Highlights

• Resident Evil 2's second run isn't drastically different from the first run, but it provides enough changes to make it unique.
• Mr. X acts a little differently in the second run, but a good strategy can help you survive the new surprises he throws at you.

The original Resident Evil 2 featured four unique campaigns: Leon A into Claire B and Claire A into Leon B. While the general level design and core gameplay loop remained the same, RE2's changes from playthrough to playthrough helped make it one of the series' most replayable games.

While Resident Evil 2 (2019) is an excellent remake, it doesn't quite capture the same spirit with its second run. That said, Resident Evil 2 Remake isn't worse off for it. And the second run does make replaying the game a fresh experience. Here are some things you might not know about the second run.

Updated on April 16, 2024, by PJ Molloy: Every Resident Evil fan knows about the terrifying zombie Mr. X, but did you know he behaves differently in the second run? We've added a few tips on how to deal with the Tyrant and how his encounters differ from the first playthrough.

10 Mr. X Starts Chasing You Earlier

As if Mr. X wasn't scary enough in the first playthrough, he shows up even earlier in the second run. You first spot him on the security cameras in the main hall, which can be accessed just a few minutes after entering the Raccoon City Police Department. However, he won't start looking for you yet.

There are two ways to spawn the Tyrant into the game during the second run:

• If you walk past the S.T.A.R.S. office, Mr. X will appear around the corner and start patrolling the R.P.D.
• If you go into the S.T.A.R.S. office and grab the battery, Mr. X will start chasing you as soon as you leave the room.

If you avoid both conditions, you can explore the police department without being pursued. You can even collect every item in the S.T.A.R.S. office except the battery without triggering the Tyrant, as long as you leave in the direction you came.

Eventually, you will need to encounter Mr. X. Luckily, he will always enter the hall from the library side. As long as you head toward the shower room, you should be able to avoid him easily.

9 You Can Delay Mr. X From Appearing

Having the Tyrant appear earlier may sound intimidating, but you can delay the first encounter with the right strategy.

Technically, you can head straight to the S.T.A.R.S. office and trigger Mr. X almost immediately after entering the R.P.D. However, there's no reason to do so since you can make a lot of progress in other rooms first.

Before Mr. X spawns, you can find two of the three medallions, unlock the safes and lockers, and collect several guns and hip pouches. If you save the S.T.A.R.S. office for last, go straight to the third medallion, and immediately unlock the main hall's secret passage, Mr. X will only be a threat for a few minutes.

The Tyrant will stop chasing you once you've entered the underground path and won't reappear until you've extinguished the helicopter fire. When you re-enter the police station after the first boss, you can explore for a little bit without being chased.

While Claire is limited to the area around Chief Irons' office during this segment, Leon has access to most of the R.P.D. This is the best opportunity to grab any items you missed.

8 It Isn’t Part Of The Same Continuity

While initially playing through the second run, you may expect to see another perspective on the RE2 story and witness what the other protagonist did during your first playthrough. However, the two storylines don't match up.

On the second run, you're basically playing the first tale again - albeit a slightly altered version. Plus, you still have to do some of the things you already did during the first run. For example, the secret passage in the police station still needs to be opened, and the helicopter fire must be extinguished again.

7 Beating It Unlocks The 4th Survivor Mode

Since the first and second runs aren't very different from a narrative standpoint, you may wonder whether it's worth doing a second playthrough at all. If that's the case, it's worth noting that finishing both runs unlocks the 4th Survivor mode.

4th Survivor is a mini-game in which you play as series favorite HUNK as he attempts to escape Raccoon City before it's destroyed. This is no easy feat since he must fight through different zombie-infested areas from the main campaign.

6 It's Less Different Than The Original B Scenarios

In the original RE2, the different playthroughs were called A and B scenarios. While they were largely the same gameplay-wise, they had more differences than the remake's first and second runs.

For example, Mr. X only appeared in the original B scenario - a stark contrast from the remake, where he's a threat in both runs. In addition, both Leon and Claire's final bosses differed depending on the scenario in the PS1 version. In the remake, Leon always fights Mr. X, and Claire always battles William Birkin, regardless of whether it's the first or second playthrough.

5 Condensed Opening

On the first playthrough, you must cut through Raccoon City’s streets before arriving at the R.P.D. From there, Leon or Claire explores the west wing of the police station and barely makes it out alive – only being saved thanks to Marvin. The second run notably trims a lot from the opening.

The second playthrough begins right outside the police station. There are also more enemies at the start, prompting combat that could be easily avoided on the first run. As a result, a second run is arguably the better choice for speedrunning.

4 New Weapons

Leon and Claire get new starter weapons for their second run. Leon gets the M19 handgun, which he holds vertically with one hand. While it doesn't hold as many rounds as the Matilda handgun and can't be upgraded, it deals more damage and has a higher tendency for headshots. All things considered, it's among the best weapons in the game.

Claire gets the Quickdraw Army, a revolver that packs a punch at the expense of a very slow reload time. If its chamber is completely emptied, the Quickdraw Army ends up one of the slowest guns in the game. It's best to reload between every shot so you won't have to deal with the whole animation.

3 Revised Puzzles

Most puzzles are the same in both runs. For example, you won't need to track down new safe or locker codes in the second playthrough since they don't change from the first run. However, Capcom adds a few minor changes to keep you on your toes.

As you explore the police station and sewers, you'll notice the officer's notebook isn't as easily decipherable, the chess pieces have been rearranged, and most puzzles have been revised to be a little harder. The changes are subtle, but they're enough to make the second run feel unique.

2 Rearranged Enemy And Item Layouts

Beyond revised puzzles, the R.P.D. shuffles almost all its enemies and items between playthroughs. The first run lets Leon or Claire explore most of the police station in relative peace, allowing you to unlock a better weapon early. However, the second run forces you to ration your ammo and carefully avoid enemies more than usual.

In addition, several rooms have been tweaked to feature more dangerous enemies. At the same time, some of the best items in the game are even harder to track down.

1 New Final Boss

In the first run, the final boss is either William Birkin or Mr. X, depending on if you're playing as Claire or Leon. While the second run also features these bosses, it adds one last fight with a fully mutated Birkin before the credits roll.

This showdown is a spectacle, requiring you to unload whatever ammunition you have left as the monster rips apart and devours your escape train. It is one of the best boss fights in the game and brings Resident Evil 2 Remake to a thrilling conclusion.