I’ve been really eager to see and play the 80% build of Resident Evil 1.5! It’s quite unfortunate that Capcom drew a lot from it for the RE2 remake but didn’t provide any version of 1.5 as a bonus. Can anyone share what the current status of that build is? I would totally contribute to a crowdfunding campaign just to get my hands on it.
3 Answers
It’s incredibly unlikely that we’ll ever see a complete 80% build. Most of the internal builds from development were for staff use only, and the chances of one of those slipping out are slim to none. The only reason we got the Nov. 5, ’96 build was due to specific circumstances involving a former employee. So, finding another complete version is just about impossible.
Honestly, RE1.5 is more myth than substance at this point. Most of the real work on it ended up as fan hacks because the actual build was a total mess. Capcom was scared of backlash, which is why they didn’t release any raw version—what they had was likely pretty terrible.
Yeah, but I’m still curious about what it could have been! Beyond Elza’s design, it feels like there’s so much interest that’s just out there in legend.
While the RE2 remake does have some nods to RE1.5, like Elza’s outfit, a complete version of 1.5 wouldn’t get released as an extra. Most of what you find online about 1.5 are fan projects trying to stitch together parts into something playable. Just remember, being 80% complete doesn’t mean it’s ready for prime time. It’s still pretty rough and probably not worth the hype it’s gotten.
But didn’t they reuse some music and include the firing range from 1.5 in the remake? I mean, having the 80% build could be huge for modders and give them a lot to work with since there was voice acting seen in trailers. It really feels like a piece of Resident Evil history that fans should experience!
True, but the fact is it was never a finished product. The unstable 80% build would probably be more of a headache than anything else.
I heard there’s at least one version in private collections, but it’s probably never going to see the light of day. It’s all so frustrating!