Resident Evil 2 Guide: Tips, Tricks, and All Collectibles

Resident Evil 2 is a remake of the 1998 PS1 classic of the very same name for PS5 and PS4. This brand new version modernises the controls, camera angles, and various other aspects and mechanics to make it feel fresh for hardcore fans and newcomers. In our Resident Evil 2 PS4 review, we awarded the game an 8/10 and called it "one of the most accomplished remakes of the [PS4] generation".

In this Resident Evil 2 guide, we're going to share our tips and tricks for beginners to help you survive Raccoon City. We will also reveal all collectibles, including Mr Raccoons, and document all weapon upgrades and character upgrades.

Resident Evil 2 Guide: All Collectibles

There is one type of collectible in Resident Evil 2: Mr Raccoons. They take the form of small bobbleheads that look just like raccoons. They make a noise when you're nearby, making it easier to locate them. There are 15 Raccoons to find, and they're all located in the Raccoon Police Department. Linked below is a guide to findings all Mr Raccoon locations.

• Resident Evil 2: All Mr Raccoon Locations

Resident Evil 2 Guide: Weapons, Character Upgrades, and FAQs

For this section of our Resident Evil 2 guide, we're going to reveal how to get upgrades for your weapons and character, and answer any frequently asked questions.

Weapon Upgrades

• Resident Evil 2: All Weapon Upgrade Locations for Leon
• Resident Evil 2: All Weapon Upgrade Locations for Claire

Character Upgrades

• Resident Evil 2: All Hip Pouch Locations
• Resident Evil 2: All Herb Combinations and Their Effects

FAQs

• Resident Evil 2: Should You Choose Leon or Claire's Campaign First?
• Resident Evil 2: Can You Kill Mr. X?
• Resident Evil 2: How to Select the Original Soundtrack
• Resident Evil 2: How to Unlock Hunk and Tofu's Secret Modes
• Resident Evil 2: All Safe Code and Locker Combinations

Other

• Resident Evil 2: How to Get All Three Medallions and Solve the Goddess Statue Puzzle
• Resident Evil 2: How to Open Leon's Desk

Resident Evil 2 Guide: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Resident Evil 2 has a few different difficulty settings to choose from, so if you're struggling to make progress, feel free to drop it a little. No matter your skill level, though, we have some universal Resident Evil 2 tips and tricks for beginners that should help you on your way to surviving Raccoon City.

Conserve as much ammo as possible

The earlier games in the Resident Evil franchise are notorious for the lack of ammunition you'll gather throughout environments, and that's still the case in the remake. Make sure to search every nook and cranny of each room in order to scavenge as many bullets as you can, and once you think you've found everything, double check by taking a look at your map. If you've picked up all items in that particular room, the map screen will turn those four walls blue. If it remains red, there's still something left to uncover.

This goes further, though. You don't have to, and probably shouldn't be killing every zombie you come across. There simply isn't enough ammunition in the game to be doing that. Rather, focus on taking shots at the heads of the undead. Two or three hits is enough to stagger them for a few seconds, allowing you to quickly get past. As long as you aren't hanging around that area for the immediate future, those zombies caught in a daze will no longer be a threat.

Dodge zombies if you can

A tougher technique to master will have you avoiding zombies without wasting bullets at all. Learning how to dodge and manoeuvre enemies is a fairly high level skill, but if you look out for some telltale signs, you'll be breezing by them with ease. Firstly, in which direction is their body moving? If they're moving from side to side in a corridor, you'll be able to accurately predict their next move. So, when they turn away from the angle at which you want to take, quickly run around behind their back.

Next, you can also predict their moves from which way their head is facing. The nasty set of teeth is what's going to deal the damage, so if they're not looking at you, they can't do anything about your presence. If one is slowly stumbling towards you, pay attention to that noggin. If it's looking left while you want to go right, you should be able to carefully move beside it without a scratch.

Inspect items for more information and uses

You'll pick up so many items in Resident Evil 2, but some have a hidden use that isn't obvious from the naked eye. Make sure you inspect every object you pick up from the inventory screen, because they might be more important than you might think. For example, the S.T.A.R.S badge you find in the Raccoon Police Department turns into a USB Dongle that'll unlock a door once inspected closely enough.

Make good use of sub-weapons

Sub-weapons are combat knives, hand grenades, and flash grenades, and they can save your life in certain situations. Some later enemies have the ability to kill you in one hit, and the only way to combat that is with a sub-weapon. Always try to make sure you have one or two on your person at all times to get you out of a sticky situation, but don't swamp your inventory in them.

Learn when to leave items behind

Carrying on from the previous point, you need to learn when you shouldn't be picking up an item, either leaving it for later or forgetting about it altogether. You have very limited inventory slots, so when you're exploring a new area, you need those slots to be free for more important items. If you already have the likes of a first aid spray with you, you probably don't need to pick up another green herb. Don't worry, though, your map will make note of any items you don't pick up should you need them in the future.

Combine herbs and gunpowder

Finding a green herb is great, but combine it with a red or blue one and its usefulness increases. Combine a green and red herb together and you'll have a mixture that'll fully heal you, even on danger. Meanwhile, introduce a blue herb and you'll be able to eliminate any poisonous toxins in your blood. In doing so, you'll create more useful items and save space in the process.

On top of that, combining different types of gunpowder will yield different results. If you're fully stocked up on handgun bullets, consider making some shotgun shells for those tougher enemies. Having a wide selection of weapons to choose from that are fully stocked up is an invaluable advantage to have.

Store items if you have no immediate use for them

We keep on saying it, but inventory management is so vital in Resident Evil 2. You'll uncover all manner of items and objects throughout your time with the game, and some of them won't have an obvious use right away. If that's the case, store them in the chests next to save points for later use. In doing so, you'll free up a slot for an item that you might need to use right away, or something you find when exploring a new area.

In the same vein, you probably don't need to be carrying more than 60 handgun bullets at any one time. If you've stocked up well, store some leftovers in the chest so that you always have some ammo to fall back on. It saves space and gives you a safety net should you run low on supplies.

That brings our Resident Evil 2 guide to a close. Do you have any other tips and tricks to share? Post them in the comments below.