Resident Evil Code: Veronica is one of the last of the Resident Evil games to follow the classic formula. It was definitely the last if you played only on the PlayStation or Dreamcast, because following games like the Resident Evil remake and Resident Evil 0 were exclusive to GameCube for about a decade.
Despite it not being a numbered entry, it is still an important part of the franchise and should not be ignored. Today we'll shine a light on the survival horror title by showcasing several intriguing facts about it, dealing with both the development and small details about the game itself.
10 First Resident Evil Game With Actual Checkpoints
Limited saves add to the old games' tension. Every save requires an Ink Ribbon found in the environment. Fortunately, at least Code: Veronica has checkpoints, which is a first for the mainline series. Certain segments have you go a long time or fight two bosses with no saves, so having checkpoints is an example of the developer being merciful. Resident Evil 4 would add checkpoints everywhere, along with unlimited saves.
9 Originated From A Sega Saturn Port Of Resident Evil 2
The origin of Code: Veronica's development starts with a planned port of Resident Evil 2 to the Sega Saturn. Once it was determined impossible, Capcom decided to craft an original story for Sega's upcoming console. It already seems like a small miracle for the debut entry to end up on the Saturn, so it makes sense for the sequel to skip it. Resident Evil 2 would make its way to the N64 and Dreamcast, and the former is a particularly impressive port.
8 It Is Probably The Longest Classic Resident Evil Game
If you have not played Code: Veronica and are interested in diving in, just know that is probably the longest of the classic Resident Evil games. Even without a guide, the classic trilogy on the original PlayStation takes about six hours each to complete. Code: Veronica will probably take you about 11 or 12 hours your first time through. A moment that could very well be the ending is in fact only the halfway point. Some argue the length is potentially a weakness.
7 Was Originally Resident Evil 3
Code: Veronica was originally meant to be Resident Evil 3, while what eventually became Resident Evil 3 was a spin-off. The story is either that Sony paid for the game to become Resident Evil 3 or that Capcom wanted to keep the numbered games on the PlayStation. Playing both games, it makes sense for Code: Veronica to be the next mainline entry since it adds more to the overarching lore and really pushes the narrative forward.
6 The Original Story Idea Had References To Nazis
The story always revolved around going to an island in the middle of the ocean, but the villains were not always meant to be the Ashford family. Originally, the antagonists were to be Nazis who escaped to the island after the war. This was removed because of some European territories' laws against using Nazi imagery or referencing them. At the time, the game would have been banned from sale of any kind in Germany because of the references to Nazis.
5 The PS4 Version Is A Port Of The PS2 Game
Code: Veronica was released in HD on the PS3 in 2011. When the game was brought to PS4, Capcom opted to port the PS2 version rather than use this HD release as a base. It does not affect the game significantly, but the European release has some problems. Most notably, it is the PAL version, which runs at a lower frame rate. Unfortunately, this problem has yet to be patched.
4 The Dreamcast Bundle
We all know the game originally released on Dreamcast before coming to the PS2 and GameCube. The original launch also had a special Dreamcast bundle of which only 1,800 copies exist.
An even more exclusive bundle had a dark blue console with the S.T.A.R.S. letters printed on it. In addition to this, pre-order copies were also specially marked and numbered. All of this info proves special editions are not a new phenomenon by any stretch.
3 Code: Veronica X Has More Cutscenes
The game came to PS2 shortly after its release on the Dreamcast. It makes sense considering the console's small install base. Fortunately, PlayStation devotees got some extra goodies for waiting a little while longer. The game comes packed with about nine minutes of extra cutscenes. These cinematics add to the campaign, shining more light on Wesker's role in the story. All subsequent releases retain these extras, making the Dreamcast version obsolete.
2 First Mainline Resident Evil With First-Person Gameplay
If you told somebody six years ago that Resident Evil would go first-person, they probably would not have believed you. However, 2017's Resident Evil 7 and the upcoming Resident Evil: Village both play from this perspective to heighten the scares. Resident Evil 7 is not the first mainline game to feature first-person gameplay.
After beating Code: Veronica, you have the option to play through the battle game in the first-person perspective. It would have been interesting to play through the whole game in first-person, too.
1 Alyson Court Voices Claire Redfield
Claire Redfield is voiced by Alyson Court, the same actress from Resident Evil 2. In fact, Alyson Court voices Claire in all projects from the original Resident Evil 2 until 2012. She was replaced afterward, though fans were hoping she would reprise her role for the Resident Evil 2 remake. Resident Evil rarely holds onto voice actors for long, so to see her play the role for more than a decade is particularly impressive.