So, it's 1998. You’re a rookie cop on his way to a new job in a town called Raccoon City. You're late. Why? Well, depending on which version of history you believe, you either had a nasty breakup and spent the night getting hammered at a motel, or you were just hanging around waiting for a call that never came. Either way, you roll into town, and everything is on fire. Literally.
That’s basically the start of Leon Kennedy RE 2—the moment a legendary career began with a very bad first day.
Leon Scott Kennedy isn't just another guy with a gun and a cool haircut. Honestly, if you look at the evolution of the character from the original 1998 release to the 2019 remake and even his latest appearance in Resident Evil: Requiem (2026), he’s the most "human" protagonist in the series. While Chris Redfield turned into a boulder-punching tank, Leon stayed relatively grounded, even if he did eventually learn how to backflip through lasers.
The "Drunk" Backstory vs. The Remake Logic
There’s a massive debate in the fandom about Leon’s actual entrance. In the original 1998 manual, Leon was late because his girlfriend dumped him. He stopped at a motel, drank his feelings away, and overslept. It’s kinda relatable, right?
The 2019 remake changed this. In the new version, he’s at a gas station outside of town, and he’s been told to stay away. But being the "goodie two-shoes" rookie, he decides he has to check it out anyway.
Some fans hate the change. They think the "drunk rookie" version gave him more flaws. But Capcom’s director, Hideki Kamiya, originally wanted Leon to have weaknesses. He wasn't supposed to be a superhero. He was a 21-year-old kid who was way out of his depth.
Whether he was hungover or just overly heroic, the result was the same. He walked into a zombie apocalypse with nothing but a uniform and a standard-issue Matilda handgun.
Why Leon Kennedy RE 2 is Still the Best Version of the Character
People love Resident Evil 4. I get it. The quips, the leather jacket, the roundhouse kicks—it’s peak action gaming. But there is something special about the Leon Kennedy RE 2 era that later games lost.
In the police station, Leon is vulnerable.
He’s genuinely scared. When he meets Claire Redfield, they aren't some tactical duo; they’re just two people trying not to get eaten. You can feel the naivety in his voice. He still believes in the system. He still thinks the police can fix this.
Then he meets Ada Wong.
The Ada Factor: It Started in the R.P.D.
If you want to understand Leon, you have to understand his obsession with Ada. It started right there in the Raccoon City Police Department. She’s a "spy," he’s a "cop." It’s a classic setup.
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But look at the nuance. In the original, he’s basically a puppy following her around. In the remake, he’s a bit more skeptical, but he still falls for her "FBI agent" routine. He wants to believe she’s a good person because he needs to believe there’s order in the chaos.
Their relationship is a mess, honestly. She uses him, he knows she's using him, and yet he keeps coming back for more. This dynamic is what makes his 2026 appearance in Requiem so interesting—he’s now a "grizzled veteran" (as IGN's Tom Phillips put it), but he still has that same soft spot for the lady in red.
Survival Tips: Playing Leon Like a Pro
If you’re diving back into the 2019 remake or trying a "hardcore" run, you can’t play Leon like he’s the guy from RE4. You’ll die. Fast.
The Leon Kennedy RE 2 gameplay is all about resource management.
- Don't kill everything. Seriously. Zombies in this game are bullet sponges. If you can kneecap them and run past, do it. Saving three bullets now might save your life when Mr. X is breathing down your neck later.
- The Shotgun is your best friend. You find the W-870 in the Safety Deposit Room. Use the Weapon Locker Keycard (found in the Art Room) to get it. This is your "get out of jail free" card for when things get crowded.
- Board up the windows. In the West Office corridor, use wooden boards immediately. If you don't, that hallway becomes a death trap by the time you're heading back from the boiler room.
- Learn the "Stagger." Two headshots usually cause a flinch. That’s your window to sprint. Don't wait for the kill; just move.
The Mystery of Resident Evil 1.5
Did you know Leon almost didn't look like Leon?
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In the prototype version of the game—famously called Resident Evil 1.5—Leon was a veteran officer. He wasn't a rookie. He was also a bit more "tough guy."
Capcom scrapped nearly the whole game because they thought it was boring. They brought in writer Noboru Sugimura, who realized that making Leon a rookie made the horror work better. If the protagonist is an expert, the player doesn't feel the fear. If the protagonist is a kid on his first day, every shadow is terrifying.
Leon’s Legacy in 2026
It's wild to think that we're still talking about a character who debuted nearly 30 years ago. With the release of Resident Evil: Requiem, we’re seeing a version of Leon that is finally showing his age. Capcom’s current director, Koshi Nakanishi, recently noted that making a horror game for Leon is "difficult" now because he’s too experienced.
He’s seen it all.
He’s fought Umbrella, survived a cult in Spain, and dealt with a global bioterrorist attack in China. In Requiem, he’s paired with Grace Ashcroft—who is described as a "scaredy-cat"—specifically to bring back the horror elements that Leon is now too "cool" to experience himself.
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But even as a "hot uncle" (as the internet calls him), he’s still that same guy from the R.P.D. deep down. He still carries the "Silver Ghost" handgun, a custom piece made by Joe Kendo, as a callback to his Raccoon City roots.
What to Do Next
If you're looking to master the Leon Kennedy RE 2 experience, start by attempting an S+ rank on Hardcore. It forces you to learn the map, the enemy spawns, and exactly when to use your limited saves.
- Run the "Second Run" (B Scenario). It changes the item placements and gives you a different perspective on the story.
- Watch the 1998 "Leon" commercial. It was directed by George A. Romero (the guy who basically invented zombies). It stars a young Brad Renfro as Leon. It's a weird, cool piece of gaming history.
- Check the "Ex Files" in the N64 version. If you can track it down, that version has exclusive lore documents that explain Leon's family history (hint: they were involved in crime, which is why he became a cop).
Leon Kennedy isn't just a survivor. He's the guy who stays human in a world that lost its humanity. And it all started on that one rainy night in September.