Released on January 25th, 2019 for the PS4, Xbone and PC, this remake combines the camera work and controls of RE4-6 with the survival horror of the franchise's roots.
===F.A.Q.s===
Is this like the Resident Evil Remake on Gamecube (that was recently ported to HD consoles?
No, the game is entirely redone and features an over-the-shoulder camera and manual aiming and entirely new mechanics. Story beats, areas, and items are also remixed or changed entirely.
Do I need ink ribbons to save?
Only on Hardcore difficulty. On Assisted (Easy) and Standard (Normal) you can freely save at typewriters as often as you want, and there is also an autosave. For Hardcore, spending an ink ribbon to save is the only way, and there are about 25 ink ribbons in the game.
Did they keep the A and B scenarios?
Sort of, but no "zapping" system from the original. Now when you beat the Story with one character, it permanently unlocks an option called "2nd Run" for the other character. In 2nd Run, the intro will be different, puzzles and item locations will be different, there are more enemies, there is an extra weapon for each character, you can find memos from the other character in some locations, and you get to face the true final boss at the end. For convenience sake, many still refer to 2nd Run as the B scenario.
Did they bring Real Survivor Mode, Invisible Enemy Mode, or Crimson Heads from the first REmake?
No. Invisible Enemy would be immensely frustrating if they'd brought that over. Real Survivor could have worked but would be a bit of a pain. Not sure why they didn't bring Crimson Heads over, but since zombies corpses don't despawn you never really know if they're dead unless their head is exploded so that kind of keeps part of the effect.
What is zapping?
In the original Resident Evil 2, once you beat the game with one character, you used that save file to begin a game with the other character, and certain actions that you did in with the first character would have an effect on the second character's playthrough (ie. If you poisoned the plant monsters in your A run, they will have mutated and become poisonous themselves in the B run). Since 2nd Run is permanently unlocked once available in the Remake, there is no zapping.
Where are the Giant Spiders, Moths, and Evolved Lickers?
None of them made it into the Remake. So far, at least. The upcoming Ghost Survivors mode says it will include a new enemy that's not in the standard game.
What is Ghost Survivors?
A free mode coming on February 15th that will serve as a what-if scenario where you can play as three characters that didn't originally make it out of Raccoon City. It is rumored that this is just the first installment and more characters may come later down the road.
Speaking of modes, are Fourth Survivor and Tofu Survivor in the game?
Yes, they are in the base game as unlockables, and are easier to unlock than they were in the original game.
Is there a Mercenaries mode?
Not at this time. Remains to be seen what will come in the future.
I like Leon's Casual outfit and wish I could wear it the whole game!
You can. Just beat it on Standard mode and it unlocks to be chosen at any time. Same with jacketless Claire.
Cool, what about their Classic Costumes?
Beat the game once for the option to change everyone into their Classics, beat it on Hardcore with a character to unlock their specific options. Additionally, some low-polygon Classic Costumes called Leon '98 and Claire '98 will be added for free on February 15th.
How do Rankings work?
Except for S+, they are based solely on completion time. The first time you clear Story mode it will unlock the Results screen which will show you your highest rankings in each difficulty and mode (except Assisted/Easy) as well as the time requirements to get an A or B rank in each mode. After you first achieve an A or S rank, the Results screen will also show the requirements for S ranks.
S+ requires you to meet the time requirements for an S Rank while also saving no more than 3 times and not using any of the infinite ammo weapons. However, unless you're going for the ultimate unlocks on Hardcore difficulty, S+ isn't anything but bragging rights.
How bad is Mr. X? I don't like being rushed.
Nowhere near as bad as some people are making him out to be. After he first appears he wanders around looking for you, but won't go into most dead-end rooms or save rooms. He is attracted to loud noises like gunfire and slamming doors open. After you pass this area, he'll only ever appear in scripted hallway chases and/or boss fights from then on. You no longer have to worry about him wandering around. Once you learn what triggers him, it's pretty simple to make the section where he's wandering around go by very quickly.
===General Tips===
- Puzzle solutions are different between 1st Run and 2nd Run. However, all locker codes and safe combinations are always the same. If you remember a combination, you can always just open it right away without having to find the note that tells you the code.
- All combination codes and such can be found in the game somewhere, you don't have to guess. Most are in Files that you find.
- On your map, if a room is displayed in Blue then you have found all the Items in it. If it is displayed in Red then there are still items somewhere. Note, however, that this does not account for Files so a Blue room may still have a File to find.
- Key Items gain a red checkmark on their icon when they have no further use. They can then safely be discarded. If it doesn't have a red checkmark, it can still be used somewhere.
- If you are grabbed from behind or on a staircase you cannot use a defensive item. Unlike other games, you cannot break out of a grab without a defensive item.
- A zombie that is performing it's standing up animation can't do anything to you and doesn't even have collision so you can run straight through them.
- A zombie that's laying down that you suspect may secretly be alive can be attacked to find out. If it doesn't react then it's just decoration and won't come after you. Some areas are made easier by preemptively taking out zombies you know are going to get up.
- Lickers are blind. It's tricky, but it is possible to creep past them as long as you don't bump into them. They are aware something is going on and will try to investigate, however. 2-3 are scripted to pounce you as you approach, but once you know where it's possible to circumvent this.
- Lickers will not leave whatever room they hang out in, so if you make it through a doorway you are safe from them. Zombies and Mr. X can follow you through doorways, but not into "safe" areas (save rooms, certain puzzle rooms...note that the RPD Main Hall stops being a "safe" area at a certain point despite having a typewriter and item box). Zombies that are missing a limb apparently cannot open a door, regardless of which limb is missing.
- When picking up an item you can combine (ie. herbs, ammo powder, weapon upgrades, certain key items) you can instantly combine it without needing to place it into an empty slot first. Though do note that certain weapon upgrades can make a weapon take up two slots. Weapon upgrades can be removed though.
- Green herbs heal and Blue herbs cure poison. Red herbs do nothing on their own but when combined with Green they give a full heal and when combined with Blue they make you immune to poison and give you increased defense for a few minutes. You can combine three herbs at once (ie. R+G+B, G+G+G, or G+G+B).
- Leon can only craft Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo, and Magnum Ammo. Claire can only craft Handgun Ammo, Acid Rounds for her Grenade Launcher, and SMG Ammo. All other ammo must be found.
- Flash Grenades work on everything, have a huge radius, and last for a decent amount of time. They are great for bypassing crowds or stunning bosses for some easy attacks.
- Both Flash Grenades and regular Grenades are more effective when thrown as opposed to be using to get out of a grab.
- Bosses with big giant mutant eyeballs can be stunned by popping the eyeballs (they'll come back). How red the eyeballs are also let you know how low on health the boss is.
- If playing on PC, the knife's damage is apparently tied to the game's framerate and you can get some obscene knife damage by lowering your settings and upping your framerate.
- Claire and Leon each have their own sets of weapons, which offers them their own different gameplay. Unlike prior RE games, they have the same amount of inventory space and there are no personal items like Lighters or Lockpicks.
- *Weapons do more damage the tighter the crosshairs are. Most weapons start off at around 60% damage and raise up to 100% when the crosshair is fully tightened. Each weapon also has a critical hit chance, that can deal two or three times the normal damage. A critical hit to the head of a zombie will kill it regardless of it's remaining health. Supposedly firing at the exact moment the crosshair finishes tightening will guarantee (or significantly increase the chance of) a critical hit.
- A close-range headshot with the Shotgun from Leon guarantees an exploded head for a zombie. With Claire, you have to wait until you can upgrade her starting handgun to use the (rarer) stronger ammo in order to get guaranteed critical headshots.
- In 2nd Run, both characters get access to a new Handgun at the beginning of the game. This Handgun uses stronger Handgun ammunition, and you will no longer find regular Handgun ammunition during 2nd Run. So if you want to use your regular Handgun or the Samurai Edge handguns on 2nd Run, you will need to craft the ammo.
- In regards to the Samurai Edge handguns, they all hold 15 rounds (more than the default handguns) but cannot be upgraded. They each also have their own specific perk. Jill's (Preorder Bonus) will raise to aiming position quicker. Chris's (Preorder Bonus) will have the crosshairs tighten quicker. Albert's (DLC) deals more damage.
- If going for the "No healing items" Challenge, you are still allowed to use Blue Herbs to cure your poison. I didn't test Red + Blue Herbs though.
- When going for a specific rank, time will stop during cutscenes (unlike the first REmake) so you are free to watch them if you want. However, time does not stop when looking at your map, inventory, Files, item box, or puzzles. It will stop for the Pause Menu, though. Additionally, if you die and select "Continue" then time still keeps counting from the run where you died, but if you just select your most recent save then it resets to the time it was at when you saved.
- Costumes can be changed at any time through the Pause Menu. There's not even a loading screen or anything. If you own the Classic Soundtrack you can also swap it under the Audio Options at any time.
- Hardcore difficulty has less inventory upgrades (only 3 instead of 6). The three that are just laying around are removed, and the ones that remain require you to open safes or lockers or something to get them.
===Early Game Tips===
- Only Leon gets the Club Key and only Claire gets the Heart Key. You cannot access everywhere in the RPD on a single character.
- The first time you leave the RPD through the secret passage, you've only done the first half of it and will be returning shortly. When you exit via the Parking Garage is when you've finished with the RPD section (though it will be possible to return later via a secret path if you wanted).
- Mr. X spawns when you put out the helicopter fire in 1st Run, and when you pass by the STARS Office in 2nd Run.
- When playing as Leon, shooting the zombie dogs that are in their cages means less zombie dogs to deal with later when they all get out. However, shooting zombies in the jail cells DOES NOT work (for the ones laying down at least, I think you can kill the ones that are moving around). It's the only spot in the game where you can't preemptively kill a zombie that's laying still, so don't waste your ammo on them and just use a flash grenade or regular grenade to get through the horde when the time comes. Or you can pull the switch to go around but Mr. X will be on your ass if you do that.
- Claire never gets the Crank to open the shuttered hallways, but the ladder on the roof doesn't break for her.
- After using the jack in the library puzzle, you can move multiple shelves at the same time. Just grab the shelf on the far left and push it right and it will push the other shelves with it.
- When playing as Claire, when Mr. X chases you out of the Parking Garage, he'll despawn as soon as you reach the staircase in the alleyway and you can turn around and return to the RPD if you wanted to keep exploring it.
- The Dark Room is the only place in the game to develop film. Later in the game you may find some more film, and will have to backtrack to the RPD if you want to develop it.
- You can only board windows in the RPD, so no need to hoard them for later in the game. If a window cannot be boarded, then it's not one zombies can come through. Once boarded, zombies may reach their hands in, but cannot come in or break the boards.
===Mid Game Tips===
- Only Leon goes into the gunshop and the portion of the sewers dealing with the alligator boss. Only Claire takes the route to the Orphanage. Claire's SMG destroys the zombie dogs on the way to the Orphanage.
- To dodge the alligator's fatal bite attacks, go left, then right, then quickly left again and you're done.
- Ada does not get any healing items during her segment so be careful.
- Sherry's segment in Claire's campaign is shorter, but is a stealth segment with one enemy hunting for you and you get a game over if they catch you.
- Leon can never return to the part of the sewer with the Alligator boss nor can he access Ada's areas. Make sure you get all the items from these locations if you don't want any red areas on your map. There is also a Mr. Raccoon Statue in both of these areas.
- Claire can never return to the Orphanage or her early parts of the Sewer once completing them, so again make sure to get any items if you don't want red areas on your map. There is also a Mr. Raccoon Statue in the Orphanage.
- G Adults will not come out of the water onto solid ground. Damaging the bulge on their left shoulder will reveal some kind of eye-sac, and then damaging that will reveal a giant eye. Pop that and they die instantly. Otherwise you can try running onto their right side with their tiny arm and hoping they don't get you, or just use a defensive item to get out of their grab (or let them vomit on you if you can cure poison) and run past immediately after the grab ends. The Flame Thrower and Shock Gun can deal with them fairly well.
- Once you find the Sewer Key to open the two locked offices, you'll find a movable shelf in one of them which opens a secret passage back to the RPD if you still had unfinished business there.
- The room where you use all the Chess Pieces will stay red on your map and the Chess Pieces will never get a red checkmark next to them. This is probably not a bug but instead exists so you can still raise/lower that one bridge if you need to or to go back and get the Flame Thrower/Shock Gun if you missed it. If you want it to be blue on your map then just toss all the chess pieces into the nearby item crate.
- When the boss is attacking from the ceiling, standing where the red herb was in the room will result in him never hitting you. After six attacks he will knock down the door, but if you attack his arm while he's in the ceiling he will come down quicker. When the door is broken down you can run straight past the boss before he even enters the room and run straight to the crane section. During this part the boss can only be defeated by hitting him with the crane (and hopefully not hitting yourself which will instantly kill you). Normally the boss has to be hit twice by the crane, but if you deal enough damage to him then a single crane swing will beat him.
- Leaving on the Tram is the point of no return. If playing as Leon, Ada will tell you this. If playing as Claire, she will comment on it herself. You can enter the tram, just don't pull the switch until you're ready to go.
===Late Game Tips===
- If for some reason you did not get the Shotgun with Leon or the Grenade Launcher as Claire, you will find them here at the start in the room with the bed where you find the North Map.
- Pop a bulb on the plant monster and they are usually stunned long enough to run by them. Beware, if they grab you and you don't have a defensive item then you die. Fortunately you are still allowed to use defensive items if you are grabbed from behind. If you pop all the bulbs on a plant creature they will fall down and be down for a while until the bulbs regrow. The only way to permanently take them out is to burn them to a blackened charred husk. Leon can easily do this by popping the bulbs with his pistol then just firing quick half-second bursts of fire at them, waiting for the fire to burn out, and then doing it again until they go up like a match. This saves a lot of ammo. Claire will have to use a Flame Round from her grenade launcher.
- The weird symbols on the keypad? They are negative-space numbers. They are also arranged like a regular telephone keypad (1-2-3 at top, 4-5-6 in middle, 7-8-9, at bottom, and 0 in the center below that). So you can just remember the numbers you need to push to solve it instead of trying to remember "Tetris Block, Roman Numeral II, etc."
- There is a super easy way to solve the chemical mixing puzzle on both 1st Run and 2nd Run...
For these puzzles, there are three buttons in this order: Green, Red, and Blue. All you have to do is know which button to start on, then you just keep going left (looping around to Blue after pressing Green). For 1st Run, start on Red (so go Red>Green>Blue>Red>Green>Blue>Red>Green) and for the 2nd Run start on Blue (so go Blue>Red>Green>Blue>Red>Green>Blue>Red>Green) and you're done. This is also the fastest way to complete these puzzles and will earn you the related Challenges.
- In the room where you find the trophy (in 1st Run), it is recommended to kill all the zombies that are laying around before you progress further. Otherwise when the two Lickers spawn, all the zombies will wake up to and you'll be in for hell.
- When fighting the boss in the West Wing, pop the eyes on his back, shoulder, and thigh and he will collapse and reveal his super weak point on his chest. Attack it with your hardest hitting weapons. You can also just attack him anywhere, but it will take longer. When he goes to pick up a canister to throw at you, pop an eye to make him drop it and hurt himself.
- During the countdown at the end, you will need 2 empty inventory spots for the battery to start the final boss battle. This is so you have room for the super weapon you get for the boss. For Leon, the Rocket Launcher is dropped after you deal enough damage to his final boss. For Claire, she can pick up the Chain Minigun in the same room where you use the battery before triggering the boss.
- Once you go down the elevator in the center of the Lab, you no longer need any key items you may be carrying like the ID wristband, so can dump them in an item box to make more room for health and ammo.
- For Leon, do enough damage to the boss's heart to stop his charge. For Claire, do enough damage (particularly to eyeballs on chest) when he's climbing the wall to knock him down and get a bunch of free hits in.
===Unlockables===
Costumes:
Modes:
Weapons:
There are also a bunch of Models and Concept Art you can unlock by completing Challenges.
Once a costume or weapon is unlocked, it's permanently unlocked for your entire game. You can even go back to old save files and use them. The unlocked weapons are found in the item box.
- Clear the game with Leon to unlock the ability to specifically select his Casual, Police, or Police (Injured) Costumes.
- Clear the game with Claire to unlock the ability to specifically select her Jacket or Tank Top Costumes.
- Clear the game with either to unlock the ability to set Leon, Claire, and Sherry into their Classic Costumes (though you can't individually pick them).
- Clear the game with Leon on Hardcore difficulty to unlock the ability to specifically select his Classic Costume.
- Clear the game with Claire on Hardcore difficulty to unlock the ability to specifically select her Classic Costume (also applies to Sherry).
Modes:
- Clear Story Mode with Leon to unlock 2nd Run Mode for Claire
- Clear Story Mode with Claire to unlock 2nd Run Mode for Leon
- Clear 2nd Run Mode with either character to unlock the Extra Mode: 4th Survivor.
- Clear 4th Survivor to unlock the Extra Mode: Tofu Survivor.
- Clearing Tofu Survivor unlocks other Tofu characters to play the mode with. Each has their own weapons and voice. There are 5 total Tofus you can unlock.
Weapons:
- The Infinite Knife is unlocked by destroying all 15 Mr. Raccoon Statues. These do not have to be destroyed in one run, as once they are destroyed once they are destroyed for good. There's a slight ticking noise when you're near a statue you haven't destroyed. If you use your Infinite Knife as a defensive item to break a grab, you'll have to kill that enemy to get your knife back. Try not to use it to break out of boss grabs as you won't get it back.
- Samurai Edge (Original) aka the Infinite Handgun is unlocked by getting an S Rank on Standard/Normal Difficulty with either character.
- The Infinite SMG is unlocked by getting an S Rank on Hardcore Difficulty with either character.
- The Infinite Rocket Launcher is unlocked by getting an S+ Rank on Hardcore Difficulty as Leon.
- The Infinite Minigun is unlocked by getting an S+ Rank on Hardcore Difficulty as Claire.
There are also a bunch of Models and Concept Art you can unlock by completing Challenges.
Once a costume or weapon is unlocked, it's permanently unlocked for your entire game. You can even go back to old save files and use them. The unlocked weapons are found in the item box.