Resident Evil: Outbreak
From Resident Evil Wiki
| Resident Evil: Outbreak
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| Developer(s) | Capcom Production Studio 1 |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom
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| Engine | Id Tech 3 (Modified)
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| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date(s) | December 11, 2003 (JP) Mar 30, 2004 (NA) September 17, 2004 (EU)
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| Genre(s) | Survival horror Third-person shooter Science fiction |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M) |
| Media | DVD-ROM
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| Input methods | USB Keyboard (optional)
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Resident Evil Outbreak (Biohazard Outbreak in Japan) is a survival horror game released exclusively on the PlayStation 2 in 2003. It was the first Resident Evil game with multiplayer capability, using the PlayStation 2's online network. Up to four players could participate simultaneously in one scenario; alternately, in single-player mode, the player is accompanied by two AI-controlled characters. Outbreak introduces the "virus gauge," which limits the amount of time players may spend on a scenario. The virus gauge rises at different rates for different characters, and increases rapidly if the character is attacked or crawling on the ground (due to severe injury or to Jim Chapman's ability to play dead).
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[edit] Characters
Outbreak permits the player to choose from one of eight characters, each with particular strengths, weaknesses, and unique abilities. Each character has a special inventory item which cannot be dropped.
- Kevin Ryman is a Raccoon City police officer. He carries a .45 caliber handgun and his fast kick allows him to stun zombies even while unarmed. He can also take time to aim carefully, which allows him to deal more than normal damage to an enemy with a single shot. His good guy personality as work a against him. caused him to fail the S.T.A.R.S. entrance examination twice.
- Mark Wilkins is a powerfully-built security guard and Vietnam veteran, he cares for his family and is very protective of them. He carries a 9mm pistol and he can swing a blunt object more forcefully than any other character. He can guard against attacks to absorb less damage. Mark is the strongest character in the game.
- David King is a plumber and a man of few words. Tough and taciturn, David is a skilled knife fighter who can perform a devastating attack with any knife. He carries a toolbox which contains a small folding knife and several small wrenches which may be thrown at enemies. The toolbox also contains junk parts which can be used to repair damaged firearms and duct tape which allows David to combine mundane items into formidable weapons such as flamethrowers, cattle prods, spears, and hammers.
- George Hamilton is a surgeon at Raccoon City Hospital. Apparently fairly athletic for a doctor, George can tackle weaker enemies to drive them back or knock them down. He carries a medicinal kit which allows him to process herbs and drug bases into pill form for easier storage. Use of the kit also changes the effect of the herbs, however.
- Jim Chapman worked in the Raccoon City subway. Somewhat of a coward, Jim has perfected the ability to "play dead," which causes enemies to ignore him (at the cost of an increased rate of infection). He carries a coin which he flips to make decisions. Getting "heads" confers a 15% increase in the odds of a critical attack. He is skilled at working out puzzles and can open complicated mechanisms that other survivors cannot access.
- Yoko Suzuki is a college student at Raccoon University. She is slow, weak, and susceptible to attack, and her shooting skills are mediocre at best. However, she possesses the slowest virus gauge in the game, and her knapsack permits her to carry twice as many items as other characters. She has a history with the Umbrella Corporation, but she appears to be suppressing the memory of some traumatic experience at their hands. She can dodge many attacks and push away weaker enemies.
- Alyssa Ashcroft is a reporter. Like Kevin, she can carefully aim pistols to inflict more damage. She also carries a lock picking kit and can open a variety of simple locks.
- Cindy Lennox is a waitress at J's (or Jack's) Bar. She is well-liked for her cheerful attitude and optimism. She is always willing to help you when you call for help. Cindy carries an herb case which allows her to store multiple herbs in a single slot. She also has the ability to heal other characters. She can probably hold the most amount of items (next to Yoko) which makes her useful to the team.
[edit] Scenarios
Resident Evil Outbreak takes place over five scenarios ranging from the beginning of the outbreak to the moment when Raccoon City is destroyed by the United States government. The connections between scenarios are usually unclear.
[edit] Outbreak
Outbreak starts inside J's Bar, shortly after HUNK's team is wiped out by the mutated William Birkin.
[edit] Below Freezing Point
Below Freezing Point takes place inside William Birkin's underground laboratory. Yoko has led survivors to the train tunnel at the bottom of the lab. The survivors are confronted by an Umbrella researcher named Monica, who demands Yoko's Umbrella ID card at gunpoint. Monica flees with a carrying case containing the G-virus, and the survivors are left to fend for themselves.
[edit] The Hive
The Hive takes place in the Raccoon General Hospital, which will later be visited by Carlos Oliveira in Resident Evil 3. The survivors are holed up on the hospital's third floor while a doctor named Hursh attempts to restore power to the elevator. No sooner is power restored, however, when Hursh is attacked by a writhing, coherent mass of Leeches. The leeches swarm over his body, transforming him into the nigh-unstoppable "Leech Zombie" who pursues the survivors throughout the hospital as they seek to escape through the lower levels.
[edit] Hellfire
Hellfire takes place inside the Apple Inn, a three-story hotel built around a central courtyard. As the survivors seek refuge in the courtyard, the hotel's boiler explodes, damaging the door to the street and trapping the survivors in the hotel. The survivors navigate their way through the building, which has been transformed into an inferno by the explosion.
[edit] Decisions, Decisions
Decisions, Decisions is the final scenario in Outbreak and takes place at Raccoon University. At a "rescue station," George sees a note from his friend Peter, asking for his help at the university. George and the survivors make their way there.
[edit] Endings
Outbreak can end in one of three ways, depending on whether the player acquires and/or uses the Daylight antivirus. If the player uses Daylight to cure his or her own infection, and carries an extra dose of Daylight, the player will get the "Remain Hopeful" ending, in which a cure for the T-Virus is released to the world. If the player is cured, but does not carry any more Daylight, the player will get the "Regretful Ending," in which the player survives the destruction of Raccoon City, but the threat of the T-Virus remains. If the player is still infected and does not carry any Daylight at the end, the "Chopper Zombie" ending will play, in which the character becomes a zombie and attacks the pilot.
The game also end in one of four special endings. If certain pairs of characters are alive at the end of the game, uncured, and without any Daylight, they will choose to remain behind in the city as the missiles obliterate the area. These endings are quite popular, but are considered non-canon for several contradicting reasons. One ending features Yoko and Alyssa using a computer to send out proof of the viral outbreak and Umbrella's involvement. Another ending depicts Jim and Kevin, who have chosen to stay behind and wait for another rescue team. Jim is getting nervous and is rambling on and on about how they can or cannot escape, Kevin, who is clearly annoyed is playing with his .45, by releasing and then reinserting his last magazine. The tension is broken when the mutated Thanatos gets up and begins to look for new victims, Kevin and Jim have an unseen fight with the Tyrant as Raccoon City is bombed into oblivion. The third ending features David and Mark preparing an armored assault vehicle, left by the UBCS. The duo then charge headlong into a sea of zombies as Raccoon City is destroyed. The fourth ending is with George and Cindy, they reunite and think their isolation was noble. The sky is teared by a cruise missile and Raccoon City becomes decimated.
[edit] Cover Art
 North American cover. |
 European cover. |
 Japanese cover. |
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