One of the best selling games in the original PlayStation era and undeniably one of the greatest sequels ever has turned 23 - on the same year that the entire franchise celebrates its 25th Anniversary no less.
On this day on January 21, 1998 - Resident Evil 2 aka Biohazard 2 was released for the Sony PlayStation - bringing a new kind of Survival Horror adventure into the series by making a sequel that was twice as big as the first and put the story two months later where the entire midwestern town of Raccoon City fell to the T-Virus and the zombie outbreak that came along with it. New protagonists were introduced in rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield - the young tomboyish sister of RE1's Chris Redfield - as both embarked on a journey to survive and escape from the city of the dead while dealing will all sorts of biohazardous monstrosities unleashed by the machinations of the Umbrella Corporation.
To say RE2 was a monumental success is nothing short of an understatement - the game was actually reworked from the ground up after the original build set for a 1997 released (dubbed by fans as RE 1.5) was scrapped. Capcom and the first game's director Shinji Mikami wanted to redo the entire concept, and with future Devil May Cry and Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya at the helm that would prove to be a smart and wise choice. The turnout of the game became phenomenal, and would lead to several more sequels and spin-offs - including a remake of RE2 itself which was released on January 25, 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Gamers and OG Resident Evil fans have had to bear a sad day, as reports from multiple sources have come in that Paul Haddad, the voice of Leon s. Kennedy in the original Resident Evil 2, has passed away at the age of 56. According to a report by Biohazard Declassified, the British-born Canadian actor was said to have previously battled throat cancer and a neurological disorder, and had set up a GoFundMe to help in his expenses. Unfortunately, Haddad was reported to have passed away on April 11th.
Aside from playing Leon, Paul also lent his voice to several shows - including the X-Men: Animated Series of the 1990's as Quicksilver. Coincidentally, Alyson Court - who played Claire Redfield in the original RE2, voiced Jubilee in that show as well.
Made this tribute to the man who brought to life one of the most iconic Survival Horror characters ever made. Rest in Peace, Paul. Thank you for taking on Umbrella.
22 years ago... Survival Horror got a double dose of action and terror by bringing the zombie apocalypse and Umbrella's biological monstrosities to Raccoon City - as Capcom unleashed one of the greatest games for the Sony Playstation on this day in 1998 with "Resident Evil 2".
Released in North America first on January 21, 1998 - the game that is also known as "Biohazard 2" was a direct continuation of the 1996 third person action adventure title that coined the genre "Survival Horror", and introduced us to two new protagonists in Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Set two months after the events of the first Resident Evil - our new heroes enter the fiction midwestern town of Raccoon City - lost to an outbreak and forcing them to find a way to escape and survive by any means necessary.
Resident Evil 2 Demo Trailer
Resident Evil 2 was a critical success for Capcom upon its release, and went on to sell nearly 6 million Playstation units - becoming one of the best-selling games of all time. Last year around this time, a remake of the game was released for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC - Telling essentially the same kind of story but sporting new graphics and paths for fans new and old to explore.
This title's importance in video game history cannot be overstated, and it is definitely a classic in many fans eyes, including this long time fan and survival horror player here. HAPPY 22 YEARS, RESIDENT EVIL 2!
It's truly hard to imagine that come a few days from now, the long awaited remake of Resident Evil 2 will finally hit current generation consoles and PC - bringing a newly reimagined version of the title to gamers from this generation and those who grew up with the original. Speaking of that - today marks the 21st anniversary of the release of "Resident Evil 2" for the original Sony Playstation. On this January 21st in 1998 - gamers finally got the long awaited follow-up to the 1996 classic that helped redefine horror and adventure into a new genre called "Survival Horror" and sprucing things up by not only putting its setting in a city plagued by the undead, but by adding more replay value and mechanics that greatly improved upon its predecessor.
Known as "Bio Hazard 2" in Japan, RE2 was in development immediately after the release of the first game - but went through a hard development process that ultimately say Capcom dissatisfied with the first build of the sequel (leading to it being scrapped and called "Resident Evil 1.5" by fans). Eventually the team decided to start from scratch and move the release date forward to January of 1998, and that gample paid off with the Resident Evil 2 we all know and love from time and memorial. That game became the best selling game in a single platform, and would sell 4.96 Million copies on Playstation.
The game - focusing on an RPD rookie cop named Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, the younger sister of RE1 lead Chris Redfield, would see both playable characters enter Raccoon City just as the zombie outbreak commenced - forcing both to find shelter in the Raccoon City Police Department. Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse as the city is all but dead and overrun, and the survivors look for a way to escape while also discovering at the same time the secrets and people behind the chaos unleashed in The Umbrella Corporation.
Resident Evil 2 Commercial by George A. Romero
So even until this day, Resident Evil 2 remains a product of its time yet is beholden by many as one of the best Survival Horror games and sequels ever produced. That legacy is what drove many fans to request a remake after the success of the 2002 Resident Evil Remake - and that time is now with the upcoming release of Resident Evil 2 (2019). I along with the rest of the world cannot wait to see what lies in store with the new reimagining of a classic.
And here I am all celebratory and prepared for the new remake. HAPPY 21 YEARS, RESIDENT EVIL 2!
After a long time requesting for a "demo" of the game, Resident Evil fans are finally going to get just that at the comforts of their own console and home as Capcom has officially announced that their upcoming "Resident Evil 2" remake is getting a "1-Shot Demo" this week. In other words, players will FINALLY get their chance to try out this brand new reimagining of the 1998 sequel powered by the RE Engine before the full game comes out the end of the month... And this demo sees release for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC Steam this January 11th!
Resident Evil 2 - Story Trailer | PS4
There is a catch however for those playing this demo - you only have 30 MINUTES to play through it and guide Leon S. Kennedy through the horrors of the Raccoon City outbreak and beyond. That means that the clock is ticking and you won't have any time to explore and kill every enemy on sight. The demo becomes unplayable after your thirty minutes are up, and while that may be a bit disappointing to know - there will be a special new trailer that will play right after you're done with things at least. If you plan to download and try, be sure to between January 11 to 31!
Resident Evil 2 arrives for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on January 25th!
With just over a month left until it releases and remakes one of the most best Survival Horror games ever made, Capcom has released two new Gameplay videos for "Resident Evil 2" (aka BioHazard 2 in Japan) - which introduces us to familiar faces from the game that see actual dialogue and presentation for the very first time - such as Robert Kendo from "Gun Shop Kendo" and the enigmatic Ada Wong springing into action! Also, Leon S. Kennedy facing off against a powerful G Mutation.
Resident Evil 2: Leon Gameplay - Familiar Faces
Then there's the monsters and villains... Like the powerhouse called "Mr. X" facing off against Claire Redfield.
