Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, is a 2012 third-person shooter video game with online playability for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. It is developed by Slant Six Games and published by Capcom. The game will be a new installment in the Resident Evil series of video games and will be developed by Slant Six Games instead of Capcom. It is set at the same time as Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, but is unrelated to the main series storyline and is a "what-if", non-canon entry in the series.

Plot
The game is separated into two sides: the U.S.S. side and the SPEC-OPS side (Playable in DLC). Each side has six chapters, where players can choose four of the six playable characters per side.

U.S.S. storyline
U.S.S. Delta team (also known as "Wolfpack") enters the Raccoon City Underground Laboratory, where they meet up with Alpha team leader HUNK. Their mission: to assist the Alphas in stopping Dr. Birkin from handing over his G-Virus research to the US Military and retrieve the G-Virus. On their way to Birkin's lab, they find that Birkin has paid-off numerous UBCS Mercenaries into working for him while the deal goes forward. When they reach Birkin's lab, the doctor is shot at from behind a closed door, HUNK and another Alpha leave with the samples. Heading up the elevator to meet up with Goblin 6, they soon find that Birkin has survived the attack and infected himself with the virus. The creature proceeds to kill off most of Alpha team before disappearing; HUNK offers to go back in search of the sample.

Not long after the battle, it becomes evident that the T-Virus has leaked city-wide, and people are begining to transform into zombies soon after. In what they see as a punishment by U.S.S. Command, Delta team is ordered to remove evidence of Umbrella's role in the outbreak. Heading into Raccoon City Hall, Delta Team meets with a UBCS mercenary and they monitor Nicholai Zinoviev; he is soon revealed as a traitor and attempts to kill the Wolfpack.

Later, the team is sent out around Raccoon Park to find the Nemesis-T Type, which has gone rogue. A second parasite is injected into its body in order to bring it back under control. Shortly after this mission is completed, the team is then sent out to the Raccoon City Police Department, ordered to kill any surviving police officers and destroy evidence linking the company to the outbreak. When this is all done, the team exits the station, and soon after encounter Leon S. Kennedy, whom they begin to hunt down.

The Wolfpack chase Leon through a dozen streets despite his pleas to stop shooting at him. U.S.S command grow anxious and abandon Wolfpack in favour of Plan B (The deployment of several Mr.X and Hunters from drop pods) Eventually after much fighting Leon successfully evaded the squad and they decide to find shelter for a breather. They mop up a small Spec Ops force at a barricade outside city hall as well as a bunch of hunters. The Wolfpack then find themselves ambushed by two T-103s and barely manage to take them down. The team retreat into an abandoned Barber shop to catch their breath making failed attempts to get back in touch with U.S.S command.

Shortly after though the Wolfpack are making a last stand and take down just over 1000 B.O.Ws attacking their position, Umbrella command decide to give the team one final chance and order them to return to Birkin's lab to find Leon. The team find themselves back at square one and eliminate countless enemies as they make their way through the labs. They engage in battle with Ada Wong briefly before she makes her escape. The self destruct sequence activates and Wolfpack see Leon kiss Ada and her supposed death on the control room's camera monitor. Wolfpack then fights their way to the power room to find Leon and Ada missing with little choice left they abandon the facility but not without fighting the super tyrant which emerged from the boiler earlier on.

Eventually, U.S.S. Command finds the location of Leon; Claire and Sherry and sends Wolfpack over to Lonsdale Yard where they have teamed up with whatever is left of the Army Spec Ops to defend the train yard. The Wolfpack break through their lines despite Claire's attempts at decimating them with a grenade launcher as well as massive mobs of crimson heads and zombies. With Claire going into retreat Leon comes out of hiding with a sniper rifle firing at the Wolfpack. The Wolfpack then fire upon the spec ops guarding Leon's platform and cause a soldier to bleed heavily causing a blood frenzy amongst the B.O.Ws. They smash down the barricade and overwhelm the last of the Spec Ops. Wolfpack make their way to the ladder and subdue Leon using him as bait to lure Sherry and Claire out of hiding. Leon questions what they fight for and the Wolfpack engage each other 2 on 2. The defenders of Leon believing they can use him as leverage for evac whilst the assassins believe carrying out these orders will finally earn them evac as well.


 * Saving Leon Ending

The player character and the other survivors of Wolfpack capture Leon, Claire and Sherry and negotiate they be paid triple for Umbrella leaving them for dead and making them do more than what was hired of them. U.S.S command are angered and deny the deal. Wolfpack cuts off all ties with Umbrella and vows to destroy the company presumably with the data that they did collect but not destroy throughout the story. It is unsure how they escape the city. But they most likely went into custody when the Spec Ops Evac finally arrived.


 * Kill Leon Ending

The Wolfpack defectors are killed and Leon lies dead on the floor. Despite Claire's pleas, she is, herself shot in the head. It is presumed Umbrella finally sends in a chopper to evacuate what is left of Wolfpack and captured Sherry.

Development
In May of 2011, The 2011 edition of the Official Xbox Magazine, to be released on April 5, shows an image of an individual in a gas mask along with an Umbrella Inc. logo on the issue's cover. On November 1, 2010 Kotaku reported on a rumor that Slant Six Games, developer of SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, was developing Resident Evil: Raccoon City. On its website, Slant Six Games wrote that it was currently developing "an amazing new project" that was unannounced, which was developed in conjunction with a "new publishing partner on a world class franchise."

In an interview with 1up.com, Masachika Kawata estimated the game, as of March 30, 2011, to be 45% complete.

On March 27 of 2011, Capcom shows it's first details of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City in the French magazine of PlayStation. At the time, only four U.S.S. characters were confirmed to be in the game: VECTOR, SPECTER, BELTWAY and BERTHA.

In the 2011 E3, Capcom-unity anounced two new playable characters for the Wolfpack: LUPO, and FOUR EYES. Also, according to Kawata, there are currently discussions on introducing brand-new B.O.W.s into the game.

In early 2012, Capcom reveals the new protagonist team called EchoSix, an elite squad of the US Goverment Spec Ops. The characters are the countpart of the U.S.S. sent to rescue civilians, discover the truth about the outbreak and eliminate the U.S.S.

In January of 2012, Capcom shows the details of the four multiplayer modes: Team Attack, Survivors, Biohazard and Heroes, the Heroes mode includes several classic characters seprated into two teams: In addition to the multiplayer modes, a confirmed Xbox 360 exclusive has been added. Players will engage in a new versus called "Nemesis Mode". Players will engage each other as the Government Spec Ops versus the U.S.S. Players will engage in combat to find a control panel to activate Nemesis and program it to help eliminate the opposition. Nemesis Mode will be available for download on the release date of Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City for 320 Microsoft Points.
 * SpecOps: Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Carlos Oliveira and Jill Valentine.
 * USS: HUNK, Nicholai Ginovaef, Ada Wong and a new character called LONE WOLF.

In March of 2012, according to the Capcom Blog, a free DLC mission will be released on April 11th. The mission will be played as the SpecOps members and resembles some events of Resident Evil 3, including the Jill and Nemesis encounter.

Wolfpack
An elite team of the Umbrella Security Service sent to kill any survivors and destroy all the evidence about the company's culpability for the infamous outbreak.
 * "VECTOR" - Master of stealth, real name unknown
 * Hector Hivers - Explosives expert, codename "BELTWAY"
 * Karen LesProux - Team leader, codename "LUPO"
 * Vladimir Bodrovski - Designated marksman, codename "SPECTRE"
 * Michaela Heinzwaffen - Team medic, codename "BERTHA"
 * Christine Yamata - Field scientist, codename "FOUR EYES"

Echo Six
An elite squad of the SPEC OPS FIELD UNIT sent by the US Government to find the truth about the outbreak and rescue the civilians of Raccoon City.
 * Caroline Floyd - Recon, codename "Willow"
 * Crispin Jettingham - Team leader, codename "Dee-Ay"
 * Marissa Ronson - Demolitions expert, codename "Tweed"
 * Erez Morris - Team medic, codename "Harley"
 * Lawrence Kimbala - Field scientist, codename "Shona"
 * Sienna Fowler - Marksman, codename "Party Girl"

Classic characters
Currently, seven playable classic characters from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 were confirmed as playable in the new Heroes Mode and encounters in the main story line of the game. Characters like Leon and Claire can be killed by the USS to change the events of the series, HUNK serves as support in the chapter Containment. Ada appears in the mission Redemption as a spy and is targeted by the U.S.S. Nicholai appears in the chapters Corruption and Lights Out as an antagonist. Jill Valentine will be appears along with Carlos Oliveira in the upcoming DLC chapter for the SpecOps.

Also, a new character nicknamed LONE WOLF was confirmed to enter in the Heroes mode.

SpecOps team:

 * Leon S. Kennedy - A rookie cop and one of the surviving Raccoon City Police Department, and as a cop, he is targeted by the U.S.S.
 * Claire Redfield - College student and sister to Chris Redfield. She was "prosecuted" by the WOLFPACK.
 * Jill Valentine - A former S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team member and a survivor of the "mansion incident".
 * Carlos Oliveira - One of the few surviving U.B.C.S. mercenaries, he was confirmed in the same trailer as Jill.

USS team:

 * HUNK - A U.S.S. veteran member known as "Mr. Death", confirmed via Inserted Evil clue #4; the Wolfpack met with him after he obtained a G-Virus sample.
 * Nicholai Zinoviev - A Russian mercenary of the U.B.C.S., he was confirmed to play a important role in the main game.
 * LONE WOLF - A legendary helicopter pilot of Umbrella. He does not appear in the main storyline.
 * Ada Wong - A female spy sent by The Organization to obtain a G-virus sample.

Non-Playable Characters

 * Sherry Birkin - Appears along with Claire and Leon on the final mission.

General gameplay
The game includes six selectable characters from the U.S.S. : FOUR EYES, LUPO, VECTOR, SPECTRE, BERTHA and BELTWAY. However, the players can choose only four characters for the on-line modes.

The game has players taking the role of one of the members of a U.S.S. clean up crew. Alongside a single player mode, the game will also offer a 4 player co-operative mode as the player experiences the events of the game. Operation Raccoon City will allow the player to make decisions that could have major repercussions on series canon, such as causing the death of Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, or Jill Valentine during the course of the game.

The game was focused in the action and shooter genre, depicting the survival horror origins of the series, in a third person perspective, like in Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, but with the addition when characters can walk/run and shoot, aim or reload his weapon. Graphically, the screen can be effected in different ways including blood splatter from killing or hurting an enemy, or being covered in vomit from zombies and crimson heads.

If the players are shot, their blood will attract zombies and B.O.W's until the bleeding stops a few moment after.

Players can be infected and will turn into a zombie if they are bitten and are not cured of their infection with an antiviral spray. When the player is infected, their health bar will turn from green to blue, and slowly begin to decrease, with the screen becomes increasingly blue and the character having increased difficulty breathing. If the health bar were to completely empty, then the player will become a zombie. The player can recover health using first aid sprays or green herbs but will still be infected until cured with an antiviral spray. The infected players, who have turned into zombies, will have no control over their character and will attack their teammates. The zombie player must be killed before another teammate can revive them.

EX points
After a campaign scenario or multiplayer match is completed, the players will earn XP points, depending on the enemies killed, secret items found, and time taken (during the campaign missions). Similar with the money system in Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. The XP points can be used to buy new weapons or upgrade the classes abilities.

In multiplayer modes, each enemie killed or objective has a pointage:

Some of them can be combined, depending the actions of the players. For example, you can earn 25 EX points if you kill a character enemy with a melee move plus if these character are a Heroe you can earn other 250 EX points, so you earn in total 275 EX points.

Classes
Each character of the game has a specific class. Each class has five unique abilities, which can be upgraded up to 3 levels using the XP points. During the Heroes Mode, the classic characters can use the abilities of two different classes.

Infected enemies
The B.O.W's in the game were selected from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 Nemesis, but with few types of them.

Zombies return as the main enemy, if a zombie grapples a player they will have a chance to get them off by moving the joystick left and right rapidly, if the player fails to do so the zombie will bite the player allowing them to be ignored by zombies, eventually the player will turn into a zombie if a team mate does not use an anti-virus spray on them. Crimson Heads are also in the game, damaged zombies can turn in Crimson Heads, but the Field Scientist class players can turn a normal zombie into a Crimson Head ally using their special ability. Zombies and Crimson Heads can puke to the players, similar in the early games of the series,

Biological weapons (B.O.W.)
Other B.O.W.s like the Zombie Dogs, Hunters and Lickers roam in the city. A new enemy called Nemesis-beta was introduced into the game with the ability to control other BOW.

Bosses
Bosses for the game include: William Birkin's first transformation, Nemesis-T Type, two T-103 tyrants at the same time and the T-103 mutation of the original Mr. X of Resident Evil 2.

Also, Leon and Claire serves as bosses in the final chapter and depending the decision to save or kill Leon, two comrades of Wolfpack become your enemies.

Human enemies
The very first human enemies are introduced in the series. The players will fight against the Government Spec Ops, UBCS mercenaries and RPD officers during certain chapters of the game. Also, in the DLC campaign for the Echo Six, the players will take control of Echo Six and will fight against the U.S.S. members. The players can kill classic characters from the early games like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield.

Areas
Operation Raccoon City resembles some important areas of Raccoon City, first showed in Resident Evil 2 and resident Evil 3, and after remaked in the Outbreak and Chronicles series with best graphics.

These areas is space had to be increased in order to avoid problems of mobilization of the even eight muliplayer character support with the human and infected enemies, however, retains its essence and its main features.

In the multiplayer modes, every of this areas shared the same BOWs: zombies, crimson heads, nemesis beta, zombie dogs, hunters and a T-103 tyrant who attacks all the BOWs and player characters without discrimination. In the Nemesis Mode, the T-103 is replaced by the Nemesis T-Type.

Soundtrack
Currently, it is unknown if Capcom and Suleputer will release an official soundtrack of the game, however some background music has been uploaded on YouTube by users: The music of the game despite the horror and suspension background ambientation of the past games, but in specific chapters or scenes, the background music takes parts of the tracks of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 's OST, like the Super-Tyrant in the underground lab's furnace and the Nemesis encounter in the mode of the same name.
 * SpecOps selection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLY_pUUqxvw
 * USS selection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TE9Bz7kvuQ
 * Main menu theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wejjyDpdXjY
 * Leon's theme (final decision): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcqxZYE7wJE
 * Nemesis mode (encounter): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d67rSInXBpg

Firearms
The weapons for the game were taken from the first three Resident Evil games, as well from SOCOM titles. The players begin the game with five basic weapons, but they can buy some others using their XP points. Currently more than 45 weapons were confirmed from the Kendo Gun Shop webpage. The weapons for the game can't be upgrated like in Resident Evil 4 or Resident Evil 5.

The players need's to choose a primary and a secondary weapon before the game begins, with between three and six models per one. During the game, the players are able to change their primary weapon by finding specially locked metallic cases within the environment. According to a Trophy/Acheivement of the game, "Secret weapons" were confirmed: the grenade launcher and the flamethrower.

Grenades
Grenades return in three categories, like in the past two games, plus an exclusive grenade for the Field Scientist.

Melee moves
All of the players begin the game with a unselectable melee weapon (a knife or a machete, depending the character), used in the new martial arts CQC style, impaling and slicing the infected and humans enemies. Also, the players can use the infected enemies as "human shields" to receive the damage, a player can get rid of the shield in two ways via a neck-breaker or a kick, but during the use of the "human shield", the player can use their secondary weapon and throw grenades.

Characters weapons
Some iconic characters and enemies of the early games of the series has his own arsenal.
 * Nemesis-T Type uses a Gatling Gun during the chapter " Gone Rogue " and in the Nemesis Mode, along with his signature rocket launcher to hunt Jill Valentine , in the first DLC mission of the game. Both weapons can't be used by the characters. Also, along with the T-103 Tyrant has anti-ballistic cloacks.
 * Before the first encounter with the Wolfpack, HUNK kills two UBCS mercenaries in Birkin's Lab: one with a stab in his chest and the other one with a neck-breaker. After, he takes the MP5 from the mercenary who's neck was broken and in turn uses this during the mission to obtain the G-Virus sample.


 * Nicholai Ginovaef uses his SIG P228 handgun to shoot wolfpack in the City Hall, a PSG-1 sniper rifle to kill Umbrella's helicopter pilot from the Raccoon City Hospital rooftop, and during the confrontation against Wolfpack in the clock tower.


 * Ada Wong uses incendary grenades when she is discovered by Wolfpack in the Birkin's Laboratory.
 * Jill Valentine was shown in the Heroes Mode trailer running with her signature Samurai Edge handgun.
 * Carlos Oliveira is seen aiming with his SIG P228 handgun, in the Heroes Mode trailer.


 * Leon S. Kennedy uses a L. Hawk as his sidearm, rather than his signature H&K VP70, and also a Ravager sniper rifle during the final fight against the Wolfpack.


 * Claire Redfield uses a Hk-p grenade launcher during the final fight against the Wolfpack.

Downloadable weapons
Operation Raccoon City is the first game in the series to include DLC weapons, currently eight in total. Some weapons resemble past firearms from the early Resident Evil games, but with new designs and forms. Depending on the retailer, the weapons are separated into four packs as a pre-order bonuses: http://www.capcom-europe.com/blog/2012/01/resident-evil-operation-raccoon-city-pre-order-bonuses/

However, the special edition of the games includes all the eight DLC weapons, alongside with the six alternate costumes for USS members.

Inventory
Operation Raccoon City doesn't include an inventory system like the past games.

The new inventory system can be changed depending on the player's class. It esembles Resident Evil 5's quick selection of items using the game pad. However, some classes can carry more of a certain item by upgrading a particular ability:


 * The Field Scientist can carry up to 4 Anti Viral Sprays.
 * The Medic can carry up to 4 First Aid Sprays.

Console release
The game has two edition:

Also, a third exclusive special edition for Japan includes a concept guide of the game and a exclusive DVD called "The Secret Report". http://www.biohazardfrance.net/index.php?article=resident-evil-operation-raccoon-city-secret-report&id=91272

Pre-order


If you pre-order the game at GameStop, BestBuy, Amazon.com, GAME (gets the same as GameStop), you will receive two DLC weapons different from each retailer.

Release dates
The release date has been confirmed to be:

PC release
The PC version will be released in May 18, for Microsoft Windows. It is unknown if the game also will be released for Mac.

Translation
Operation Raccoon City is the second game in the series, after Revelations, with a full translation of dialogue for cutscenes, in-game voices and subtitles in different languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Deutsch and Russian.

Reception
Operation Raccoon City received a mixed critical reception. IGN's review stated "An actual zombie outbreak would have been less tragic," calling the game "little more than a poor man's SOCOM and a destitute man's Resident Evil." GameSpot echoed these sentiments, stating that the game "is a frighteningly flawed action-heavy spin-off that withers in the shadow of its superior alternatives". GamesTM magazine gave Operation Raccoon City 3/10, criticising the team mate AI, glitches, and unimaginative set pieces. They played through the first four levels on single player and did not review the multiplayer modes. Eurogamer called it an "under-designed and under-produced nightmare...that delivers the bare minimum in every category." GamesRadar summed up its review with "poor design choices, narrative missteps, and technical issues combine to make this one of the worst Resident Evil games to date." Game Informer ended their review with "Not even online play is enough of a reason to warrant checking out this botched experiment with the Resident Evil brand." Edge gave the game a 3 out of 10, concluding that "it’s hard to see what this distinctly low budget shooter has to offer beyond yet another return visit to already blood-saturated and well-trodden ground." Game Revolution even went as far as to say that the game hurt the Resident Evil brand name, and that the game "should never have had the Resident Evil name attached to it. It smacks of purely business-oriented decision-making. Players are guaranteed to walk into the store and see that name and expect something completely different. It's not fair to consumers and Resident Evil fans alike.

Some reviews were positive. The Official Xbox Magazine gave it a score of 7/10, as a "satisfying blend of gunplay and teamwork." Destructoid said that the game "suffers from poor design...but that doesn't stop it from being a genuinely good time that should satisfy anybody looking for a hardcore romp." The Guardian said "It's important to bear in mind that it's best experienced multiplayer rather than solo. But it's great fun and adds a fresh spin to a key time and place in the Resident Evil universe." GameShark said: "Raccoon City isn't the next real Resident Evil game (though its improved controls do bode well for that game). Instead, it's a mostly solid third-person, cover-based shooter set in the same universe."

Also, some fan criticism was for the alternate costumes for the characters, due to them being a "color swap" from the original ones. The DLC weapons also are criticised for the early cofirmation before the game was released, similar with the Jill Valentine DLC for Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

Trivia

 * Originally shown was that the U.S.S only had four playable characters.
 * However, after the E3 2001, Lupo and Four Eyes was introduced as the members of the Wolfpack.
 * Only a new B.O.W., the Nemesis Beta was introduced in the game.
 * However, notables B.O.W.s from RE2 and RE3 like the Ivy, Giant Spiders, Hunter gamma, Brainsuckers and the giant moth didn't included in the game, making this the game with few B.O.W. arsenal in the series.
 * The demo of E3 2011 included a chapter called "No Survivors", with the objective to hunt Leon and Claire after the fuel tank track crash, resembling the opening of Resident Evil 2. In the final product, the chapter was loosely changed and merged with the chapter 6 "Expendable".
 * Also, during the first trailers, a cutscene with the Leon's arrive of Raccoon City was eliminated of the final product.
 * It is interesting to note that any recreated cut-scene in this game from RE2 or RE3 has the original lines of dialogue.
 * Brian Irons makes a brief cameo however this is only a cutscene from "Darkside Chronicles".
 * However, Sherry Birkin makes a physical appearance in the final chapter.
 * The survivors of "the mansion incident" appear in the introduction of the chapter "Gone Rouge", when Wolfpack were sent to reactivate the Nemesis to pursue the former S.T.A.R.S members: Barry Burton and Chris Redfield, however their eyes in the photo have a black bar.
 * The only former S.T.A.R.S member to appear is Jill Valentine, who makes an appearance in Heroes Mode and the upcoming Spec Ops DLC.
 * Brad Vickers made no appearance in the game.
 * In the final product, some weapons had design changes from the real life based models for most of the firearms, the differences can be seen in the Kendo Gunshop catalogue from Inserted Evil.
 * Some weapons in the game are inaccurate, this is due to some of the weapon models not even being produced during the time of the game, an example is the Advanced SMG, which was based off of the TDI Vector, which had started production during 2006.
 * In the Saint Micheal's Clock Tower, the Moonlight Sonata can be heard looped in the chapel/piano room area.
 * However, the song was never heard in Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 3.
 * Bertha's original name was Michaela Schneider, but after the E3 2011 her surname was changed to "Heinzwaffen" as shown on the official web sites and viral campaigns for the game.
 * However, in her description for the USS character selection, she still using the surname "Schneider", however this is a mere oversight.
 * During the San Diego Comic Con 2011 event, Hunk was confirmed and a possible appearance from Wesker was hinted however he made no appearance in the game at all.