Here is a tiny, poorly made page about the Resident Evil beta version. This just has a few things that I've viewed through reading certain magazines and looking at pictures. Note all of this information (plus the pictures) is from a 90% done version of RE. This is why some of the info does not correspond with other RE beta info. In fact, this was the version given to most game magazines a few months prior to release; a few actually gave detailed strategies based on this version, so that's how I came into possession of this information. If you'd like to go to another good RE beta site, go to Biohazard Extreme,
SurvivHor, or
Resident Evil Uncensored.
Well, I'll start by introducing a few interesting pictures I've come across...
These are screenshots of the various diaries and files that were found in the beta Resident Evil. Some of these (like the Botany book, the thing that looks like a diary, and the business-looking documents) could be files in the final version. The others... I have no idea. Part of Trevor's Letters, perhaps? If you don't know what Trevor's Letters are, read on...
- The blood of the zombies seemed to be green.
- The item boxes were divided between the east and west wings, so if you put something in the west wing item box, it would not appear in the east wing box.
- There were eight files in the first visit to the mansion alone! In the final game, there are only three, I believe.
Another note on that:
There were files that could be called "Trevor's letters." Following is a description provided by ZombieMan, from the Anti-Censorship RE page messageboard.
For those of you who want to know what "Trevor's letters" are, ive got the answer. I also know where they are. From what i know, Trevor was part of the Umbrella Corporation, and the eir to a secluded mansion when his father died. In a series of letters, Trevor tells his tragic tale. First it explained why the mansion had so many traps and secret rooms and such. Then he started talking about Umbrella and their experiments. Eventually leading to the final letter were Trevor explains that he voluntered for an experiment. Trevor was probably the first zombie or creature. Also, you find that when the giant snake makes a hole for you in the piano room, the tomestone grave is his. And ill bet you wanna know where it is huh? too bad, Trevor and his letters were left out of the final version. - Saturday, September 27, 1997 at 20:39:49 (MDT)
These letters probably made up a few of the 5 files that seem to have been left out of the final version. I believe these are real for two reasons:
First, in S. D. Perry's Resident Evil novels, she mentions the architect of the Spencer mansion being named George Trevor. Now you may say "S. D. Perry probably just made that character up." But, in the RE2 novelization, she identifies the (at that time) unnamed black police officer as Marvin Branagh, which we now know to be true. So I'm guessing Capcom gave her access to preproduction material for her books.
Second, in Resident Evil : Code Veronica, Alexander Ashford mentions that the first mansion was the legacy of the late Trevor. This is actually a little proof within the games. So there ya have it.
- There was a message in blood in the 2F Right Stairs Room, near the door that led to the "C" Passage.
- There were only 3 Crests (Sun, Moon, Star) as opposed to 4 (Sun, Moon, Star, Wind) in the final.
- In the Tea Room, there was a file and a case of Explosive Grenades near Kenneth's corpse. In the final version, Kenneth is carrying two clips, not grenades. There is no file.
Now on to the kinda technical details... (All for Jill's mission... I have no details on Chris's...)
- The wooden shield was in the Gallery (Room with statue of woman). In the final, the First Floor Map is there.
- In the Hidden Passage in the above-mentioned gallery, there was an Ink Ribbon and a Clip. In the final, there was only the Ink Ribbon.
- In the "L" Passage (where the dogs break through), you would find the lighter. In the final, you find only a clip.
- In the Boiler Room, there was only a red herb. In the final version, there are many herbs.
- In the bathroom as Jill, there was a clip inside the bathtub when it was drained. You don't get to drain the bathtub in the final version as Jill, I think.
- In the Living Room (where you find the shotgun), there was a blue plant, a file, and also the shotgun. In the final version, only the shotgun is present.
- In the Large Gallery (Paintings Puzzle), you would get a First-Aid Spray if you completed the puzzle correctly. In the final version, you get the Star Crest.
- In the Room Under Stairs (1F East Save Room), there was a blue plant, along with the Typewriter, Item Box, and Chemical. In the final version, the blue herb was left out.
- In the Dressing Room (room with blue decor; entered through the main hall), there is a health cannister in the back hallway. There is not one in the final version.
- In the Wardrobe (Room with door leading to closet/secret costumes), there were blue plants, a file, and a crawling zombie. In the final version, there was only the crawling zombie and an Ink Ribbon.
- In the Dining Room, there was an ink ribbon. There is no ink ribbon in the final version; only the Wooden Shield.
- In the Bar (Mansion), there was a file and the music notes. In the final version, there was no file; only the music notes.
- In the "F" passage (I don't know a better way to describe it, it looks like an F, it's on the 1st floor), there was a green herb. I don't think this was in the final.
- In the Employee Room, there was a key you found that would unlock the desk in that room. It held a diary. In the final version, the Keeper's Diary is lying on top of the desk.
- In the Tiger Room, when you used the blue jewel, it gave you the Botany book. In the final, it gives you the Wind Crest.
- In the Small Dining Room (2F), there was a First-Aid Spray. In the final version, you get a clip and an Ink Ribbon.
- In the Attic (the room where you fight the snake), there was another file, a clip, and of course, the Moon Crest. In the final version, the clip and the file are missing.
- There was nothing in the 2nd floor library that houses the Botany Book in the final version.
- In the Bedroom (2F), there was a First-Aid Spray and a clip. In the final version, there was a clip, a red herb, and a lighter.
- In the 2F Study, there was the Star Crest and a file. In the final version, there were Explosive Rounds, an Ink Ribbon, and the Researcher's Will.
Well, that's all there is that I know of... I hope you learned a little about the game...