The iconic cast and locales of the new-gen horror remake get overhauled for a photorealistic version of the gaming classic

Just revealed at the Resident Evil panel at San Diego Comic-Con, we have a bunch of new information on Resident Evil 2, straight from the game’s producer, Yoshiaki Hirabayashi!

Remaking a true classic is no easy feat, but the talented team at Capcom behind the upcoming Resident Evil 2 is certainly up to the challenge. Originally revealed with the “WE DO IT” video that’s become well-known among fans, Hirabayashi explained how this new version of Resident Evil 2 exists because of overwhelming fan demand.

This is not just a remake – it’s a complete redesign of Resident Evil 2, including the iconic Raccoon City Police Department and the surrounding Raccoon City.

Leon Kennedy

Speaking of, one of the topics covered was Leon’s younger look in Resident Evil 2. Compared to later entries, the goal was to give him more of a fresh-faced rookie look in contrast to the hero that he becomes later on in the series.

Famous for having one of the worst first days on the job in history (they cancelled his welcoming party and everything), a lot of thought was put into how Leon’s new, yet classic, look would work with modern photorealistic graphics.

As a result, the team created a physical version of Leon’s costume, using photogrammetry technology to scan his clothes into the game and added minor details and changes afterwards.

Claire Redfield

Resident Evil 2 isn’t complete without Claire, our hero who comes to Raccoon City searching for her brother Chris. Claire’s updated design uses the same technology, scanning in a real-world costume to capture every last detail of her outfit.

The team had quite a bit of discussion on how to design her new look, and how much of it should retain her appearance from the original PlayStation release of Resident Evil 2.

Ultimately, the team decided on an appearance that would line up with the iconic scene of Claire entering Raccoon City on her motorcycle. The team is extremely happy with her final design, and hope you all enjoy it as well!

Raccoon City

For the city itself, the team put a major focus on two concepts that permeate throughout the game: a sense of wetness and playing off a fear of the dark.

Using the powerful RE Engine, the team has been able to achieve their goal of creating a sense of dread through these visual cues. The events of Resident Evil 2 take place on a rainy day in Raccoon City, causing puddles and flooding in parts of the city, while others areas are covered in the grotesque aftermath of clashes with the undead and other terrors lurking in the gloom.

Finally, it’s not Resident Evil 2 without zombies! Hirabayashi and the team discussed how they designed the scourge of undead in the remake.

Simply put, they wanted to create something monstrous that you didn’t want to be bitten by! To that end, zombies have been created with the same concepts of wetness and darkness in mind, ensuring that every encounter is just as tense as the one before.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this special look into the Resident Evil panel at San Diego Comic-Con. Raccoon City is ready to welcome you with open arms when Resident Evil 2 comes to PlayStation 4 on 25th January, 2019.