Resident Evil 2 expands the survival horror formula established in the first game, placing players in the chaos of Raccoon City after the T-virus outbreak. The story follows two protagonists: rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy, reporting for his first day on the job, and Claire Redfield, a college student searching for her missing brother Chris.
Developed and published by Capcom, Resident Evil 2 first hit the Sony PlayStation in early 1998. North America actually saw it first on January 21, followed by Japan on January 29 and Europe on April 29. What began as a single PlayStation release quickly expanded, carrying the outbreak far beyond the mansion.
The game spread to other systems Nintendo 64 (1999), Windows PC (1999), Dreamcast (2000), GameCube (2003) each port leaving its own mark with tweaks and technical feats. Defined as survival horror, played in single-player, and backed by a chilling score from Masami Ueda, Shusaku Uchiyama, and Syun Nishigaki, it remains one of Capcom’s most influential works.
The game introduces the innovative “Zapping System,” where completing one character’s campaign (Scenario A) unlocks a different sequence of events for the other (Scenario B). This creates four possible playthroughs, each revealing unique story beats, enemies, and boss encounters.
Players must survive relentless zombies, mutated creatures, and Umbrella Corporation’s ultimate bioweapon, William Birkin (G), while conserving resources, solving puzzles, and navigating through the Raccoon Police Department and other city locations.
Importance in Survival Horror History
Resident Evil 2 is widely considered one of the greatest survival horror titles of all time. It set a new benchmark for atmosphere, storytelling, and replayability in the genre. The introduction of larger environments, branching scenarios, and a more cinematic presentation elevated the franchise beyond the mansion setting of the first game.
It also helped define the survival horror “urban nightmare” aesthetic that would influence countless games, from Silent Hill to modern indie horror. The game’s balance of action, tension, and narrative complexity marked Capcom’s evolution in the late 1990s and cemented Resident Evil as a cultural phenomenon
Availability and Collectibility
Originally released on PlayStation, Resident Evil 2 was one of the console’s best-selling titles. Ports followed on Nintendo 64, PC, Dreamcast, and GameCube, each with unique tweaks (higher resolution textures, additional modes, or FMV compression).
Today, physical copies of the PlayStation version remain fairly common but sought after by collectors in complete condition. The Nintendo 64 version is especially valuable due to its technical achievement of compressing the two-disc PlayStation game into a single cartridge.
Reception vs. Historical Value
Upon release, Resident Evil 2 received critical acclaim, praised for its graphics, atmosphere, and replayability. Famitsu scored it 36/40, and Western outlets hailed it as a “masterclass” in horror design.
Historically, it is remembered as the game that perfected the classic Resident Evil formula. Its innovative structure, iconic monster designs (Lickers, G-Virus forms), and cinematic direction set a gold standard that still resonates today.
Recently it was Re-released in the PSN for PlayStation Players on 2025 and a GOG Version is Available since 2024!
GOG Trailer:
Trailer:
The official trailer of Resident Evil 2 starring Leon Kennedy & Claire Redfield, directed by George A. Romero – 1998