Resident Evil 2 (1998) Unlockables: Ranks, The 4th Survivor, Tofu, Extreme Battle and Costumes

How the rank works

• At the end of each scenario the game grades you. The guides agree on what counts: your clear time, how many times you saved, and whether you used First Aid Sprays.
• Using the special weapons lowers your rank, according to three guides. That includes the unlimited Rocket Launcher, Gatling Gun and Sub Machine Gun.
• The guides disagree on First Aid Sprays. mysticcat's GameFAQs guide has a table that still gives an A rank under 3 hours with one or two sprays; B is 3 to 5 hours 30 minutes, down to E past 9 hours 30 minutes. MKim's guide says a single First Aid Spray lowers the rank. On saves they differ too: mysticcat's table drops to B at 3 to 5 saves, MKim allows 6 before the rank drops, and BDennis's guide puts the line at more than six.

The 4th Survivor

• You play HUNK, sent by Umbrella to steal the G-Virus from William Birkin, according to one guide. He starts in the sewers with the G-Virus and must reach the heliport on the police station roof.
• He carries a Handgun, a Shotgun and a Magnum with fixed ammo, and two mixed herbs.
• The guides give different unlock conditions. cvxfreak's GameFAQs guide and StrategyWiki: clear an A scenario and the matching B scenario on Normal, both with an A rank. peach_freak: clear an A/B pair twice, four games in all, with A or B ranks. mysticcat: three scenarios in a row with an A rank on Normal, each save kept. BDennis: meet the conditions for the unlimited-ammo weapons.

The Tofu Survivor

• The same route as HUNK, played as a block of tofu with only a Knife and some herbs. Three guides agree on the knife-only start. One guide says he can take much more damage.
• The unlock is disputed too. TWong's GameFAQs guide: six scenarios in a row (Leon A, Claire B, three times), saving each one. peach_freak: each half of an A/B pair three times with A or B ranks. mysticcat: six scenarios in a row with an A rank. cvxfreak: seven games in a fixed order with The 4th Survivor in the middle, all A rank except HUNK's.

Extreme Battle

• Only in the Dual Shock, PC, Dreamcast and GameCube versions, not the original PlayStation release or the Nintendo 64. On PC it is open from the start.
• One guide says you fight from Birkin's lab back up to the police station, looking for bombs. One guide says four Antivirus Bombs. Leon and Claire are playable first; one guide says Ada opens after Level 1 and Chris Redfield after Level 2.
• To open it on the other versions, cvxfreak's GameFAQs guide says clear an A and B pair on Normal with A ranks, mysticcat says A or B ranks, and snk202 says complete Scenario B on Normal.

Costumes and the hidden film

1. Reach the station empty-handed

   In an A scenario on Normal, get from the start to the police station courtyard without picking up anything at all: no ammo, no herbs, no guns.

2. Kill Brad Vickers

   Go down the steps beside the station entrance. A zombie Brad Vickers, the helicopter pilot from the first game, waits in the passage. He takes far more bullets than a normal zombie.

3. Take his key to the Dark Room

   Search his body for the Special Key and use it on the lockers in the Dark Room. Leon finds two outfits, and one of them makes him fire the Handgun faster. Claire finds one outfit and the Colt S.A.A. Brad is there again in the B scenario.

4. The hidden film

   In the S.T.A.R.S. Office, search Wesker's desk 50 times. You find a film; develop it in the Dark Room for a photo of Rebecca Chambers.

Cross-checked