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Progressive designs for title layouts.
In contrast to other known Resident Evil prototypes, which have been known to undergo massive changes during production, the plan for Resident Evil 0 did not change as dramatically compared to the released version. Rebecca's original character design featured her wearing a beret instead of the red bandanna she wears in the original game. However, it is unknown whether this discrepancy would have been explained in the actual game. In the released GameCube version, she wears neither, as her character model in the game is based on REmake.
Rebecca's original concept design.
The train at the beginning of the N64 version did not actually move until being activated by the player. Originally, Edward Dewey was scripted to lose his hand to a Cerberus before his death, which would later turn out to be the same hand found by Joseph Frost in the original game. However, this was deemed unnecessary with the inclusion of Kevin Dooley in REmake. The N64 version's graphics were more in line with Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis than any other game in the series.
This is the last game to utilize a fixed third-person camera perspective by default; Resident Evil Outbreak uses a following-camera perspective while Resident Evil 4, 5, and Revelations use "over-the-shoulder" by default. In at least one place, though, the camera does follow the player, likely to make the appearance of a mob of zombies atop the UMTC more startling.
Development history[]
1998 - Beginnings[]
- Main article: Resident Evil Zero (N64 version)/development
Work on Resident Evil 0 began shortly after the release of Resident Evil 2. Studio 3, which was interested in the 64DD system,[1] initially wanted to develop a Resident Evil game for that platform but eventually moved to cartridge format due to the 64DD's poor sales. Although the game was originally planned for a late-2000 release,[2] development slowed down due to storage problems. Purchasing larger ROM chips would have made the game unprofitable. When the GameCube was announced in mid-2000, Capcom purchased new SDKs, and development of the game restarted on that console.
2002 - GameCube revival and release[]
The logo was all that could be shown in April 2001.
Production was revived shortly after Nintendo's unveiling of the GameCube in August 2000, which revealed a means to overcome the N64's memory problem in the form of a two-disc system.[3] Consequently, due to the transition to sixth generation consoles, the game was delayed so that the environments could be upgraded to match other 120-bit games of the generation.[1] Since the GameCube used disc-based media, the programmers were forced to rely on clever programming methods to shorten the loading times.[1] The transition to the GameCube, while expected by the press, was finally confirmed early in the following September, initially intended to be at the Autumn Tokyo Game Show, with an expected release date shifted to late 2001 as Capcom's first game for the GameCube.[4][5]
When asked about the progress of biohazard 0 at a Capcom seminar in April 2001, it was noted that due to "various circumstances," only the logo could be shown to the public. According to IGN, the game's scenario writer Noboru Sugimura (misnamed "Masushi Sugimura") had finished the story to the game so long ago that when recently asked by Capcom to rewrite a section, he had long since forgotten what it was he had written.[6]
In September 2001, following the GameCube-exclusivity announcement, Shinji Mikami clarified to the press as to what it detailed - along with confirming that Resident Evil was to be remade and not simply ported, Resident Evil 0 was to be released within a year of the first GameCube port, marking it as late 2002.[7] The plan at the time was to release five of the six GameCube titles (Resident Evil 4 still needed much more development) in the same fiscal year between April and December.[8]
Comparison of Rebecca's beta gamecube CG (FMV) Model vs Final vs HD In-game model
When the Japanese website "GC Inside" reported that biohazard 0 would not be present in any format at the Space World 2001 expo, rumors circulated that it had been quietly cancelled. However, Capcom quickly confirmed that the game was still in development and would simply not be attending the expo.[9]
The official website was updated in April to display new footage, including the "partner zapping" feature, and it was announced to appear at E3 2002.[10] At E3, a release date of Autumn 2002 was announced for North America.[11] In July, Capcom announced its intention to release a playable demo (a "trial" game) in Japan around August, and the North American release date was confirmed for November.[12]
2009 - Wii port[]
A Japanese ad for BioHazard 0.
In February 2008, Famitsu reported that Capcom was in the process of producing a Wii port of Resident Evil 0, with an expected release in the summertime.[13] Capcom confirmed that the port was in production, but there were no plans at that time to release it outside of Japan.[14] In June, it was revealed that Capcom USA, Ltd. had declined to publish a North American version twice due to poor sales figures of the GameCube original (which was due to Nintendo exclusivity) and the Wii port's increasing unpopularity on message boards. People interested in buying the game in North America were instead advised to purchase a GameCube copy, which is compatible with the Wii and cheaper than the ported version.[15]
Despite criticism, Capcom USA announced in March 2009 their intention to release Resident Evil 0 and the Resident Evil remake on the Wii as the Resident Evil Archives, a "classics collection" slated to hit stores at the end of June 2009.[16] Due to an unexpected error on game transfer, the Wii version was pushed back to early December.[citation needed] The game's official North American release date was December 1, 2009, making Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero the last Resident Evil release of the decade.[17]
Capcom has since released an upgraded version of Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero that comes with a literal Umbrella colored in the traditional white and red of the Umbrella Corporation and has the Umbrella logo on two sides.[citation needed]
2016 - HD Remaster[]
Following the success of 2015's Resident Evil HD Remaster, Capcom was pleased and decided to remaster "Zero" for multiple platforms again. But this time, they went back and gathered various developers who worked on the original game, including director Koji Oda.
On July 9, 2015, Capcom released exclusive footage of the N64 prototype version of the game on their official "Resident Evil" and "Biohazard" channels on YouTube. The prototype version was compared to the original game (2002) and the HD remaster, which was set to be released in early 2016.[18]
About four developer diaries were released, starting from August 5, 2015, featuring producer Tsukasa Takenaka and original director Koji Oda discussing the game's development, improvements that were made for the remaster, and providing more insight into the development of the original game.
In addition to the graphical improvements made to the models (and textures) along with the pre-rendered backgrounds (which were re-rendered at a higher resolution), the remastered game includes the ability to play in widescreen (with a follow cam) and the ability to use modern controls. The game also includes other features that were not included in the original game.
- A T-shirt competition was held to design T-shirt designs, and three winners were selected in the end, with the winning shirts being included in the final game.
- Several costumes were added to the game, including "S.T.A.R.S. 1997", "Sports Wear", "Nurse", "Cheerleader", "Classic", and "Prototype" for Rebecca, all announced periodically. Billy received two additional new costumes, "Cody" and "Wolf Force".
Rebecca's remade "Prototype" Costume.
- A spin-off Wesker Mode was added to the game.
Changes[]
The storyline in Resident Evil 0 was originally intended to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming Resident Evil 4 by introducing the Progenitor virus (previously known as the "Clay virus"), which was to play a major role in RE4. Initially, Resident Evil 4 had Leon S. Kennedy exploring an ancient castle in Europe owned by Umbrella, which was reported to be where Umbrella's B.O.W. research began. At some point in the game, the Progenitor Virus was to be unleashed and infect Leon, causing him to hallucinate at points in the game. Fans have speculated that this is symbolic of his body trying to fight off the virus. However, most of Resident Evil 0's new storylines became obsolete when Shinji Mikami took over directorial control of Resident Evil 4 and decided to create a completely new story, including a change of scenery and enemies from the previous Resident Evil games. The concept of exploring the origins of the Progenitor virus and Umbrella's research into it was later used in Resident Evil 5.
Sources[]
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