Originally released on January 25, 2019 (almost 21 years to the day from the release of the original), Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 is the studio’s critically and commercially acclaimed remake of many fans’ favorite game in the series, 1998’s Resident Evil 2. The development and release of Resident Evil 2 was a long-rumored project in Capcom’s portfolio following the successful HD remake of the original Resident Evil on the GameCube but would go through several false starts due to the company wanting to focus resources on new mainline entries. Capcom would finally reveal Resident Evil 2 in 2015, with players getting a demo just a few weeks ahead of the full release.
2019’s Resident Evil 2 would prove to be a major milestone for both Capcom and the Resident Evil franchise. Not only does Resident Evil 2 serve as the foundation for the subsequent successful remakes of Resident Evil 3 and 4, but it’s also the best-selling game in the franchise (remake or otherwise) and one of the highest-rated games in the series. To date, Resident Evil 2 has sold more than 15 million units, going on to receive ports to multiple other platforms (including iOS and Nintendo Switch as a cloud-based title).
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Premise

©Resident Evil 2 (2019) gameplay screenshot – Original
Not long after the events of the original Resident Evil, the town of Raccoon City finds itself in a dire state of emergency when the Umbrella Corporation’s secret bio-weapon research once again begins to affect daily life for the citizens. Umbrella’s attempts to seize research on a new, more powerful version of the T-Virus (dubbed the “G-Virus”) results in the samples unknowingly contaminating the town’s water supply, leading to a mass outbreak of zombification among the citizens and a rapid descent into chaos. New heroes Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield arrive in town concurrently, their paths crossing at just the right time for the pair to link up and work together toward survival.
In terms of its gameplay, the Resident Evil 2 remake is a full, ground-up reimagining of the original game. The title uses an over-the-shoulder third-person camera perspective not dissimilar from Capcom’s Resident Evil 4, abandoning the fixed camera angles and tank controls of the 1998 original. The title’s visuals are also significantly overhauled, utilizing the series’ proprietary RE Engine to render iconic locales, characters, and enemies in stunning detail. One of the main additions present in the remake is the inclusion of the unstoppable Tyrant “Mr. X”, who was originally only part of a “B Scenario” playthrough in the original RE2.
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Main Characters

©Resident Evil 2 gameplay screenshot – Original
Picking up mere weeks after the events of the original game, Resident Evil 2 starts with the town of Raccoon City on the verge of disaster. Following the contamination of the city’s water supply with Umbrella’s T-Virus, zombification has become rampant, leading to a full-scale zombie apocalypse and widespread panic. Rookie Raccoon City police officer Leon Kennedy arrives just as things are beginning to reach their apex, crossing paths with S.T.A.R.S. member Chris Redfield’s younger sister, Claire. Together, the two must survive long enough to search for Chris and any other survivors before escaping the town. Main characters in Resident Evil 2 include:
- Leon Kennedy: Leon is one of the main protagonists and player characters in RE2. A rookie RPD officer, Leon lands in Raccoon City for his first day of work right as the zombie disaster is unfolding.
- Claire Redfield: Claire is the other player protagonist and the younger sister of original Resident Evil hero Chris Redfield. She is heading to Raccoon City to track down her brother’s whereabouts.
- Ada Wong: An “FBI” agent who crosses paths with Leon Kennedy. She is secretly a spy working on behalf of the Umbrella Corporation.
- Sherry Birkin: The daughter of Umbrella researchers Annette and William Birkin. She ends up trusting and following Claire to escape the city.
- Mr. X: A Tyrant bio-weapon dispatched by the Umbrella Corporation to kill any witnesses of the Raccoon City incident.
Games in the Resident Evil Series
The original Resident Evil 2 would follow the groundbreaking original just 2 years later, significantly expanding on the first game’s formula and quickly becoming another critical and commercial success. Resident Evil 2‘s universal acclaim further established the series as the face of the burgeoning “Survival Horror” genre, and the series’ momentum only kept increasing for nearly two decades. Following a soft reboot of the franchise with Resident Evil 7, Capcom would begin farming the series’ past for new remakes using its impressive RE Engine, of which Resident Evil 2 was the first game to receive the remake treatment. 2019’s Resident Evil 2 is a bold reimagining of the original that stands as one of the best games in the series and one of the best video game remakes ever. Games in the Resident Evil series include:
- Resident Evil (1996)
- Resident Evil 2 (1998)
- Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
- Resident Evil Survivor (2000)
- Resident Evil – Code: Veronica (2000)
- Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica (2001)
- Resident Evil Gaiden (2001)
- Resident Evil (Remake) (2002)
- Resident Evil Zero (2002)
- Resident Evil: Dead Aim (2003)
- Resident Evil Outbreak (2003)
- Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2 (2004) /em>
- Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007)
- Resident Evil 5 (2009)
- Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (2009)
- Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (2011)
- Resident Evil: Revelations (2012)
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (2012)
- Resident Evil 6 (2012)
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015)
- Umbrella Corps (2016)
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)
- Resident Evil 2 (Remake) (2019)
- Resident Evil 3 (Remake) (2020)
- Resident Evil: Resistance (2020)
- Resident Evil Village (2021)
- Resident Evil Re:Verse (2022)
- Resident Evil 4 (Remake) (2023)
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Cheats & Secrets
While there are no official “cheats” in the Resident Evil 2 remake, players can acquire several bonus unlockables for completing certain in-game requirements. Additionally, PC players have the option to use third-party cheat engines and cheat trainer files.
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Unlockables
Unlockable Bonus Weapons
Completing any of the following in-game tasks will unlock the corresponding bonus weapon.
Weapon | How to Unlock |
---|---|
ATM-4 Rocket Launcher (Infinite Ammo) | Complete either scenario with Leon on Hardcore, earning an S+ Rank |
LE-5 Submachine Gun (Infinite Ammo) | Complete the game on Hardcore with an S Rank |
Minigun (Infinite Ammo) | Complete either scenario with Claire on Hardcore, earning an S+ Rank |
Samurai Edge (Infinite Ammo) | Complete the game on Standard with an S Rank |
Unbreakable Combat Knife | Destroy all 15 Mr. Raccoon statues in the game |
Unlockable Modes
Completing any of the following in-game activities will unlock the corresponding additional modes.
Mode | How to Unlock |
---|---|
Claire’s Second Run | Complete the main Story scenario with Leon on any difficulty or complete Leon’s Second Run |
Leon’s Second Run | Complete the main Story scenario with Claire on any difficulty or complete Claire’s Second Run |
Fourth Survivor Mode | Complete either Leon or Claire’s Second Run |
Tofu Survivor Mode | Complete Fourth Survivor |
Bonus Characters for Tofu Survivor
There are 4 additional characters players can unlock for use in the Tofu Survivor mode.
Character | How to Unlock |
---|---|
Anin Tofu | Beat Tofu Survivor using Konjac or Urio-Mochi |
Flan | Beat Tofu Survivor using Konjac or Urio-Mochi |
Konjac | Beat Tofu Survivor using Tofu |
Uiro-Mochi | Beat Tofu Survivor using Tofu |
Alternate Costumes
Completing the following tasks will unlock the corresponding alternate costumes for use in subsequent playthroughs.
Costume | How to Unlock |
---|---|
Casual Costume (Leon) | Complete Leon’s Story |
Police Costume (Leon) | Complete Leon’s Story |
Police (Injured) Costume (Leon) | Complete Leon’s Story |
Casual Costume (Claire) | Complete Claire’s Story |
Jacket Costume (Claire) | Complete Claire’s Story |
Tank Top Costume (Claire) | Complete Claire’s Story |
Classic Police (Injured) for Leon | Complete Story on Hardcore |
Classic Tank Top for Claire | Complete Story on Hardcore |
Alternative Costume for Leon and Claire | Escape the Lab |
Ada (no trench coat) | Equip any of Leon’s alternate costumes |
Unlockable Accessories for The Ghost Survivors DLC
Completing the following tasks in The Ghost Survivors DLC will unlock the corresponding accessory/hat for all characters. Note that completing these tasks in the Training mode will not unlock any of the items. Players must complete the main version of each scenario to unlock the corresponding accessories. Note that, except for the Cat Ears, the rest of the accessories are purely cosmetic.
Accessory/Hat | How to Unlock |
---|---|
Cat Ears (Infinite Ammo) | Complete the “No Way Out” scenario without firing more than 60 bullets |
Crocodile | Complete the “Runaway” scenario |
Egghead | Open all locked gates and complete the “Runaway” scenario |
G | Complete the “No Time to Mourn” scenario |
Gas Mask (Hunk) | Complete the “Forgotten Soldier” scenario |
Ivy | Complete the “Forgotten Soldier” (Route 2) scenario |
Licker | Complete the “A Way Out” scenario |
Molded (Resident Evil 7) | Complete the “No Time To Mourn” (Route 2) scenario |
Mr. Raccoon | Shoot all 10 Mr. Raccoon statues in The Ghost Survivors |
Raccoon | Complete the “No Time To Mourn” scenario |
Sheep | Complete the “No Time To Mourn” scenario |
Skull | Combine Gunpowder (White) & Gunpowder (Yellow) to create a Grenade in any scenario |
Tiger | Play any The Ghost Survivors scenario three times |
Tyrant | Complete both “No Time To Mourn” scenarios |
Unicorn | Complete the “Runaway” (Route 2) scenario |
Unlocking S and S+ Rank
One of the main factors working toward unlocking bonus weapons with infinite ammo requires players to earn either S or S+ Rank on varying difficulties (depending on the unlockable). Use the table below to help understand what goes into determining a player’s ranking.
Rank | How to Earn |
---|---|
S Rank (Standard, 1st Run) | Complete the game in under 03:30:00. No limits on saves, can use Infinite Weapons |
S Rank (Standard, 2nd Run) | Complete the game in under 03:00:00. No limits on saves, can use Infinite Weapons |
S+ Rank (Standard, 1st Run) | Complete the game in under 03:30:00 without using Infinite Weapons (except for Unbreakable Combat Knife). No more than 3 saves |
S+ Rank (Standard, 2nd Run) | Complete the game in under 03:00:00 without using Infinite Weapons (except for Unbreakable Combat Knife). No more than 3 saves |
S Rank (Hardcore, 1st Run) | Complete the game in under 02:30:00. No limits on saves, can use Infinite Weapons |
S Rank (Hardcore, 2nd Run) | Complete the game in under 02:00:00. No limits on saves, can use Infinite Weapons |
S+ Rank (Hardcore, 1st Run) | Complete the game in under 02:30:00 without using Infinite Weapons (except for Unbreakable Combat Knife). No more than 3 saves |
S+ Rank (Hardcore, 2nd Run) | Complete the game in under 02:00:00 without using Infinite Weapons (except for Unbreakable Combat Knife). No more than 3 saves |
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Secrets
Infinite Minigun in “No Way Out” (Training Mode)
After starting the “No Way Out” scenario (part of The Ghost Survivors DLC), you’ll spot a small roach on the column outside the door you initially faced in the parking lot. Shoot that roach while the door is open for the first backpack zombie to spawn a Minigun with unlimited ammo (instead of a Flash Grenade and Green Herb). Note that this will only work in the Training mode for the scenario.
Mr. Raccoon Statue Locations
Use the following table as you play through Resident Evil 2 to help you destroy each Mr. Raccoon statue as soon as it becomes available.
Mr. Raccoon Statue | Location |
---|---|
Mr. Raccoon #01 | RPD, 1F – West Office. On a shelf against the wall, on top of a blue and white cardboard box. |
Mr. Raccoon #02 | RPD, 1F – Break Room. At the foot of a bunk bed behind the duffle bag. Leon only |
Mr. Raccoon #03 | RPD, 2F – S.T.A.R.S. Office. Behind a monitor on a desk next to the corkboard. |
Mr. Raccoon #04 | RPD, B1 – Parking Garage. On the floor inside the firing range. |
Mr. Raccoon #05 | RPD, 2F – Outside Chief Irons’ Office. On a cart beside the bottom of the stairs in the hallway. |
Mr. Raccoon #06 | RPD, 3F – East Storage Room. To the left of the entrance behind a locked (Heart) door. Claire only. |
Mr. Raccoon #07 | RPD, 3F – Outside the Clock Tower. On a windowsill at the end of the hallway. |
Mr. Raccoon #08 | Behind RPD – Outside the Orphanage Gates. On the dashboard of the bus just outside the entrance. Claire only. |
Mr. Raccoon #09 | Orphanage, 2F – Nursery. On a shelf with building blocks on it. Claire only. |
Mr. Raccoon #10 | Sewers – Sewer Entrance. In the left-hand corner opposite the ladder after escaping the Alligator. Leon only. |
Mr. Raccoon #11 | Sewers – Incinerator. On the ground to the right of the Incinerator entrance. Leon (Ada) only. |
Mr. Raccoon #12 | Sewers – Outside Supplies Storage. Up the stairs, on the floor beside a table and 2 cardboard boxes to the left of the door. |
Mr. Raccoon #13 | NEST Laboratory – Cafeteria. On a table next to the sugar dispenser (near the ladder). |
Mr. Raccoon #14 | NEST Laboratory – Nap Room. On a shelf beside a bed at the far end of the room. |
Mr. Raccoon #15 | Starting Area (2nd Run). On the ground near the brick wall, just to the left of the Courtyard entrance. |
All Safe/Door/Locker Codes
Use any of the following codes to unlock the corresponding locker/door/safe during Resident Evil 2.
Safe/Locker/Door/Puzzle | Code/Solution |
---|---|
Lion Statue | Lion, Leafy Branch, Bird |
Lion Statue (Second Run) | Crown, Torch, Bird |
West Office Desk (Rookie’s First Assignment) | Left Lock: NED, Right Lock: MRG |
3F Stairs Dial Lock | DCM |
Unicorn Statue | Fish, Scorpion, Vase |
Unicorn Statue (Second Run) | Gemini (Twins), Scales, Snake |
Men’s Locker Room Dial Lock | CAP |
West Office Safe | Left 9, Right 15, Left 7 |
Maiden Statue | Woman, Bow, Snake |
Maiden Statue (Second Run) | Ram, Harp, Bird |
Waiting Room Safe | Left 6, Right 2, Left 11 |
Sewer Locker (Control Room) Dial Lock | SZF |
Treatment Pool Safe | Left 2, Right 12, Left 8 |
Chess Plug Puzzle | Using the Message Board as 12 ‘o clock and going clockwise: King, Queen, Pawn, Bishop, Rook, Knight |
Chess Plug Puzzle (Second Run) | Using the Message Board as 12 ‘o clock and going clockwise: Knight, Rook, Pawn, Queen, Bishop, King |
Greenhouse Control Room Ladder | Translating symbols to numbers on a normal keypad: 3 1 2 3 |
Greenhouse Control Room Ladder (Second Run) | Translating symbols to numbers on a normal keypad: 5 8 3 1 |
Greenhouse Control Room Drug Testing | Translating symbols to numbers on a normal keypad: 1 0 6 7 |
Greenhouse Control Room Drug Testing (Second Run) | Translating symbols to numbers on a normal keypad: 1 0 4 8 |
Plant 43 Herbicide Mixing | Red, Green, Blue, Red, Green, Blue, Red, Green |
Plant 43 Herbicide Mixing (Second Run) | Blue, Red, Green, Blue, Red, Green, Blue, Red, Green |
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Cheat Engine Cheats (PC Only)
PC players have the option of downloading a third-party cheat engine and a compatible cheat trainer file for Resident Evil 2. One such cheat trainer file can be found here and contains the following cheat options:
- Infinite Health
- Infinite Ammo
- Infinite Ink Ribbons
- Infinite Durability
- No Reload
- Max Inventory Slots
- Better Accuracy
- 4x Damage
- Set Game Time
- Reset Game Time
- Mr. X Stays Down
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Achievements/Trophies
Completing the following in-game activity will unlock the corresponding achievement/trophy:
Achievement/Trophy | Raccoon City Native |
---|---|
Open a dial-safe | Collect all Trophies (Platinum, PlayStation-exclusive) |
Welcome to the City of the Dead | Reach the police station |
Path of the Goddess | Solve the Goddess Statue puzzle |
Never-Ending Rain | Escape the police station |
Hack Complete | Complete Ada’s segment |
Hide and Seek | Complete Sherry’s segment |
A Great Need for a Shower | Escape the Sewers |
A Hero Emerges | Complete Leon’s story |
A Heroine Emerges | Complete Claire’s story |
Broken Umbrella | Witness the true ending |
The Basics of Survival | Combine two items |
Hip to Add Squares | Increase your inventory |
Customizer | Customize a weapon |
Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Gun | Defeat an enemy with a knife |
Eat This! | Counterattack with a sub-weapon |
That’ll Hold ‘Em | Use Wooden Boards to board windows |
Vermin Extermination | Destroy a Mr. Raccoon |
A Vault-like Mind | Open a portable safe |
First Break-In | Open a dial safe |
Bon Appétit | Shoot a Grenade in an enemy’s mouth |
Zombie Roundup | Kill 3 enemies at once with a sub-weapon |
Like Skeet Shooting | Shoot an enemy in mid-air |
Keep Their Heads Ringin’ | Paralyze a Licker’s sense of hearing |
Hats Off! | Shoot Tyrant’s hat off |
Gotcha! | Defeat Stage 2 G using the crane |
Treasure Hunter | Use photos to find 2 hidden items |
A Waist of Space | Max out your inventory slots |
One Slick Super-Spy | Only use the EMF Visualizer (Ada) |
Young Escapee | Escape the bedroom within 60 seconds (Sherry) |
With Time to Spare | Defeat Stage 4 G with 4 or more minutes left |
In the Blink of an Eye | Defeat Super Tyrant with 5 or more minutes left |
Lore Explorer | Read all the Files |
Complete Vermin Extermination | Destroy all Mr. Raccoons |
Master of Unlocking | Open all safes and locks |
Leon “S.” Kennedy | Complete Leon’s story on Standard or Hardcore with an S Rank |
Sizzling Scarlet Hero | Complete Claire’s story on Standard or Hardcore with an S Rank |
Hardcore Rookie | Complete Leon’s story on Hardcore |
Hardcore College Student | Complete Claire’s story on Hardcore |
Frugalist | Complete the game without using health items |
Minimalist | Complete the game without using the item box |
A Small Carbon Footprint | Take 14,000 or fewer steps in one playthrough |
Grim Reaper | Complete “The 4th Survivor” |
DLC Achievements/Trophies
Achievement/Trophy | Description |
---|---|
Hell of a Sheriff | Complete the “No Way Out” scenario |
Got ‘Em | Destroy all 10 Mr. Raccoon statues in The Ghost Survivors |
Chasing Jill | Read the letter left behind by Jill |
Resident Evil 2 (2019) Cheat FAQs
Does Resident Evil 2 have cheat codes?
There are no official cheat codes for the Resident Evil 2 remake. However, there are several secrets and unlockables for players to discover. Additionally, PC players can use third-party cheat engines and cheat trainer files to transform their experience with Resident Evil 2.
How do you get the infinite knife in Resident Evil 2?
To unlock the unbreakable combat knife (which is the only infinite weapon usable for an S+ Rank), players must find and destroy all 15 Mr. Raccoon statues that appear throughout Resident Evil 2‘s story. Note that some of these are exclusive to either Leon or Claire’s scenarios, requiring players to play through the game with each character to find them all.
Can you get infinite ammo in Resident Evil 2?
The only way to unlock infinite ammo in Resident Evil 2 is to unlock any of the game’s bonus weapons. Each of the bonus weapons comes with the additional benefit of infinite ammo, though players will need to jump through some significant hoops to unlock them. Players must beat both Claire and Leon’s scenarios on Hardcore difficulty while earning an S or S+ Rank to unlock most of the bonus weapons. Alternatively, Capcom offers a purchasable unlock that can bypass needing to beat the game to unlock these infinite ammo weapons, for a price.
How long to beat Resident Evil 2?
An initial playthrough of either Claire or Leon’s main story scenario will take most players roughly 7-9 hours. As players become more and more familiar with the game, though, those playtime will significantly decrease. To earn the best rankings in the game (S or S+ Rank), players will need to beat both the main scenario and the Second Run scenarios in under 3 hours (or, in some cases, under 2 hours). To see everything Resident Evil 2 (2019) has to offer and unlock all achievements, players can expect to spend 35-40 hours.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Resident Evil 2 (2019) key art.