About this game
Released in 2002, Resident Evil Zero is the origin story of the Raccoon City disaster, following S.T.A.R.S. medic Rebecca Chambers and fugitive Billy Coen as they investigate a derailed Umbrella training facility before the events of the original Resident Evil. Originally in development for the Nintendo 64, the game was rebuilt from the ground up for GameCube and introduced a partner-swapping mechanic that replaced the series' traditional item boxes with a cooperative inventory system.
Key Features
Dual-character partner system allowing players to switch control between Rebecca and Billy at any time; item-dropping mechanic replacing item boxes — items left on the ground persist; classic fixed-camera survival horror gameplay with tank controls; pre-rendered backgrounds matching the visual fidelity of the GameCube remake of Resident Evil 1.
The Story Behind
Resident Evil Zero was originally conceived and in development for the Nintendo 64 as early as 1998, with footage shown at Spaceworld events. When it became clear the N64 cartridge could not accommodate the pre-rendered background data, development shifted to GameCube. The game serves as the prequel that finally answers the question of what happened at the Ecliptic Express and the Umbrella facility before the night of July 24, 1998.
Tricks & Tales
The N64 prototype of Resident Evil Zero differed significantly from the final GameCube version — prototype footage shows a different facility layout and early character models. The partner system was designed by director Koji Oda specifically to reflect the cooperative nature of the two protagonists' survival. The game was the last mainline Resident Evil title to use fixed cameras and pre-rendered backgrounds before the series pivoted to full 3D with Resident Evil 4.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
GameCube exclusive at launch. An HD remaster was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC in 2016 as Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
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