Resident Evil 2 | December 22, 1999
This is a port of the PC version for the Dreamcast, structured across three discs. In addition to the Leon and Claire scenarios, the bonus disc also includes a demo of Resident Evil Code: Veronica. Exclusively in the Japanese version, The 4th Survivor and Tofu Survivor are unlocked by default, and the unlockable levels of Extreme Battle mode are identical to the PC version. While the control interface follows the PC version, unlike the PC version, the directional controls cannot be changed. The Gallery mode and Infinite Ammo cheat are also available just like in the PC version. The Dreamcast’s Visual Memory Unit allows players to check their health and ammunition status in real-time.
This game is the second entry in Capcom's Resident Evil survival horror series. Initially scheduled for release in March 1997, its release was delayed by a year due to a major development setback, and it was ultimately released in January 1998.
The original Resident Evil was never expected to be a hit, and with the departure of the project’s producer, Tokuro Fujiwara, just before the game’s completion, there were no plans for a sequel. However, against expectations, Resident Evil became a massive success, making a sequel inevitable. The problem was that both Fujiwara and the scriptwriter, Kenichi Iwao, were no longer with Capcom. Fujiwara’s position was filled by Shinji Mikami, the director of the original game, and Mikami handed the director’s role to a relatively unknown newcomer, Hideki Kamiya.
Kamiya, filled with enthusiasm, began working on the sequel, but internal feedback was disastrous. Ultimately, the decision was made to discard about 70% of the game, which was already nearly finished, and start from scratch. During this time, renowned writers Noboru Sugimura and Susumu Takaku were brought in to help, and it was Sugimura’s idea to introduce Claire Redfield, the sister of the original protagonist Chris, instead of the previously planned character Elza Walker. Kamiya was impressed by Sugimura’s skill, acknowledging that the game wouldn’t have been a masterpiece without him.
Despite oversupply and price dumping, Resident Evil 2 achieved remarkable sales and helped establish a new franchise. This success also influenced Capcom’s later games, including the Devil May Cry, Dino Crisis, and Onimusha series, solidifying Capcom's reputation as a producer of 3D action games.
Unlike the original game, which took place in the Spencer Mansion, Resident Evil 2’s setting is the entire Raccoon City, which has turned into a zombie-filled hell. However, despite initial promises, only the early stages of Raccoon City are explored, with the bulk of the game taking place in the Raccoon City Police Department, the sewers, and Umbrella's underground research labs.
The game features two playable protagonists: Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. The player chooses one of these characters and experiences one of two story routes (Leon or Claire). The game is split into two discs, one for Leon's story and one for Claire's. The choice of which disc to play alters the story, with subtle changes in gameplay depending on the character chosen. Each character has an A and B scenario, providing four possible playthroughs.
The A and B scenarios differ in their starting locations and how certain events unfold. The official route is Claire A → Leon B. In the A scenario, players enter the police station from the front, while in the B scenario, they enter from the back. Important items are located differently, and the Tyrant, the final boss of the first game, appears as a mid-level boss in the B scenario. The final portion of the game features a battle against the Tyrant, followed by a confrontation with the final form of G aboard a train. The B scenario is more challenging and longer than the A scenario.
