wesker's desk in the S.T.A.R.S. office 50 times, you find a roll of film in the darkroom that can be developed. It is a photograph of Rebecca Chambers from Bravo Team. A small but charming easter egg.
In normal mode, if you start the game with any character and reach the police station courtyard without picking up any items, you can unlock special costumes. Fight the zombie Brad Vickers in the underground passage and take the Locker Key from his body. Brad only appears if you have not picked up any items up to this point. With the key you open the locker in the Dark Room and obtain new costumes and weapons for Leon and Claire.
In the B scenario, a report is found on Rebecca's desk that foreshadows the events of Resident Evil Zero (2002). This file was only present in the Nintendo 64 version, because development of Resident Evil Zero had begun for that platform. Due to hardware problems that version was cancelled and the game was rebuilt for the GameCube with story changes.
On a wall in the police station, 'Redrum' is written in blood. This is a reference to the 80s horror film The Shining. The word is 'murder' spelled backwards.
If you look carefully at the monitor screen of the computer in the RPD lobby, you can see an image of the Tyrant Room of the mansion from Resident Evil Director's Cut. This is the computer you open two doors with using the key card Marvin gives you.
George A. Romero directed a live-action commercial for this game that was broadcast only in Japan. The master of horror cinema brought the game's atmosphere to the screen.
To unlock the secret characters Hunk and Tofu, you must get an A rank in the game and finish the normal game 4 times. For Hunk you must finish it 4 times, and for Tofu 4 more times. Tofu is a big block of tofu and uses only a knife.
Although the novel adaptation of the game follows the Leon A/Claire B events, the series' official canon is Claire A/Leon B. The proof of this is that Leon's encounters with Mr. X in the later canonical game Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (2009) come only from the Leon B scenario.
Gun shop owner Robert Kendo is a close friend of Barry Burton, a character from the first game. This connection shows the game's deep network of characters.
Leon's story continues with Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 6 and the CGI films Resident Evil: Degeneration, Damnation and Vendetta. Claire's story continues in Resident Evil Code Veronica, Resident Evil: Degeneration and Resident Evil Revelations 2.
The game was remade as a chapter within Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (2009). This chapter is played as a first-person shooter and offers a remastered, simplified telling of the events of Resident Evil 2. It also includes bonus levels covering Agent HUNK's mission to obtain the G-virus and Ada Wong's escape from the city.
Although the N64 version had better character models, its FMV cutscenes ran poorly because of the cartridge-based console. This was one of the technical limitations of the era.
According to the official Capcom page, Albert Wesker was present when Ada Wong fell and saved her. In Wesker's Report (2001), he states that he felt Ada was in danger and that he had to save her; he does not explain how, only saying that his men were at the scene. This could explain how Ada survived the fall and why she later joined forces with Wesker. However, other Capcom sources contradict this, stating that Ada was hired by Wesker long before the first game. The 'Death's Door' chapter in The Umbrella Chronicles (2007) continues Ada's story after Resident Evil 2: badly wounded, she surfaces from the sewers and contacts Wesker by video phone; Wesker provides her with an escape route before Raccoon City is bombed. It is clear that Wesker was not in the city at the time and that they had not been in contact for a while. In the novel adaptation of The Umbrella Chronicles, Ada uses a single-use grappling hook; the maneuver injures her arm but saves her life. However, some point out that Ada's fall occurs only in the Leon A scenario: the canonical story is Claire A/Leon B, in which T-00/Mr. X knocks Ada into a machine and Leon leaves her for dead; but in the end Ada shows she survived by throwing Leon a rocket launcher to defeat Mr. X. This makes the Leon A ending non-canonical; in that ending Ada presumably dies from the fall and does not return.
It is never stated where in the United States Raccoon City is located, but in the game novels written by S.D. Perry it is said to be in Pennsylvania.
An early prototype of the development, 'Resident Evil 1.5' (Biohazard 1.5 in Japan), was nearly complete when the developers decided to cancel it and start over from scratch. This version also featured Leon S. Kennedy, but Claire Redfield was named Elza Walker, a university student and motorcycle racer vacationing in her hometown of Raccoon City. Ada Wong was named Linda and was another researcher who helped Leon. In addition, changeable outfits affected enemy damage values, and there were enemies that were later cancelled and redesigned.
According to the 3rd book of the Resident Evil novel series (which recounts the events of Resident Evil 2), the story progression is Leon: Game A and Claire: Game B. This is determined in the book by Claire constantly encountering Mr. X while Leon never faces him.
The GameCube port of this game came about when Nintendo signed an exclusive rights deal with Capcom for Resident Evil 4 (2005). However, the game became so popular that Capcom renegotiated the deal to release it on PlayStation 2 and PC as well. As part of the new agreement, the ports of this game and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) were made for GameCube only.
As Claire Redfield rides her motorcycle on the highway, the words 'Raccoon City' on the 'Welcome to Raccoon City' sign are written in the Gamefan font. This is the headline font used by the now-defunct magazine company Gamefan.
The wounded police officer you encounter early in the police station is leaning against a locker with 'JoJo' written on it. This may be a reference to Capcom's earlier JoJo's Bizarre Adventure game.
The game was released on many platforms, including PC, PS1, Dreamcast, GameCube, N64 and Game.com (no longer available).
The game came out at a particularly significant time for 3D gaming; in 1998, other major titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, Banjo-Kazooie and Half-Life changed the game industry economically and aesthetically.
On the back of Claire Redfield's jacket is written 'Made in Heaven'. This text is a direct reference to the band Queen and the album 'Made in Heaven'.
It is the first Resident Evil game released on a Nintendo console. A Game Boy Color version of the original Resident Evil (1996) was made, but it was never officially released.
Leon crashes the police car next to Arukas Tailor. When 'Arukas' is written backwards it becomes 'Sakura', a character from another Capcom game, Street Fighter Alpha 2.
In the opening cinematic, after the tanker hits the police car, a 'No Trucks' sign can be seen among the burning truck wreckage. This is a subtle detail emphasizing the irony of the crash.
The game's supplementary materials cite the film Species (1995) as an inspiration for the Resident Evil series; particularly the male victims dying through 'inbreeding' and the female characters transforming into grotesque but sexually attractive creatures. Natasha Henstridge was considered for the role of Jill Valentine in the films Resident Evil (2002) and Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), but the character was later removed.
The Tyrant monster that follows the player in the B scenario is officially named T-00, but no name is used in-game. It is unofficially known by the nickname 'Mr. X'. The name 'Mr. X' first appeared in GameFan's Resident Evil 2 guide and was probably based on a Japanese concept drawing for the creature titled 'Tyrant X'. Over the years, names such as 'Trenchy' or 'Coated bastard' were also attached to it.