The OU Game Developer’s Association holds general body meetings focused on an in-depth discussion of a selected game.  Each meeting typically follows a structured format—engineering, game design, visual arts, sound, and narrative—to provide a comprehensive analysis across all committees. This article covers “Resident Evil 2″—both the original released in 1998 and the 2019 remake.

For this portion, the Engineering committee walked through an implementation of the circuit-style puzzles from “Resident Evil 2 Remake.” These puzzles ask the player to restore power by creating a continuous path from the source nodes to the goal nodes. The circuit is laid out on a grid, and the player rotates tiles until the connections line up. They are essentially “pipe puzzles,” similar to a jigsaw puzzle where all pieces are already placed but their rotations are scrambled.

The Engineering Committee focused on a central question: how can we implement these puzzles without hard coding the solution? Assuming a puzzle starts in a valid, solvable state, how can the game automatically determine when the player has completed it? This matters when considering replayability, which often means randomized puzzles (though in “RE2,” the puzzles aren’t randomized as a game design decision).

To answer this, the committee discussed the underlying theory: graph data structures and a class of techniques known as flood-fill algorithms. They then presented a Godot project that demonstrated how these ideas come together in practice. As a final touch, they added a small Easter egg. Once the puzzle is solved, the “Secret Found” sound effect from “The Legend of Zelda” plays.

“Resident Evil 2” demonstrates careful balance between horror and action, evolving the series’ design philosophy from its predecessor. While the original “Resident Evil” emphasizes sustained tension—tight, dimly lit corridors, fixed camera angles, and scarce resources heighten claustrophobia—”RE2″ introduces a more dynamic progression. Early sections maintain this horror sensibility: offices and hallways feel oppressive, and every corner poses risk. Yet even in the first act, “RE2” begins hinting at action sequences, signaling a shift in scale and intensity.

By the early to mid-game, players have explored much of the Raccoon City Police Department, cleared many standard enemies, and acquired stronger weapons and resources. This power growth sets the stage for “RE2’s” unique dynamic: the Tyrant, or Mr. X. Unlike traditional enemies, Mr. X is unkillable and relentlessly pursues the player across the station, forcing adaptation. Resource management alone is no longer sufficient; survival depends on movement, planning, and strategic navigation around this singular threat.

“RE2’s” tonal pivot occurs in the sewers, where the game transitions from survival horror toward action focus. Encounters, such as Leon’s chase with the mutated alligator, emphasize reflexes and tactical positioning over scarcity. The player is well-equipped to face standard foes, and challenges now revolve around unique enemy combinations, environmental hazards, and puzzle integration rather than constant resource tension.

Boss design mirrors this shift. The first boss appears early, when the player has minimal firepower, demanding careful aim and strategy reminiscent of “RE1.” Mid-game bosses, in contrast, are more like puzzles or set pieces, leveraging the player’s increased abilities while creating cinematic tension.

Overall, “RE2” exemplifies a progression from claustrophobic horror to empowered action, using enemy design, level layout, and pacing to guide the player through escalating stakes. The game balances fear and empowerment, making each encounter meaningful while evolving the player’s sense of capability and tension.

The evolution of graphics and art direction between “Resident Evil 2” (1998) and its 2019 remake highlights how technological advancements reshape visual storytelling while preserving core design philosophies. In video games, a remake involves rebuilding models, environments, and assets from the ground up. For “RE2,” this meant translating the claustrophobic, tension-filled Raccoon City Police Department and its inhabitants into a modern visual language while retaining the original’s tone and atmosphere.

Isao Ohishi’s early concept work laid the foundation for “RE2’s” visual identity, emphasizing stark lighting, architectural scale, and environmental storytelling. The 1998 version achieved a grand and terrifying aesthetic with limited hardware. Fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, and carefully placed props created the illusion of depth and scale, proving that strong art direction can transcend technical constraints.

By contrast, the 2019 remake leveraged the RE Engine, Capcom’s proprietary technology developed in 2014, to create a more immersive and lifelike world. The engine introduced advanced anti-aliasing, volumetric lighting, and photogrammetry, allowing environments, characters, and textures to feel tangible. Shadows, reflections, and atmospheric effects contribute to both realism and tension, enhancing the horror experience while giving artists more tools to realize their vision.

Despite these technological improvements, art direction remained central. Designers carefully curated lighting, color, and composition to guide player attention, evoke mood, and preserve the iconic identity of “RE2.” The remake demonstrates how improved tools expand creative possibilities without replacing the foundational role of visual design.

Comparing the two versions underscores how technology influences production but cannot replace thoughtful artistry. The 1998 version proves innovation thrives within constraints, while the 2019 remake shows how technical advancements can amplify creativity. Observing this evolution provides insight into game development’s intersection of art and technology—and offers inspiration for aspiring artists imagining how their future work might redefine the visual language of games.

Save the Cat is a storytelling framework originally developed for film and novels that emphasizes character transformation. At its core, it highlights the need for characters to experience meaningful change, often beginning with a relatable moment—“saving the cat”—that earns audience empathy and sets the stage for growth.

While primarily used in cinematic storytelling, the framework applies to video games as well: player-controlled protagonists experience arcs that mirror these narrative beats, their development unfolding through both gameplay and story. In this sense, games like “Resident Evil 2” allow players to inhabit transformation directly, shaping empathy through choice, action, and survival.

Leon S. Kennedy’s journey in the “RE2” remake exemplifies this kind of transformation. When he first arrives in Raccoon City, he is a rookie cop, eager yet naive, convinced he can handle the chaos of his first day on the job. Early encounters with zombies, panicked civilians, and the mysterious Umbrella conspiracy confront him with the brutal reality of his world, forcing him to act under extreme stress.

The horrors he faces are not merely external threats—they challenge his assumptions, morality, and confidence. By navigating tight corridors, scarce resources, and relentless enemies, Leon is shaped by both his environment and his choices, mirroring the gradual development emphasized in narrative structures like Save the Cat.

As the story progresses, Leon adapts. His initial bravado gives way to pragmatism, his rookie optimism tempered by the necessity of survival. He begins to understand the weight of responsibility, the fragility of life, and the stakes of connection, especially as he interacts with characters like Claire Redfield and witnesses the consequences of Umbrella’s actions. The climax does not just test his physical skills but his moral and emotional growth, transforming him from a wide-eyed newcomer into a resilient and self-aware figure.

Through this lens, Leon’s arc demonstrates how video games can achieve narrative depth akin to novels and films. Players do not passively observe change—they inhabit it, making the evolution personal and immediate. By applying frameworks like Save the Cat, designers can structure experiences where protagonists are shaped meaningfully by their challenges, creating stories that resonate long after the screen goes dark. Leon’s journey is a testament to this: he is no longer the person who walked into Raccoon City; he is someone forged by adversity, a transformation players experience firsthand.

This article is in collaboration with The University of Oklahoma’s Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation program, its Crimson Collective Journal media outlet, and The Game Developer’s Association (GDA).

GDA is dedicated to educating Sooners about various aspects of game development engineering, game design, narrative, sound, and visual arts. We break down games in detailed analysis presentations and guide students in creating their own during Game Jam competitions.

If you’re curious about game development—or just want to connect with a vibrant community of creators—we’d love for you to join us. All the ways to find OU GDA are linked below.

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