The N64 changes made RE2 work for me.
Back in my first year of college in 2005, I played Resident Evil 2 for the first time. It wasn’t the PS1 original or the ports to Dreamcast or GameCube, though. It was the Nintendo 64 version. I found a loose copy in a used game shop for $5, so I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be a gateway to me being a lifetime RE fan.
It honestly never occurred to me at the time that RE2 on the N64 could have been trimmed down. Thankfully, it wasn’t for the most part (more on that later). The cartridge contained the full game, and even came with some extras I didn’t know were unique to that version.
Even when I started a new game, I was greeted with some changes. These were the violence level and blood color toggles. The first option basically adjusted the amount of blood (set to low initially), as well as things like decapitations from shotgun blasts. Blood color was funnier. I could change the color to red, green, and blue (strangely, the default).
After making my choices, and deciding to play as Leon S. Kennedy first, I was met with an instance when I needed another of the N64’s unique features. While I was used to playing with tank controls in stuff like Tomb Raider, I was having trouble moving around with the 64’s controller. As a result, the first zombies quickly ate me. I accidentally found the controls menu, and switched to the oddly named “first-person” controls. This actually gave me full analog control of Leon, making movement way easier. While it was still a bit wonky, I was able to continue. I don’t think I would have stuck with RE2 if I hadn’t discovered that.
I loved every moment, from exploring the Raccoon City Police Department to uncovering the mysteries of the secret Umbrella lab. After beating the game, I could start a separate scenario as Claire Redfield. I had hit the jackpot with this cartridge.
So, I played the B scenario. This added a new layer of fear to RE2: Mr. X. I felt like my heart was running a 100m dash every time he appeared. It left me wary whenever I entered a new room, since he might appear at any time, even though I later found out the sequences were scripted. While the remake makes him much more present, I’d argue he’s scarier in this version. I generally had very little room and time to run away from him. He was menacing, imposing, and shots seemed to do nothing. He also appeared when I least expected. I loved how it kept me on my toes.
After beating scenario B, I checked online to see if there were any secret modes, and yep, there were. What’s neat about the N64 version is that there are more cheat codes than the original (which only had one). So, I decided to check out “4th Survivor” using one of the codes. It was hard as nails. It took a lot of tries, but I did eventually beat it, and tried out “To-Fu Survivor” (also using cheat codes) after, which is much harder. I was only able to play those modes thanks to the built-in cheat codes, because the normal requirements for unlocking both modes are pretty challenging.
Finally, I checked out the “Randomizer” option. This mode is absolute chaos, because outside of weapons and key items, many items are completely randomized, not just rearranged. I could find more of something. For example, I could leave the RPD with 100 grenades in Claire’s inventory. This can make RE2 an absolute cakewalk, and it’s still so funny to see how things turn out.
There are a few downsides, though. Voices can sound like someone speaking into a can, due to sound compression used to make everything fit on the cart. The FMVs also take a hit, but considering that this is all on a 64 MB cartridge, it’s a wonder that they’re even there. I learned later that this port even existing is a small miracle.
I’m happy that I got to play the N64 version of Resident Evil 2 first, because I don’t think I would have appreciated the series without it. It’d be neat to see a re-release on something like Nintendo Switch Online. The N64 version needs to be shared with the public and preserved. It’s such a cool way to experience a classic, with expansions such as a new mode, cheat codes, and control options that make this adventure more replayable than it already was. Without Resident Evil 2 for the Nintendo 64 as available as the originals, this game’s history is incomplete.
