Cracking the Codes: A Comprehensive Guide to Safe Combinations in Resident Evil 2 (Leon’s Campaign)

Alright, rookie. You’re sweating bullets, zombies are clawing at the door, and you need to get that safe open now. Let’s cut to the chase: in Resident Evil 2, playing as Leon S. Kennedy, the safe code for the West Office safe on the 1st floor is Left 9, Right 15, Left 7. This unlocks a crucial hip pouch, giving you extra inventory space – a lifesaver when you’re juggling herbs, ammo, and the occasional zombie arm.

But hold on, there’s more to it than just that one safe. Raccoon City is riddled with locked boxes and hidden compartments, each offering valuable resources. This guide breaks down every safe and locked item you’ll encounter in Leon’s campaign, giving you the edge you need to survive. So, grab your gun, sharpen your wits, and let’s unlock some secrets!

Unlocking Raccoon City: Safe Combinations and Key Locations

While the West Office safe is your first taste of safe-cracking, it’s only the beginning. As Leon, you’ll need to decipher clues, find keys, and manipulate mechanisms to access crucial supplies and hidden areas. Here’s a breakdown of the key locations and what you need to unlock them:

• West Office Safe (1st Floor): As mentioned, the combination is Left 9, Right 15, Left 7. Inside: Hip Pouch (essential for increased inventory!).

• Waiting Room Safe (2nd Floor, East Wing): This safe requires the combination Left 6, Right 2, Left 11. The reward? A Muzzle Brake for Leon’s Matilda handgun, dramatically improving its accuracy.

• Leon’s Desk (2nd Floor, West Office): Not a safe, but a puzzle! Input the initials of every other officer. The left padlock is NED and the right padlock is MRG. Unlocks the High Capacity Mag for the Matilda Handgun.

• Safety Deposit Room Lockers: Requires the Spare Key. This is found in the Portable Safe after obtaining the Diamond Key.

• Portable Safe #1 (Linen Room): Requires solving the portable safe puzzle. Contains a Spare Key for the Safety Deposit Room. The solution varies per playthrough.

• Portable Safe #2: Locations of the portable safes are randomized.

• Lion Medallion Statue: Requires three medallions. The code for Leon’s first playthrough is Crown, Flame, Dove. Found using the Officer’s Notebook. In the Second Run, the combination is in the Roll Film: Lion Statue, located in the Lounge by the Library.

• Club Key: Found in the Boiler Room (Leon-only area), accessed on the way to the Clock Tower. Unlocks the Interrogation Room or Observation Room.

• Diamond Key: Located in the Morgue. Opens the Linen Closet, where you find the Portable Safe.

• Red Jewel: Found in the Art Room. Combine it with the Bejeweled Box (Interrogation Room) to get the S.T.A.R.S. Badge, which unlocks the Samurai Edge handgun.

• S.T.A.R.S. Office (2nd Floor, West Wing): Accessed using the S.T.A.R.S. Badge (once it’s been modified into a USB key). Inside, you’ll find weapon upgrades and a valuable item box.

The Importance of Inventory Management

Inventory space in Resident Evil 2 is tight. Every slot is precious, and choosing what to carry is a constant battle. The hip pouches found in safes are crucial for expanding your carrying capacity, allowing you to hoard more ammo, healing items, and key items. Don’t neglect these, as they can make the difference between survival and becoming zombie chow.

Second Run Differences

Playing a Second Run changes things up significantly. Enemy placement is altered, resources are scarcer, and puzzles are remixed. Notably, the medallion statue codes are different, requiring you to find new clues to unlock them.

Mastering the Portable Safe Puzzle

The Portable Safe is a mini-game that tests your reflexes and pattern recognition. The sequence of buttons is randomized in each playthrough. Pay close attention to the order they light up.

The Value of Unlocking Everything

While you can technically beat the game without unlocking every safe and room, you’d be missing out on valuable resources and upgrades that make your life significantly easier. The muzzle brake for the Matilda, the high-capacity magazine, and the extra inventory space are all game-changers. Plus, exploring every nook and cranny adds to the overall experience and helps you uncover more of the story.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of safe codes and unlockable items in Resident Evil 2 as Leon Kennedy:

1. What happens if I enter the wrong safe combination multiple times?

There’s no penalty for entering the wrong safe combination multiple times. Keep trying until you get it right!

2. Can I find all the keys and solve all the puzzles in a single playthrough?

Yes, you can find all the keys and solve all the puzzles in a single playthrough as Leon, provided you thoroughly explore each area and backtrack when necessary.

3. Is the S.T.A.R.S. Badge essential for completing the game?

No, the S.T.A.R.S. Badge is not essential for completing the main story, but it unlocks the Samurai Edge Handgun, which can be a powerful weapon, especially in the early game.

4. Does the difficulty level affect the safe combinations or key locations?

No, the difficulty level does not affect the safe combinations or key locations. However, it will impact the number of enemies, their aggressiveness, and the availability of resources.

5. Can I replay the portable safe mini-game if I fail?

Yes, you can retry the portable safe mini-game as many times as needed until you solve it.

6. Are the safe combinations the same for Leon and Claire?

No, the safe combinations are the same for Leon and Claire.

7. Is the Matilda handgun better than the Samurai Edge handgun?

The Samurai Edge handgun beats standard matilda hands down, but once you get upgrades for the Matlida it’s the superior hand gun. Samurai Edge is good for early game, but once u get mods, as others have said, it’s obsolete and Matilda is the better one.

8. Does Leon need the diamond key?

The Diamond key is optional for Leon. It opens the Linen Room, where you get the Portable Safe (to get the button for the safe room for additional storage space).

9. Can you go in the library as Leon?

You can even return to the Library as Leon to find treasures that Ashley couldn’t collect! On the plus side, you can approach many of the fights your own way, avoiding unnecessary side quests or simply choosing to flee from the chapter’s boss encounter.

10. What is the Red Jewel for re2?

The Red Jewel is used to open the Bejeweled Box, which is located in the Interrogation Room. Once you have both items in hand, combine them to open the box and retrieve the STARS Badge inside. The STARS Badge is a key for two different items.

11. How do you unlock secret weapons in re2?

There are a few special weapons you can unlock in Resident Evil 2 Remake – and each of these weapons will never run out of ammo, or cannot break. Unbreakable Combat Knife – Destroy all Mr. Raccoon Toys to unlock. Unlimited Ammo Samurai Edge Handgun – S-Rank the game on Standard Difficulty to unlock.

12. Is there a secret ending in re2?

Once they’ve wrapped up their 2nd Run playthrough, Resident Evil 2 players should see the game’s true ending. Besides a chance to see the true ending and unlock the Broken Umbrella achievement/trophy, completing the 2nd Run playthrough is worth it for other reasons as well.

13. How do you unlock Leon 2nd run?

Leon [2nd run] is one of the four main scenarios in Resident Evil 2. It is unlocked after beating the game with Claire first.

14. Where is the Club Key for Leon?

The Club Key is located in the Boiler Room, a safe/save room you access on your way to the Clock Tower — it’s just after the East Storage Room.

15. How do you get to the interrogation room as Leon?

You can use the Club Key or Heart Key (as Leon or Claire respectively) at the end of the corridor here, gaining access to the Observation Room or Interrogation Room.

Final Thoughts

Resident Evil 2 is a masterclass in survival horror. By understanding the safe combinations, key locations, and puzzle solutions, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the zombie-infested streets of Raccoon City and uncover its dark secrets. Remember, knowledge is your greatest weapon. And, for more insights into the educational aspects of gaming, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Now go out there, survive, and remember to conserve your ammo!

Games can be more than just entertainment; they can be valuable learning tools, a concept explored further by the Games Learning Society.