The streets of Raccoon City are a total mess. If you've spent more than five minutes in the 2020 remake, you know exactly what I mean. You step out of that apartment, and everything is on fire. People are screaming. Then, there’s Nemesis. He’s huge. He’s loud. He really wants you dead. Most people treat this game like it’s Resident Evil 2, creeping around every corner and trying to save every bullet. Honestly? That is the fastest way to get a "Game Over" screen. This isn’t a slow-burn horror movie; it's a desperate, sweaty sprint through a city that's already dead.
If you’re looking for a walkthrough for Resident Evil 3, you need to understand one thing right away: Jill Valentine is a tank compared to Leon or Claire. She has a dodge mechanic that basically breaks the game if you master it. Stop running away in a straight line. Start baiting the zombies.
The Early Game Scramble: Downtown and the Power Substation
You start in Jill’s apartment, which is mostly just world-building and a few jump scares. Once you hit the streets with Carlos, the real game begins. The downtown area is the biggest "open" space you'll get. Your main goal is getting the subway back online. You'll need the Fire Hose first. It’s sitting in the Management Office. Don't overthink the zombies here. You can literally weave around them.
- The Bolt Cutters: You’ll find these in the garage after the first major Nemesis encounter. They are your best friend. Use them on every chained door you saw earlier.
- The Lockpick: Found on a corpse right outside the Power Substation. If you miss this, you’re gonna have a bad time.
- The Circuit Breakers: This part sucks. You’re in a cramped maze with Drain Deimos—those nasty spider things. They will infect you with parasites. Use a Green Herb immediately to cough them up. Don't wait. Just run, flip the four switches, and get out.
Nemesis shows up for real after you restore the power. This is where most players panic. They see him and dump their entire handgun magazine into his chest. Stop doing that. It's a waste of brass. If you want to actually "beat" him in these encounters, one well-placed grenade will knock him down. He’ll drop a Supply Case. These cases contain the Extended Magazine for your handgun and the Moderator (Silencer). If you aren't grabbing these, you’re making the late-game fights way harder than they need to be.
Why the Hospital Section is Secretly the Hardest Part
Once you switch over to Carlos at the Spencer Memorial Hospital, the vibe shifts. Carlos doesn't have a dodge; he has a punch. It’s way more satisfying but way more dangerous. You’re looking for the vaccine for Jill.
The hospital is a labyrinth of interconnected hallways and patient rooms. The Hunters (the lizard-looking guys with instant-kill slashes) are the real stars here. One tip: the Assault Rifle is your primary tool, but don't spray and pray. Aim for the head to break their armor, then finish them off.
The "Defend Jill" segment at the end of the hospital is a total adrenaline spike. You’re stuck in the lobby. Zombies are coming through the windows. It feels like Left 4 Dead for a second. Pro tip: Save your hand grenades for when the Hunters jump through the windows. Also, there’s a detonator for a C4 charge on the main pillar. Wait until the final wave when the wall breaks down to use it. If you use it too early, you'll get overrun before the timer ends.
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Navigating the NEST 2 and the Final Showdown
NEST 2 is the final stretch. It’s clean, clinical, and full of Pale Heads. These zombies are pale (obviously) and they regenerate health. If you use a regular handgun, you’ll spend 20 bullets just to kill one. Use the MAG or the Grenade Launcher with Flame Rounds. Flame Rounds stop their regeneration.
To get the vaccine, you have to solve a temperature puzzle. It's not hard. You just need to balance the three gauges so they all hit the green zone. Most people just click buttons randomly until it works, but the trick is to look at how much each button increases or decreases the specific bars.
Mastering the Final Nemesis Fight
The final boss is a massive wall of meat and eyes. On Standard difficulty, it's a cakewalk. On Inferno or Nightmare? It’s a nightmare. Truly. He has a slam attack that can stunlock Jill to death in two seconds.
- Pop the Cores: Use the handgun or the burst pistol to shoot the glowing orange blisters on his body.
- Push the Power Cells: Once he's stunned, run to the big red batteries on the sides and push them in.
- The Railgun: You have to use the Finger of God (the giant railgun) twice. Don't try to fire it while he's moving. Wait for the stun.
Managing Your Inventory Like a Pro
The biggest mistake in any walkthrough for Resident Evil 3 is ignoring the Hip Pouches. There are six in total.
- One is in the Subway Power Substation.
- One is in the Kite Bros Railway Office (inside the safe).
- One is at the Subway Station after you find all three jewels for the clock monument.
About those jewels: find the Fancy Boxes. They are scattered in the shops downtown (Donut Shop, Pharmacy, etc.). Examine the boxes in your inventory to get the Red, Blue, and Green jewels. Putting them in the clock at the subway entrance gets you some of the best items in the game, including a Hip Pouch and a tactical stock for your shotgun.
Speedrunning and Shop Rewards
Once you beat the game, you get points based on your performance. This opens up the Shop. If you’re struggling with the harder difficulties, buy the Infinite Rocket Launcher. It sounds like cheating because it basically is, but the game is designed for multiple playthroughs.
Also, get the Recovery Coins. Having two of these in your inventory will slowly heal Jill over time. It saves you so many herbs. The Iron Defense Coins are also literal lifesavers on the higher difficulties where a single zombie bite can put you into "Danger" status.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
To get the most out of your time in Raccoon City, follow these specific steps during your next session:
- Practice the Perfect Dodge: Head to the first alleyway with a single zombie. Let him lunge. Press the dodge button (R1/RB) just as he moves. If the screen flashes white and time slows down, you did it. This is the only way to survive the final boss on higher tiers.
- Don't Kill Every Zombie: This isn't a shooter. If a zombie is in a wide hallway, just run past it. Only kill the ones blocking narrow doorways or objectives.
- Combine Gunpowder Wisely: Don't just make handgun bullets. Wait until you have High-Grade Gunpowder to make Shotgun shells or MAG ammo. The handgun is for staggering; the shotgun is for killing.
- Check Every Corner: The "Underground Storage" area has some well-hidden items. Use your map. If a room is red, there is still an item inside. If it's blue, you're clear. Aim for a 100% blue map before heading to the final elevator.
The remake of Resident Evil 3 is short, but it's dense. It’s built for replayability. Focus on learning the layout of the downtown area first, as that's where most people lose time and resources. Once you have the movement down, the rest of the game falls into place. Keep your head down, keep your finger off the trigger until it matters, and for the love of everything, don't let Nemesis corner you in a dead end.