How Resident Evil 2 Became One of the Most Important RE Games 28 Years Ago Today

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For thirty years, Resident Evil has been a leading name in horror gaming, inspiring countless other games in the process. While the series has had its ups and downs, it’s built a complex, ongoing story that keeps players engaged. A big reason for its lasting success is its cast of iconic characters – both the heroes you control and the terrifying creatures they face.

Leon S. Kennedy first appeared in the second Resident Evil game, which came out 28 years ago. He started as a typical police officer having a terrible first day on the job, but quickly developed into a skilled and courageous hero. Since then, Leon has become a hugely popular and influential character, fundamentally changing the landscape of action and horror games. Let’s explore how his introduction and early development in Resident Evil 2 positively impacted the entire series.

Resident Evil 2 Gave Us Leon S. Kennedy

Released on PlayStation on January 21, 1998, Resident Evil 2 quickly became a huge success, following up on the popularity of the first game. Unlike its predecessor, Resident Evil 2 featured new characters. Claire Redfield, sister of Chris Redfield from the original game, was joined by Leon S. Kennedy, a brand new character to the series. Leon, a rookie police officer, was late reporting for duty on his first day because of a hangover from a recent breakup. This fortunate delay saved him from the initial outbreak, giving him the opportunity to battle the growing zombie threat and prove his skills.

The game follows two main storylines, one starring Claire and the other Leon. Claire’s story delves deeper into the sinister Umbrella Corporation and introduces the character Sherry Birkin. Leon’s campaign is more focused on action and introduces his romantic interest, Ada Wong. Throughout his adventure, Leon develops from a brave but inexperienced rookie into a more mature hero who can recognize and resist manipulation. It’s a straightforward yet effective character arc, showing Leon prove his courage and discover his heroic potential.

How Leon Became The Face Of Resident Evil

After Resident Evil 2 blew up – seriously, it sold almost 5 million copies just on PlayStation! – it made total sense that Leon became a big deal in the series. But honestly, the next few games kind of sidelined him. He had a little cameo in Resident Evil Gaiden on Game Boy Color, which started like it was about Leon, but turned out you were playing as one of Umbrella’s clones. Then they went back to Jill in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and gave Claire her own story in Resident Evil: Code Veronica. But then Resident Evil 4 came out in 2005 and everything changed. That game really cemented Leon as the main character, at least for me.

After the destruction of Raccoon City, Leon Kennedy became a Secret Service agent responsible for protecting the President’s family. He’d changed a lot since his early days as a rookie cop. The trauma of Raccoon City and his training transformed him into a classic action hero. This shift played a big part in Resident Evil 4, which leaned into a more over-the-top, campy style that really highlighted the intense action and outlandish enemies.

Leon’s witty remarks and quick jokes gave him a sophisticated vibe that suited the game’s new tone, though he still maintained the heroic personality from Resident Evil 2. Like its predecessor, Resident Evil 4 was a huge hit, but it had an even bigger impact on the gaming world, sparking a new style of third-person action games. This updated version of Leon has been central to the series ever since, appearing as a hero in Resident Evil 6 and as a playable character in the recent remakes of both Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4. This same characterization is also evident in Resident Evil: Requiem.

Why Leon Is The Most Important Resident Evil Hero

The original Resident Evil was a hit on PlayStation, largely because it established a new standard for horror games. But Resident Evil 2 built on that success, demonstrating that the game’s scope could go far beyond a single location and small team. Resident Evil 2 showed that diverse characters could face any crisis, entire cities could fall to disaster, and large groups of people could become monstrous creatures.

What really struck me about the original Resident Evil 2 was how relatable the characters were. Leon and Claire felt like real people thrown into this crazy situation, not just skilled operatives. They had abilities that helped them survive, sure, but they still felt…normal, and that made the story so much more impactful. It’s what made me connect with them instantly. It’s funny looking back, because Leon definitely became more of an action hero by Resident Evil 4, but that actually worked because it was paired with Ashley, who was just a regular teenager completely out of her depth. That contrast made the whole experience even better!

The newest installment, Resident Evil: Requiem, successfully mixes fast-paced action, seen in Leon’s sections, with stealth gameplay focusing on Grace Ashcroft. This focus on relatable characters has become a series staple, influencing characters like Ethan from Resident Evil: Biohazard and Resident Evil: Village, who share Leon’s initially ordinary background. Despite becoming a highly skilled operative, Leon remains motivated by a very human desire to protect people. Resident Evil 2 was a pivotal game for many reasons, but its biggest contribution was introducing Leon S. Kennedy as a central character.

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2026-01-21 20:13