You’re standing in the rain outside the Raccoon City Police Department. It’s dark. It’s miserable. Honestly, if you’ve played the original 1998 version, you might think you know what’s coming. You don't. Capcom didn't just slap a fresh coat of paint on this thing; they fundamentally changed how horror works in a 3D space. This Resident Evil 2 Remake guide isn't about telling you where every single herb is—you can find a map for that. It’s about understanding the systems that are actively trying to kill you.
Zombies in this game are tanks. Seriously. In older games, a headshot was a guaranteed kill or at least a reliable knockdown. Here? You can pump four rounds of 9mm into a corridor crawler’s skull and they’ll still twitch. It’s frustrating. It's meant to be.
Stop Trying to Kill Everything
The biggest mistake new players make is treated Leon or Claire like they’re in a Call of Duty campaign. Stop it. Ammo is the most precious resource in the game, more than health, more than ribbons. If a zombie is in a wide hallway, just blow out its kneecap. One or two well-placed shots to the leg will put them on the floor. Once they’re crawling, they’re basically a non-threat as long as you don't step on them. You save four bullets. Those four bullets are the difference between life and death when you run into a Licker later.
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Survival horror is about management. It's a spreadsheet with gore.
If you must clear a room—like the Library or the Main Hall—because you’ll be backtracking through it ten times, then fine, go for the kill. But even then, use the knife. The combat knife in the remake has durability, but it’s the most efficient way to finish off a downed enemy. Slash at their legs or back while they’re prone. It saves your gunpowder for the bosses.
The Mr. X Problem and How to Handle the Stress
He’s loud. He’s tall. He wears a hat that honestly looks a bit silly until he’s punching your ribs into your lungs. Mr. X (the Tyrant) is the ultimate stress test in this Resident Evil 2 Remake guide. Most people panic when they hear those heavy boots thudding on the floorboards above them.
Here is the secret: he’s slow.
You can literally outwalk him. You don't even need to sprint. The game uses directional audio to trick you into thinking he’s closer than he is. If you’re in a room and you hear him, stay still. He reacts to noise. If you’re sprinting and firing off rounds, he’s going to find you. If you walk, he has to actually "search" for you.
Don't waste ammo on him. Shooting him in the face only downs him for about thirty seconds. It’s a waste of bullets. The only time you should ever shoot Mr. X is if you are cornered in a dead-end room like the Press Room or the laundry area. Otherwise, lead him around a large object—like the table in the STARS office—and just kite him. He’s got the turning radius of a semi-truck. Use that.
Safe Rooms are Your Only Friends
The music changes when you enter a safe room. Listen for it. It’s the only place the big guy can’t touch you, with a couple of scripted exceptions. Use these moments to breathe. Reorganize your inventory. If you’ve got a bunch of key items like the Crank or the Electronic Parts, don't carry them all at once. You only have eight to ten slots starting out.
Inventory Management is the Real Boss
You’re going to find wooden planks. Do not throw them away. Boarding up the windows in the western hallway (1F) early in the game is the smartest move you can make. If you don't, that hallway becomes a literal death trap of respawning zombies later in the night.
Gunpowder combinations are another thing people mess up.
- Standard + Standard = Handgun ammo.
- Standard + High-Grade (Yellow) = Shotgun shells (Leon).
- Standard + High-Grade (White) = Acid rounds (Claire).
If you’re playing as Leon, the shotgun is your "get out of jail free" card. Save it for Lickers. If you see a Licker, stop moving. Just stop. They are totally blind. You can literally walk right past them—slowly, no running—and they won't trigger. If you bump into them, though, it’s over.
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Understanding the Map Colors
The map in RE2 Remake is incredibly helpful. If a room is red, there is still something in there. It might be a tiny pack of gunpowder hidden in a drawer or a file you didn't read. If the room is blue, it’s cleared.
Your goal should be to turn the entire RPD blue before you head down into the sewers. Why? Because once you leave for the sewers, coming back is a massive pain, and you’ll need those extra supplies for the G-Birkin fights.
Speaking of Birkin, his weak point is always the giant eye. Whether it’s on his shoulder, his back, or his chest. Don't spray and pray. Wait for the opening. In his first phase, you can actually knife him to death pretty easily if you stay behind his right side. It sounds crazy, but it works and saves you thirty handgun bullets.
The Difference Between Leon and Claire
It’s not just a skin swap. Leon gets the shotgun and the Lightning Hawk (Magnum). He’s built for stopping power and precision. Claire gets the Grenade Launcher and the SMG. Claire’s run is generally considered slightly easier by some because the Flame Rounds absolutely melt through the Ivy zombies in the late-game Laboratory.
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Leon has to use the Chemical Flamethrower, which is cool but a bit clunky. If it’s your first time, Leon’s story feels like the "classic" experience, but Claire’s interaction with Sherry Birkin adds a lot of emotional weight that the original game lacked.
The True Ending
You haven't finished the game until you play the "B" scenario (Second Run). If you finished Leon A, you need to play Claire B. This is where you get the actual ending, the final boss, and the resolution to the plot. The puzzles are slightly different, and items are moved around. It’s shorter but much more intense because Mr. X starts chasing you almost immediately.
Actionable Survival Steps
To maximize your chances of making it through the Raccoon City Police Department and beyond, follow these specific tactical steps:
- Ditch the "Kill All" Mindset: Focus on "neutralizing" threats. A zombie on the floor with no legs is effectively dead but costs 70% less ammo.
- Audio Cues Over Visuals: Use headphones. You can hear a Licker clicking its tongue or Mr. X’s boots through walls. Use that info to pathfind away from them before you even see them.
- Combine Herbs Wisely: Never eat a Blue herb alone unless you're poisoned. Combine Red + Blue + Green to get a defense buff that lasts for several minutes. This is vital for boss fights.
- Board the Windows: Prioritize the West Hallway on the first floor. If you board those windows early, you won't have to deal with a swarm every time you go to the Darkroom to develop film.
- Check the Discard Icon: When an item in your inventory (like a key) has a small red checkmark on it, it means you've used it in every possible location. Discard it immediately to free up space.
Mastering these mechanics turns a terrifying ordeal into a manageable challenge. Raccoon City is a puzzle; the zombies are just the pieces you have to move out of the way. Focus on the map, watch your ammo count, and for heaven's sake, keep moving.