Should You Hand Barry His Gun Back in Resident Evil? A Deep Dive
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The question of whether or not to return Barry Burton’s gun in the original Resident Evil (and its Remake) is a classic dilemma for players. It’s a choice that impacts not only your immediate gameplay but also your potential achievements and the overall narrative. The short answer is: it depends on what you prioritize.
The Pragmatic Approach: Forgoing the Gun
Let’s address the lure first. If you choose not to return Barry’s gun, you’re rewarded with the magnum, arguably the most powerful handgun in the game. This acquisition is very useful in taking down more powerful enemies, including Lisa Trevor, and also completes a requirement toward the “Starsenal” achievement or trophy. This makes for a more powerful playthrough, making fights easier as you progress through the story.
However, this path comes with a heavy narrative and achievement cost.
The Moral Route: Trust and Friendship
Choosing to return Barry’s gun is not just about being kind, it’s integral to achieving certain in-game accolades. By doing so, you will obtain the “Trust Him” and “I’m a Member of S.T.A.R.S.” achievements or trophies. Critically, this choice also plays a role in determining Barry’s fate. Choosing to give back his gun shows your belief and trust in him, cementing his status as your comrade in the zombie-infested mansion. This path is typically considered the “better” ending among players.
The Impact on Barry’s Fate
In the Resident Evil Remake, Barry’s fate isn’t solely decided by whether you give back his gun. The game adds a crucial element: waiting for Barry to drop you a rope after the second snake fight. If you wait a couple of minutes for him to return and drop the rope, Barry will survive. If you continue on without him, he will die. This means you can technically get the magnum and keep Barry alive, but you will miss out on the abovementioned trophies. Therefore, the moral route, and the better path to the “best” ending, includes both giving him his gun and patiently waiting for his return.
The “Best” Ending
The “best” endings in both the original Resident Evil and the Remake generally involve ensuring your partner survives to the final confrontation with the Super Tyrant. Specifically, in the Remake, you must rescue the other playable character with all three MO Disks. For Chris’ best ending in the Remake, Rebecca Chambers must also survive.
In the original Resident Evil (PS1), the “good” ending for Jill involves keeping Barry alive, thus ensuring he activates the bomb in the lab and that Chris is freed from his prison cell.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your priorities. Do you want the raw power of the magnum and an easier time fighting through the game, or do you prioritize a more complete story with a positive outcome for Barry and the related trophies? Weigh the pros and cons carefully. Remember, it’s not just about individual power; it’s about camaraderie, trust, and the consequences of your choices in the terrifying Spencer Mansion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I don’t give Barry his gun back?
If you refuse to give Barry his gun, he will be attacked by Lisa Trevor and fall into the abyss. You’ll obtain the powerful magnum, but miss out on the “Trust Him” and “I’m a Member of S.T.A.R.S.” achievements, and a better ending.
2. Can Barry survive in the original Resident Evil?
Yes. In the original game, keeping Barry alive is crucial for getting the “good” ending, where he helps to activate the bomb in the lab, and frees Chris from his cell (when playing as Jill).
3. How do I save Barry in the Resident Evil Remake?
To save Barry in the Remake, you must both give him his gun and wait for him to drop the rope after the second snake fight. If you leave him, he dies.
4. What is the best ending for Chris in Resident Evil Remake?
Chris’s best ending occurs when he kills the Tyrant (T-002 Type), frees Jill Valentine, and Rebecca Chambers survives.
5. What is the good ending for Jill in Resident Evil (PS1)?
Jill’s good ending is where she keeps Barry alive, ensuring he activates the bomb in the lab, and frees Chris from his prison cell.
6. Does the choice about Barry’s gun affect achievements or trophies?
Yes. Choosing not to give Barry his gun results in not being able to achieve the “Trust Him” and “I’m a Member of S.T.A.R.S” achievements/trophies. This choice will enable a requirement for the “Starsenal” trophy/achievement, though.
7. What are the criteria for the best ending in the Resident Evil Remake for both characters?
The “best” ending requires that your partner survives until the very end of the game (including the Super Tyrant fight). You also need to rescue the other playable character with all three MO Disks.
8. Is there a canon ending in the first Resident Evil?
Interestingly, the specific ending you achieve isn’t strictly canon. The overarching story states that Jill, Barry, Chris, and Rebecca escape the mansion alive, with Wesker being killed by the Tyrant. However, the game itself does not necessarily allow you to play through an ending where all four survive together.
9. Is Resident Evil harder to play with Chris?
Chris is considered harder to play with due to his limited inventory space, his reliance on smaller keys, and his lack of a grenade launcher. However, his damage output is similar to Jill’s.
10. Who is stronger: Leon or Chris?
While both are very capable, Chris is generally considered to have superior raw strength, while Leon is sometimes portrayed with higher combat feats and agility.
11. Was that really Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 7?
Yes, Capcom has confirmed that the character in Resident Evil 7 is indeed Chris Redfield.
12. Is the Krauser fight the hardest in Resident Evil 4 Remake?
Many players find the mutated Krauser fight to be the hardest boss battle in Resident Evil 4 Remake.
13. Can Rebecca and Barry both survive in Resident Evil?
Yes, you can save Rebecca. For Barry, it is more challenging, as he needs to survive certain boss fights (most importantly the Lisa Trevor fight) and you must show interest in him in his optional dialogue to save him.
14. What happens if I don’t engage with the optional dialogue with Barry?
In certain games, failure to engage with the optional dialogue will result in Barry taking his own life.
15. Is Wesker a canon character?
Yes. Albert Wesker is a prominent canon character who is often the main antagonist of the games.