A survival horror game, Resident Evil 2 features the same basic gameplay mechanics as its predecessor, Resident Evil. The player explores a fictional city while solving puzzles and fighting monsters.[2] The game's two protagonists may be equipped with firearms, but limited ammunition adds a tactical element to weapon use.[2][3] On the status screen, the player can check the condition of the protagonists, use medicine to heal their wounds, and assign weapons.[4][5] The characters' current health can also be determined by their posture and movement speed. For example, a character will hold their stomach in pain if wounded, and will limp slowly if on the verge of death.[2][6] The protagonists may carry a limited number of items, and must store others in boxes placed throughout the game world, where they may later be retrieved.[2][7] Each protagonist is joined by a support partner during the course of the story. These characters accompany the player in certain scenes, and occasionally become playable.[1][8] Certain rooms contain typewriters that the player may use to save the game. However, each save expends one of a limited number of ink ribbons, which the player must collect in the game world.[9][10] The graphics of Resident Evil 2 are composed of real-time generated – and thus movable – polygonal character and item models, superimposed over pre-rendered backgrounds that are viewed from fixed camera angles.[2][11] The game uses tank controls, meaning that pressing up moves the character forward, down reverses, and left and right rotates, independently of the camera perspective.[12]
The main addition over the preceding game is the "Zapping System",[13] by which each of the two playable characters are confronted with different puzzles and storylines in their respective scenarios.[2] After finishing the "A" scenario with one protagonist, a "B" scenario, in which the events are depicted from the other character's perspective, is unlocked.[2][14] The player may start the "A" scenario with either of the two protagonists, resulting in a total of four different scenarios.[15] Actions taken during the first playthrough affect the second. For example, the availability of certain items may be altered.[2][c]
After each game, the player receives a ranking based on the total time taken to complete the scenario, and on the number of saves and special healing items used.[17] Depending on the player's accomplishments, bonus weapons and costumes may be unlocked as a reward.[14] The original version of Resident Evil 2 contains two stand-alone minigames: "The 4th Survivor" and "The To-fu Survivor". In both of these minigames, the player must reach the goal while fighting every enemy along the way with only the default item loadout.[18] All later versions (except the Nintendo 64 version) add a third minigame, "Extreme Battle", which consists of four playable characters and three stages.[18][19]
