If Capcom released and integrated 1.5 into the canon

[Stars1356]

I would love to get my hands on this one day and play it but don't think that will ever happen. I hope that maybe some of the people that worked on this game could release a DVD about the work the went into this game and why they went in another direction.

[Harry Mason]

I would love to get my hands on this one day and play it but don't think that will ever happen. I hope that maybe some of the people that worked on this game could release a DVD about the work the went into this game and why they went in another direction.

I agree completely. Even if the game were never released and no betas ever surface again, a solid documentary of all footage of all the build stages, cutscenes and FMV work would be the ultimate compliment to the finished game. And Capcom could release it as unlockable content in a RE2 remake.


@78 自分パル夢を停止する

[fujin78]

I agree completely. Even if the game were never released and no betas ever surface again, a solid documentary of all footage of all the build stages, cutscenes and FMV work would be the ultimate compliment to the finished game. And Capcom could release it as unlockable content in a RE2 remake.


@78 自分パル夢を停止する

stop dreaming

[doomed]

None of the things posted here are going to happen. Wake up people!

[aris13]

None of the things posted here are going to happen. Wake up people!

Don't be so negative.

[Agent_Wong]

Don't be so negative.

Indeed. If people would only read the title they would know that it says "If Capcom released it" . But I also agree that they probably won't. I wouldn't want them trying to retcon everything that we already have (even though it might be for the best). So should they ever decide to do something with it, I think releasing it "as is" would be just fine.

[DanKnyphausen]

I don't mean to rez an old post, but I have to put in my two cents (as you folks've probably noticed, my 2¢ is more like $5).

A better idea, possibly, is to make it canon by not making it canon. Leon looked really different in 1.5, and the Original Betas of Resident Evil featured a guy named "Gelzer." What about him? I never see anyone offering any Gelzer Love. But, he's a completely unused character idea, so, simple thought, let's use his name. Since "Black Hair-Buzz Cut-Robert Stack" looking Leon was one of the character models, use that, call him Gelzer. Elza can stay, and give the remaining cast alternate names. I think someone here called "Kendo" John, yes? That just leaves a few more renames. The whole point of this being to set 1.5 in a different city...
I believe part of 1.5's plot was that the police had "shut down" Umbrella, and for various unintentional reasons, accidents and mishandlings (or attempts to flush evidence) caused the outbreak. I say that's a fine idea.. set the game just after Dead Aim, when Umbrella "really was" being shut down.
This nameless town happens to have been a relatively minor facility - say, mainly storage, with a small lab (quality control) - but it was connected somehow to the main goings-on (perhaps where HUNK first delivered the G-Sample after 4th Survivor - biological samples have to be kept stable for them to remain viable). Enough that there's some G Virus there and those lovely Man-Spiders (failed project being warehoused an awaiting disposal?). Eliminate William Birkin's character, leave "Annette" in there (anyone seen the G-Annette sketches? Wild stuff!) as the one who becomes the Mutant. "Sherri" and "Ada" can be left as "characters to protect" that you have to put up with at various points. Though, unlike Ashley, they don't come with their own ransom notes ("Ada" would be able to use a simple 9mm handgun, and "Sherri" would just shield herself with her bookbag or scurry to a safe spot, negating most damage or just avoiding battle).
Now we have a working premise. And because a lot of 1.5 stuff seemed to be intended for partners, those could be added in as well, in a somewhat similar way as 5. Why? Well, first, marketing. Second, playing with a friend. Now my "sequence breaker" idea.
Have all four playables ("Gelzer" and Elza Walker, then John and I believe Marvin, though his slot as Partner could be given to Roy/D.J.) each have different starting points. That way, you and your buddy have to find each other first, and then accomplish whatever story set is ascribed to the primary character (Gelzer A/Elza A or Gelzer B/Elza B). If you're playing alone, then your AI Partner would just "show up" at the first scripted meeting point and any others from then on.
The AI Partner, I think, should be "directable" - you would have total access to their Item Screen, and be able to pick "Use/Equip" or "Trade" (a bit like Zero, but here, you don't actively swap). That way, you can choose what weapons they use, when they heal, etc/ Since there's been so much "exprience" gained with scripting a halfway decent AI for really complex games, it should be easier to make a really [i]good[/] AI for a more simple game - I would expect, say, "Gelzer" to not want to heal himself until he's close to or at Danger, though Roy/DJ may be more cautious and pop a Green Herb just as he hits Caution.
I don't recall how often you were supposed to "split up" but that could be retained very easily. If it calls for the AI Partner to go into any dangerous areas, the game can "charge" them a certain amount of ammo or supplies. To prevent some of the frustrations of Outbreak, they won't be able to die while they're split up from you. Or, it can be done that you have to actually play both parts.
Why all this? Well, it'll make the game longer without, necessarily, having to build a crapload more stuff. As for the stuff already there? Where and how do I think it should be released? Well, the PSP is a potential option. This idea could allow a lot of stuff to be kept, and more fun and interesting stuff to be added, while the story is more or less retained. I remember, Leon was supposed to be a lot more experienced, and DJ/Roy was supposed to be the cute, naiive rookie. It's a compromise idea, really, and a potentially viable product. If they even HAVE any of the stuff still archived somewhere, they'd already have a starting point. Some updates to the character models, a bit of sprucing up here and there, a few months' development and bam! You have a way to get another $50-60 out of the gaming public in a way that appeals to both hardcore RE fans that finally get 1.5, and the co-op action/adventure gamers that've wanted portable zombie killing funs. Mini-games can be anything from co-op time trials of certain stages, to a sort of single player Mercenaries Mode game, or another rendition of the "Extreme Battle" challenge.
It may be a pipe dream, but I think this is the most potentially profitable one for Capcom, and thus, the most potentially appealing (i.e. "most realistic" pipe dream).

[Rock it.]

It may be a pipe dream...

I love dreaming as much as everyone here does, but I don't even bother theorizing about a possible official release of 1.5 in any shape or form. It just wouldn't be profitable. RE isn't Final Fantasy, you can't release the same old games over and over with marginally better graphics and call it a day. And, even if against all odds, it got released, I can already picture the Gamespot and IGN reviews: "It might be a gem for classic the classic RE fan, but it's just an old and outdated game for everyone else", or something like that. I can't picture a scenario where it would be good for Capcom's pocket.

[Darkmoon]

Deadly Silence wants a word with you, Rock It. It has a knife too.

As a handheld or online release this makes as much sense as anything else. Either doing as Dan suggested and changing just enough of the skins and character names to make it so the game takes place elsewhere (you don't even need to set in a different city...another precinct in Raccoon would work, and allow some possibilies to keep a few things the same, possibly setting it the day before or a few hours before RE2) or making it an alternative reality...what would have happened if the S.T.A.R.S had thought to bring back evidence?

Without the funding of Umbrella, Brians can't have the current RE2 RPD upgraded to the main one and so they have to stay in the older but more modern style one while the money is found. The Umbrella lab beneath the city goes silent as Birkin tries to finish his perfect creation before the authoarities work out something is beneath the city. Chris goes home to his family. Etc.

Of course, Capcom won't do it...easy money is not for them. And that may be for the best. Goodness only knows what they'd change if they started on the project today. Our best bet is always going to be getting it in raw beta form. It's nice to dream that one day they'll come to there senses and I'll download it off the PlayStation network for £7.99. One day...

[Carnivol]

Step 1: Tie Resident Evil closer in with Dino Crisis.
Step 2: Abuse time travel from Dino Crisis 2 (and Dino Stalker) to create an alternate timeline.
Step 3: ?????
Step 4: Profit

Holy shit! Stop the press! I think we just figured out what the infamous ????? Step 3 is!

[Darkmoon]

To shatter reality? It would explain the question marks...

[Rock it.]

Deadly Silence wants a word with you, Rock It. It has a knife too.

The chances of it spitting the money to give the game the finishing touches it needs are slim, now imagine the effort to properly port it and do the recoding (because DS wasn't a direct port AFAIK) and trimming down it'd need to run on the DS. Too much effort, too little of a return. They're better off cashing the whole Chronicles series on the Wii.