The original Resident Evil is a great game, but there's not a single person on the planet that would say the game holds your hand. It's intentionally vague, and while trying to learn everything the game has to offer in the heat of the moment can be exhilarating, it can also be incredibly frustrating.
This guide should help combat said frustration: think of this as an introductory lesson to all of Resident Evil's mechanics, from saving to health to fighting off the undead.
Let's get started!
Inventory Management
The game's limited inventory can be tough to get a handle on. Resident Evil limits player's resources so much and so often that it can be confusing: should you focus on carrying weapons, or health, or keys?
Usually, it's not that simple - for most of the game, you'll need to find a balance between all of the different items the game provides. While there's no perfect solution, there are a few rules to keep in mind.
For starters, always try to keep one slot open. As shown in the video above, there's a chance you could come across a key item and not have the space for it - meaning you either use an item or backtrack all the way back to an Item Box.
Speaking of Item Boxes, always know the fastest and safest route back to one. You'll be traveling back and forth frequently, and knowing which hallways are packed with Hunters and which shortcuts work will really cut down on health lost and time wasted.
Ammunition & Defensive Weapons
Aside from the game's main arsenal (which is pretty self-explanatory: guns go boom), there are two other weapon-based items you'll need to know about. The first is extra ammunition: while the game does stack multiple magazines into one another, extra ammo will always take up extra space in your inventory. As such, only carry one gun and extra ammo with you at a time - otherwise, you'll run out of space real fast.
Defensive Weapons are basically the opposite of your primary firearm: these weapons are a last resort for when enemies get too personal. There are a few different flavors: a single, high-damage knife and an instant-kill grenade are the most common. Always try to have at least one on you at all times because you never know when you'll get grabbed from around a corner and need a quick escape. Just don't go wasting them, either - they're just as scarce as ammo, if not more so.
Health & Combining Items
Health pickups, like ammo, are extremely scarce throughout the entirety of Resident Evil. Throughout the game, you'll come across green, red and blue herbs, along with First Aid Sprays and First Aid boxes. First Aid boxes must be examined to reveal their contents (more on that later) and First Aid Sprays always restore all lost health.
Herbs are more complicated. The basic green herb will restore life, while blue will cure poison. Red herbs act as a booster: red mixed with green will heal any amount of damage. There are plenty of other combinations, and knowing which to use for every situation is critical. It's generally best to hold off on combining herbs for as long as possible as well, just to make sure you can adapt to whatever happens.
If there's one rule to abide by, it's to always keep at least one healing item in your inventory. There's no telling what can happen, and making sure you're prepared is mandatory for making it through Resident Evil in one piece.
Key & Examining Items
If there's one thing you'll have to learn to love in Resident Evil, it's managing keys. Just about every door is locked upon first entering the mansion, and every door has its key.
One thing that players may not realize is that many of the game's items actually hold keys within them. It's crucial to examine just about every single item you pick up, just in case there's something hiding inside.
For example, the First Aid Box cannot be used in its normal form, but upon examining, it'll spit out actual healing items. The same goes for key items, such as the Golden Arrow shown above. This is the case for a huge list of items all throughout the game - just remember, even if it doesn't look important, examine it. It'll make the game that much easier.
Saving
One thing that can truly screw up a run through the mansion is running out of saves. Resident Evil, as opposed to most other games, does not allow for unlimited saves: instead, saving progress is tied to Ink Ribbons, which can be used at typewriters littered throughout the game.
It's important to remember that, just like everything else in the game, Ink Ribbons are extremely rare. Just because you reach a typewriter doesn't mean you have to save: if you do, there's a good chance you'll run out of Ink Ribbons before you reach the final encounter.
Try to find a balance between progress and Ink Ribbons. Making it past a difficult puzzle, defeating a boss or making progress is any form is a good indication that a save is in order. Remember, there are no checkpoints in Resident Evil, and death sends you back to the last save...which can mean hours of progress lost.
Basically, it's all about finding the balance between actually making progress and keeping an eye on how many Ink Ribbons you have left.
Good luck.
Combat
If you grew up on newer Resident Evil games, then this may come as a surprise: fighting the undead in Resident Evil HD is typically a terrible idea. There's no way to line up easy headshots, and there's usually not enough ammo to take them all down anyways. For the most part, running away is the best option.
True, there are enemies that are worth putting down, but most of the time, it's easier to just run. It'll also come in handy for the few fights that can't be skipped: hoarding ammo for later will make later bossfights an absolute breeze.
Save that Magnum ammo for as long as possible. Just trust us on this one.
There you have it: all the tricks you'll need to get started in Resident Evil. Of course, there's a lot we didn't want to spoil (watch out for the sound of grinding chains), but this guide should help you get used to the game's unique mechanics and systems.
And, if you're still wondering if you should pick up a copy, check out our review of the Resident Evil HD Remaster!
