Resident Evil Outbreak | 2003

Resident Evil Outbreak

Released on December 11, 2003, Resident Evil Outbreak is the first game in the Resident Evil series to feature cooperative gameplay.

Through the PlayStation 2's online unit, up to 4 players can play online. It retains the classic Resident Evil style of camera and control mechanics. Players select one of several survivor characters and must work together with 3 other survivors to survive in the outbreak zone.

The sequel is Resident Evil Outbreak File 2.

Gameplay: The game emphasizes cooperation with limited tools and inventory, as well as endlessly respawning enemies. Players must quickly escape designated areas and fight boss battles with the help of their teammates.

If players communicate via messenger or voice chat, they can perform all sorts of bizarre actions. The focus on cooperative play means that if a teammate is grabbed by a zombie, others can either shoot the zombie off with a gun or tackle the zombie to save them. A player can also block a door with their body while teammates escape, being the last to leave.

Teammates can help each other by sharing ammunition, weapons, and herbs or solving puzzles together. In File 2, specialized mini-games called Showdown offer large SP rewards, and some players create online rooms dedicated to completing mini-games.

There are also powerful combinations based on character abilities. For example, the combination of Cindy Lennox (who can carry a lot of herbs) and George Hamilton (who can make medicine from herbs) creates an excellent healing team. Kevin Ryman and Mark Wilkins, who specialize in weapons, serve as the team's tanks, and the combination of Yoko Suzuki (with double inventory slots) and David King (who can combine weapons) allows for a wider variety of weaponry.

Certain scenarios in the game require specific character combinations, so it's important to understand these combinations for multiplayer play.

Characters and Scenarios: Resident Evil Outbreak features a variety of characters and scenarios with different themes, escape routes, and methods. The difficulty of puzzles, item locations, and enemy types changes depending on the scenario. Some characters also serve as main characters in specific scenarios, appearing as AIPC (AI-controlled players) even if the player doesn't select them.

Notable scenarios include:

• "Outbreak" // J's Bar
• "Subzero" // Umbrella Underground Research Lab
• "Lair" // Raccoon City General Hospital
• "Inferno" // Apple Inn Hotel
• "Resolution" // Raccoon City University

Differences from Previous Resident Evil Games:

1. Item Inventory System:

   • The inventory is managed in real-time, meaning that players cannot perform actions while the inventory screen is open, which can be deadly if opened near enemies.
   • Players can see the items in other players' inventories if they are in the same area, allowing for item requests or exchanges.

2. Appeal System:

   • Although direct communication is not possible, players can use the R3 stick and buttons to communicate basic messages like “Come here,” “Go ahead,” or “Help me.”
   • Calling out other players' names can also encourage AIPC characters to assist.

3. Various Attack Options:

   • New combat features include close-range, strike, and throwable weapons.
   • Weapons have durability and usage limits. Tackling enemies is a new mechanic as well.

4. Virus Gauge:

   • A "Virus Gauge" tracks the progress of T-Virus infection. If the gauge exceeds 80%, it increases rapidly. Players can stop it by using antivirus medicine or any type of herb.

5. Zombie Transformation:

   • If the virus gauge hits 100%, the player dies or transforms into a zombie (in multiplayer, players become zombies). Zombies can move freely and even break through doors, adding a layer of strategic gameplay.

6. Status Effects:

   • Players can suffer from status effects like bleeding or poisoning, which impair their health and movement, requiring specific herbs to recover.

7. Weapon Reloading:

   • Unlike previous games, reloading is done by combining bullets with the correct gun from the inventory. Some guns have pre-loaded magazines for faster reloading.

8. Enemy Behavior:

   • Enemies like zombies can open doors and follow players into new areas, creating tense moments.

9. Hiding:

   • Players can hide in places like lockers or under beds to escape from pursuing zombies, similar to the stealth mechanics of games like Metal Gear Solid.

10. Destructible Doors:

• Some doors can be broken down by enemies, requiring players to deal with these obstacles or find other ways to escape.

11. Various Services:

• Players can purchase costumes and special items with SP points, including some unusual choices like the "Zoloman" character.

Miscellaneous: The game is notable for its long load times, especially when moving between floors, which can take 10-60 seconds. Additionally, European versions lacked the online feature, as there were issues with the language support and internet connection standards of the time. This game was ahead of its time, attempting to bring multiplayer survival horror to consoles.

The online servers lasted until June 30, 2011, and despite this, fan-made servers exist where players can still enjoy the game.