The long-awaited remake of Resident Evil 2 is proving to be one of 2019's first major blockbuster releases, earning rave reviews for its blend of pulse-pounding terror, white-knuckle action, and unique spin on the events of the original game.
Resident Evil 2 is full of secrets, Easter Eggs, and references to the original game, often subverting player expectations in service of a good scare or surprise for fans of the 1998 classic. In the original Resident Evil 2, one of the game's most iconic secrets was the appearance of Brad "Chickenheart" Vickers, the helicopter pilot for the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha unit.
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When the Resident Evil 2 remake was first announced, many would-be players wondered if Brad would return for this 2.0 version of the legendary survival horror tale. Now that the game is out, we know for sure whether or not Brad Vickers appears in the 2019 version of Resident Evil 2.
Brad Vickers In The Original Resident Evil 2
In the original Resident Evil 2, Brad Vickers would not be seen by most players in normal gameplay. However, in the intro portion of the game, if the player makes their way to the police station without picking up any weapons or items, they will encounter a zombified Brad Vickers in the underground tunnel on the side of the Raccoon Police Station.He's a particularly sturdy zombie, but killing him yields a special key which opens the locker in the Dark Room of the station. This locker holds alternative costumes for the player character.
Brad's initial death is depicted in the opening act of Resident Evil 3, in which he's gored through the head by the tentacle of the Tyrant-esque Nemesis monster. This creates a bit of a plot hole, since the dead can't reanimate if the brain is destroyed. Some have argued that the wound only damaged the lower part of Brad's head, but... That's pushing it.
Brad Vickers in the Resident Evil 2 Remake
The Resident Evil 2 remake doesn't feature a zombie version of Brad Vickers, but the game does contain a nod to his appearance in the original game. In a "2nd Run" of the game, made available after clearing the story the first time, Leon or Claire can enter the underground passage which is otherwise blocked in the initial playthrough. This is the area where Brad appears in the 1998 classic, but he's nowhere to be seen. After acquiring the bolt cutters, players can open a locked door (which is not in the original) in the underground passage, which houses some goodies, including a high-powered handgun.
On the wall of the room, players can find a recruitment poster for the S.T.A.R.S. unit. The literal poster boy depicted on the advertisement is none other than Brad Vickers, an obvious nod to his appearance in the original game.
Why doesn't Brad appear as a zombie? If the rumors are true, perhaps players will discover the answer in the potentially upcoming Resident Evil 3 remake. If Vickers dies in the upcoming remake (if it even exists!) via the same method as in the original Resident Evil 3, then the absence of his undead body in Resident Evil 2 repairs the plothole caused by the original PlayStation titles.