Unlocking the Untold Secrets of Resident Evil's Leon Kennedy

Highlights

Leon Kennedy was originally planned to be in a scrapped sequel to the first Resident Evil game, showcasing his importance to the franchise from the very beginning.

Leon Kennedy's design was purposefully crafted to distinguish him from Chris Redfield, the previous protagonist, showcasing vulnerability while remaining competent and vigilant.

Devil May Cry's Dante's visual design exhibits resemblances to Leon Kennedy's design in Resident Evil 4, hinting at a potential influence between the two characters.

Resident Evil, a long-standing franchise, boasts a substantial roster of iconic and cherished characters that have graced the gaming world for nearly three decades. Although the initial installment of Resident Evil, released in 1996, may not have possessed top-tier writing or voice acting, it successfully introduced Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as two unforgettable protagonists. This set the stage for subsequent Resident Evil games to feature a plethora of renowned characters, many of whom remain as relevant today as they were upon their introduction.

Each devoted Resident Evil fan harbors their own adored legacy character, ranging from minor roles like Barry Burton to larger-than-life personas such as Albert Wesker. However, for those who came of age in the late 90s or early 2000s, it is typically Leon S. Kennedy who claims the title of their favorite Resident Evil character. Yet, even avid enthusiasts may be unaware of various aspects and nuances concerning this protagonist.

Leon Kennedy Was Always Destined to be in a Resident Evil Sequel

After the first Resident Evil was released in 1996, Capcom immediately began working on a sequel. Initially slated for a March 1997 release, Capcom grew increasingly dissatisfied with the progress of this sequel. As a result, the difficult decision was made to scrap the existing build of the game entirely and start from scratch. This prototype version, known as Resident Evil 1.5, bears little resemblance to the final product of Resident Evil 2, except for the character of Leon Kennedy, who had been part of the project since its inception. Though visually similar to his final iteration, this original version of Leon Kennedy remained a recruit of the R.C.P.D., but one who experienced the beginning of the Raccoon City outbreak.

Resident Evil's Leon Kennedy Was Designed to be Completely Different to Chris Redfield

Resident Evil 2's director Hideki Kamiya shared his thoughts on the design of Leon Kennedy in a 2009 post titled "Greetings!" on PlatinumGames. According to Kamiya, he aimed to create a contrast to the first game's "blunt, tough-guy" Chris Redfield with the protagonist of Resident Evil 2. While Kamiya appreciated the archetype and its portrayal in the initial Resident Evil, he desired something fresh for the sequel. This led to the creation of Leon Kennedy, a character with vulnerabilities yet still alert and responsive.

Leon Kennedy's Design May Have Influenced Devil May Cry's Dante

Resident Evil 4 underwent a challenging development process, undergoing four distinct iterations before its eventual release. Among these iterations was a third-person hack-and-slash action game that deviated from the established Resident Evil mythos but displayed genuine potential. This particular game eventually evolved into Devil May Cry, and although Dante was initially named Tony Redgrave in the Resident Evil 4 build, his visual design bore striking resemblances to Leon Kennedy's design in Resident Evil 4. While it remains unconfirmed whether Hideki Kamiya drew inspiration from Leon Kennedy in creating Dante, the similarities between the two are undeniably apparent.

Leon Kennedy Hasn't Had the Best History With Relationships

In the original manual for Resident Evil 2, it is revealed that Leon Kennedy is starting off the game in the midst of a tumultuous breakup. This breakup is actually the catalyst for his decision to embark on the journey to Raccoon City. Ironically, this heartbreak may have inadvertently saved his life. Instead of preparing for his first shift at the R.C.P.D. by getting a good night's rest, Leon chooses to drown his sorrows in alcohol, causing him to oversleep and miss the initial stages of the catastrophic Raccoon City outbreak.