Resident Evil Zero

This page details one or more prototype versions of Resident Evil Zero.

In early August 2002, Capcom released a trial edition of Biohazard 0 exclusively in Japan. It starts with Rebecca teaming up with Billy and ends right before the boss fight against Stinger.

Despite the trial duration only being around 15 minutes, nearly the entire game is present on the disc and can be accessed with cheats or hacking. Doing so reveals many aspects of the game that is either unfinished or completely different at one point during development.

Differences#

Title Screen#

Trial Edition	Final

Instead of featuring the protagonists or anything relating to the story, the trial edition features a zombie clawing at its chest. This zombie doesn't appear anywhere in the final game, although it somewhat resembles the naked zombies seen at the Treatment Plant.

Warning Screen#

Trial Edition	Final

The warning screen for the trial edition shows the crash site of the Ecliptic Express instead of the entrance for the Umbrella Executive Training School.

Character Icons#

Trial Edition	Final

Trial Edition	Final

Rebecca and Billy have early icons in the status menu. Both are slightly brighter than their final counterparts and lack overall detail. Rebecca's early icon shows more personality and emotion when compared to the one used in the final game, which lacks any expression and a dead eye stare.

Mode Select#

There's an unused difficulty select option akin to the one that's used in the final game. Unfortunately, choosing one doesn't affect anything in the trial edition.

Timer Countdown#

The timer used during the final part of the train segment can be enabled with cheats. Letting the timer run out does nothing but reset it.

Disc 1 Error Screen#

An unused error screen for the trial edition, which can be seen by either using cheats or removing certain files. Notably, it suggests the trial edition was meant to span multiple discs, although there's no indication that a followup was ever released.

Saving#

Saving the Game	Save Data Icon

By using cheats to have ink ribbons in your inventory, it's possible to save your progress. The save data remains on the Memory Card and even has a unique icon that goes unused, though you can't actually load your save data due to how the trial edition normally works.

English Menu#

sub_e.tpl contains translated English text for the status menu, which may suggest that an English version of the trial edition was planned at one point.

Placeholder File Menu Text#

f_select.tpl contains placeholder text for the file menu, which features letters from A to J.

File Menu Placeholder Icons#

f_text0.tpl, f_text1.tpl, and f_text2.tpl also contains placeholder icons for the file menu, which goes from file 1-1 to file 3-10.

Monitor Tuning#

The screen for Monitor Tuning from the final game exists in the trial edition, but goes unused as it's impossible to change any of the settings.

Early Location Names#

Final	Early

Final	Early

Final	Early

Final	Early

Final	Early

Final	Early

Early

m_name.tpl has early names for nearly every location from the final game, with some implying they were vastly different at some point as shown with the laboratory being originally called "Lake". This was carried over from the N64 era of development, as it's the same text font used for the PlayStation era of Resident Evil titles.

Unused Enemies#

A few enemies from the final game are still present on the disc, albeit unseen during normal gameplay.

Proto Tyrant (T-001 Model)#

The proto-tyrant that's encountered during endgame is mostly intact inside of the trial edition files. The only difference is that he's unable to deal damage nor the player is able to kill him.

Lurker#

Everyone's favorite useless monster, the Lurker. Its textures are broken, but the model and animations still work in this state. The Lurker can also deal damage to the player, but unable to kill them.

Edward Dewey Zombie#

Only seen in the final game during the end of the train section, Edward Dewey in his zombie state is fully functional and can be easily killed by the player.

Unused Items#

Like in the final game, there's several items that go unused in the trial edition.

Shotgun#

Icon in the status menu	Unfinished model being equipped

The shotgun from the final game exists inside of the trial edition and can be equipped by either Rebecca or Billy. However, the weapon is in an unfinished state as it's unable to shoot anything.

Magnetic Card#

Icon early design	Icon final design

Front of the card(Early design)	Front of the card(Final design)

Back of the card(Early design)	Back of the card(Final design)

The magnetic card from the final game has a mostly different design, with the most notable differences being that it's colored green instead of being black and showing "blake" instead of "brake".

Red Diamond#

Uses the lighter fuel model as a placeholder. Unknown purpose, as the final game doesn't use any gems for puzzles.

Blue Diamond#

Same as above.

Rocket Launcher#

The rocket launcher from the final game exists within the trial edition, but in a really primitive state as it lacks a icon and model. Attempting to equip it crashes the game.

Furnace Plug#

A piece of a machine that's meant to be connected to the microwave furnace. Given where the microwave furnace is located at in the final game, this would have been likely used to either damage or kill the Queen Leech. Also like the others, it has a unique description.

Down Key#

A key with a plate that's written with the letter "D". It would have been used to operate the vertical lift. The Down Key lacks a model but does a unique description for it.

Knife X#

A weapon that never appears in the final game, this would have been a more powerful version of the knife by dealing more damage. It doesn't have a icon nor model, but has a unique description of its own.

Chemical X#

A chemical that would have used for a puzzle, although it's unknown what kind of puzzle could have been. It lacks an icon and model, but has a unique description.

Jewelry Box#

Final design	Early design

An early status menu icon for the Jewelry Box exists within items.tpl. Notable differences are that the box is squared and colored brown instead of being gray. Also unlike other items, it has no item ID so it cannot be seen in-game regardless of cheats or hacking.

Hookshot#

Final design	Early design

A rather early design for the hookshot exists in items.tpl. It was originally more old fashioned looking than having a modern mechanical design, as shown with it featuring wood and rusted metal. The early hookshot also has no item ID.

Leech Capsule#

Final design	Early design

The Leech Capsule would have featured purple-colored glass and a brighter blue leech inside of it when compared to the final design. It has no item ID.

Purple Chemical#

Final	Early design

The purple chemical that goes unused in the final game has an earlier design in the trial edition, though there's nothing noteworthy besides the tube leaning to the left instead of right. It also has no item ID.

Dial#

Final design	Early design	Earliest design

Unlike the other items, the dial has two early designs, both based off of rotary dials rather than the dials used for safes. The early uses a bronze-like color, while the other one uses blue and silver colors.

Key Items#

Three unused placeholder graphics for key items.

Unused Cinematics#

This page or section has one or more broken YouTube links. Please find an archived version of the video(s) or a suitable replacement.

Rebecca's First Zombie Encounter#

smp-320.h4m contains an extremely early version of the cutscene where Rebecca encounters zombies for the first time. It's so early that Rebecca is still using her outfit and voice from the scrapped Nintendo 64 version. The cutscene is also rather unfinished, as there's no sounds besides Rebecca's voice and there's a few unrendered parts in the cutscene.

Ecliptic Express Dining Hall#

title.h4m contains a video of a unique and unused camera angle for the dining hall on the second floor for the Ecliptic Express. However for some odd reason, the video does not cover the entire screen.