Along with unveiling a new Resident Evil 2 remake Collector’s Edition, Capcom hosted an entire panel during this past weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con that focused specifically on how the game’s two lead characters, as well as the iconic locale of Raccoon City itself, have been updated for the remake.
It just wouldn’t be a proper Resident Evil 2 remake if the two protagonists, rookie cop Leon Scott Kennedy and adept survivor Claire Redfield, didn’t make a return, though Capcom was also keen to freshen up both protagonists’ looks for the remake. Specifically, Leon’s classic cop look has been tweaked specifically to show that he’s a fresh-faced newbie who’s having the worst first day on the job in history (it doesn’t get much worse than a full-blown zombie apocalypse). Visually, Resident Evil 2 remake Leon is meant to contrast with the more hardened Leon we see in games like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 6.
Claire, meanwhile, has had her visual details updated to better reflect the sensibilities of a modern-day survivor. Gone are the short shorts and in their place is a sort of “biker ninja” (Capcom’s words” aesthetic that includes a slick red leather jacket and a motorcycle that’s based off a real-life Harley Davidson. Ms. Redfield may lack the formal S.T.A.R.S. training of her brother Chris, but that doesn’t mean she can’t still kick a whole lot of zombie butt.
Speaking of zombies, updating the visual designs of the ravenous undead is just one of the various ways that Capcom has made the Resident Evil 2 remake’s version of Raccoon City more grim and violent. Realistic rain, wreckage, and flooding help to remind players that Raccoon City has been utterly devastated by the zombie outbreak, and those themes of darkness and wetness also extend to the zombies themselves, ensuring that players will dread every upcoming corner they have to turn for fear of what waits beyond.
Plus, it’s not just the visual designs that are getting a facelift in the Resident Evil 2 remake. The game’s two story campaigns (one for Claire and one for Leon) will be different enough to warrant separate playthroughs, and players will definitely want to work through both campaigns if they want to truly appreciate how much work went into bringing the remake to life.