Resident Evil is back! And in classic fashion, Capcom isn’t afraid to load it up with a ton of cool easter eggs, references and nods to the past. Here are 21 brilliant little details we’ve found so far in Resident Evil 3.
Beware this is going to contain spoilers. You’ve been warned!
1 / Live Action Opening
The game kicks off with a live-action video, marking the first time it’s done this since the original Resident Evil in 1996. Thankfully, the acting’s a little better this time…
2 / The Samurai Edge
Jill’s memorable custom gun, the Samurai Edge, returns once again in RE3, but is immediately lost during the battle with Nemesis before you get a chance to use it. However, once you finish the game and gain access to the shop, you can buy the bespoke piece, admire its custom engravings and have it ready in the item box for all your zombie decapitation needs.
3 / Jill’s Apartment
The opening is set in Jill’s apartment and is full of tons of little details and easter eggs. Here are some of our favourites:
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Jill’s iconic beret from the original Resident Evil is resting on the shelf.
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The famous S.T.A.R.S picture is on her pinboard.
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There’s a fridge magnet of a green herb.
4 / Dario Rosso
Although a lot has changed from the original Resident Evil 3, one thing that’s stayed consistent is the early appearance of Dario Rosso in the Blue Mountain Warehouse. After he locks himself away, be sure to keep chatting to the rotund coward to hear him say “I’m not going anywhere. I’d rather starve to death than be eaten by one of those undead monsters!” - the exact line he used in the 1999 original.
5 / RE2 True Ending Music
Long term fans of the series will remember how awesome/ludicrous the true ending music was in the original Resident Evil 2. Well it’s back and you don’t have to make it to the end of the game to experience it. Simply take a breather in Moon’s Donuts to enjoy its ’80s-inspired rock glory.
6 / Capcom Posters
There are a ton of references to Capcom games from the past among the many parody movie posters. Here are all the ones we spotted:
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A Monster Hunter-inspired video game from Kidsoft called Monster Shooter.
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Eagle’s Pet Shop features the distinct image of Eagle, an obscure Street Fighter character.
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A little bit more on the nose is a Ghost ’n Goblins inspired card game called Arthur.
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And finally, the most transparent is the game’s depiction of Mega-Man, who is frankly everywhere. He even shows up on the desk of Nathanial Bard. Seems like RE3’s evil doctor / dickhead is a massive fan. Who knew, eh?
7 / Nemesis’ Secret Stash
In the original Resident Evil 3 you were given the choice of taking on Nemesis for rewards, or escaping while you can. Although the remake has removed live selections, you can still take on the giant freak for bonus items. Once downed he’ll drop a giant supply crate with all sorts of upgrades and goodies inside. Just don’t ask where he was hiding that crate beforehand…
8 / Kendo’s Deja Vu
When visiting Kendo’s gun shop you’ll notice things feel a little familiar. Turns out Kendo pulls the exact same move on Jill as he does Leon, getting the pounce on both of them in the same way. Once your conversation with Kendo is over you can also approach the door to hear bonus zombie daughter dialogue.
9 / Live Selection Reference
Like the 1999 original, Brad Vickers is outside RPD just before you enter and is carrying that very useful STARS keycard. This time though, it’s your job to take the newly zombified Brad down instead of Nemesis.
In a cool nod to the choices presented in the original, killing Brad is very much optional and, if it suits you, you can choose to save ammo by ignoring him. In fact, Tyrell even encourages you to do this!
10 / Weird Doors
Carlos, acting like a proxy for the audience, regularly points out what everyone is thinking. None of these are more apt than when you approach a locked door displaying a Spade emblem and Carlos says, “Now here’s a weird fuckin’ door.” Finally, a game character that says what we’re all thinking!
11 / Welcome Leon
Another banger in Carlos’ range of one-liners is, when you aim at the ‘Welcome Leon’ sign in the west office, he says, “Yeah, welcome Leon. Bet you had a kick-ass first day.”
12 / DO NOT OPEN IT
In the shower room Carlos can pick up a note he probably should have left behind. The letter, from Wes to Hector, is a simple but stern warning that he’s dead, in the locker and not to open it. Unfortunately, Leon or Claire didn’t get this note and found out the hard way…
13 / Locker Codes
In a cool little nod to the Resident Evil 2 Remake, all lockers and safes have the exact same codes they do in the 2019 classic. But this leads us onto the mystery of who not only re-supplied these locations, but reset all the locks? For argument's sake, let’s just say it was Marvin keeping himself busy.
