The Virus Gauge is a system used in Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 to determine how long a player may spend on a level. Using a percentage system from 0-100%, the player has until the latter to finish the level. If the gauge reaches 100%, the game ends without completion. The only exception to this is Online Mode, where a player will instead become a Zombie and be able to attack other players.
Calculations
The rate at which the player reaches Game Over is based on five factors. Firstly, each playable character has their own default rate of infection, measured in percentage points per minute. For example, the character "Tony" was an infection rate of 2.03% per minute, giving players 49 minutes before Game Over should they be unaffected by anything else. The second factor is injury, with an attack by enemies such as Zombies, or suffering from the gas in "Desperate Times", contributing to the Gauge. The fourth is recovery items, with Herbs; Sprays and Antiviruses temporarily halting the gauge, giving the player more time. The fifth factor is unique to Jim-type characters, who have the ability to play dead to avoid enemy attacks, which causes an acceleration of the gauge for as long as they are on the ground.
Items that temporary prevent the infection
Herbs: Any type of herbs will stop the infection for 30 seconds.
First Aid Spray:
Antivirus: The base Antivirus pill, can stop the infection for 90 seconds
Antivirus Large: Outbreak only, it will stop the infection for 180 seconds
Futher notes
Lickers have the higher rate of infection per attack.
Zombie´s grab will cause viral damage regardless the player fends them off with a Handgun
Mark´s guard will stop attacks, but no viral infection.
Nyx´s grab will no cause phisical damage whatsoever but only deals high viral damage.
In Decisions, Decisions as soon the players consume the Daylight, they are inmune to the virus. This, however could end up in gameover since at this point of the game, Thanatos will have his second mutation and would not oneshot players. This means if the player´s Health reaches zero, and there is no AI character to help them up to their feet, they wouldn´t be able to die and the game will stay in limbo forcing the players to quit out and restart the scenario again.
