Leon S. Kennedy is one of theResident Evilfranchise ’s most darling protagonists and heroes with an intriguing backstory , and that popularity is all the more apparent with theResident Evil 4remakecoming next year . He ’s been an icon in gaming arguably since the original version ofRE2for the PlayStation , but the original adaptation of   the quaternary installmentis what explode his mainstream status .

The franchise overall is one of the most recognizable in gaming and the selection - horror genre , though there are some interesting facts others may not jazz about Leon . From thing like his almost - first appearing in the ' ninety to some surprising crossing , Leon Kennedy has had a retentive chronicle in gambling .

Leon’s Would-Be First Appearance

Leon S. Kennedy ’s first appearance was cement inResident Evil 2for the PS1 , but he issue forth nigh to appear in a " would ’ve been " version of that game . It ’s long since been internally nickname as " Resident Evil 1.5 " ( viaShmuplations )   and that version would ’ve also included Leon as one of the two playable protagonist .

This version of the game was ultimately junk despite being 70 % complete at the metre , though , given the final product ’s success , it does n’t seem like too much of a deprivation . Interestingly enough , the second character was a fair sex named Elza   Walker , who was eventually redeveloped into Claire Redfield .

Resident Evil 2 Remake Had 78% Of Players Choose Leon First

The remake of the second mainline biz was eagerly anticipated , and it proved to beone of the bully survival - horror gamesever . Resident Evil 2received critical acclaim for its stunning visual modernization of the original game , smooth gameplay , tense atmosphere , and the fondly remade versions of Leon and Claire .

Given the former ’s aforementioned popularity within the series , it was have a bun in the oven to see that so many players opted for his campaign first . harmonise to aCapcompoll , 78 % of players chose to do so .

Leon Was Designed As A Parallel To Chris Redfield

Both Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield are some of the most placeable characters in theResident Evilfranchise , and as the latter came first , Leon was designed as a parallel to him , according toPlatinum Games . Game architect and conductor Hideki Kamiya created the character , opt to create Leon as someone who ’s a bite more grounded , inexperienced , and with a   gentler personality .

Chris has for sure been a heroic character in the series , but he ’s more in line with the unimaginative gruff activeness - bomber original . Kamiya did n’t need Leon to be a derivative of Chris Redfield in concept .

TV game characters have crossovers in other secret plan is n’t a farfetched concept . It ’s especially common in Nipponese gaming information processing and   a type with the renown of Leon S. Kennedy would always be an promiscuous pick .

He ’s made an appearance in some of the unlikeliest places , one of which being in the 1999 PS1 gameTrick’n Snowboarder . Leon have as one of the three unlockableResident Evilcharacters in the plot , and it ’s in line with other buggy crossovers like Darth Maul inTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 3during the PlayStation 2 era .

Tactical RPGs are a genre with some first-class games , but it ’s not one would require to see someone like Leon S. Kennedy look . Nonetheless , that ’s on the button what happen inProject   X Zone 2for the Nintendo 3DS . The game was a full-grown crossover event between video game characters across Capcom , Bandai Namco , and Sega .

Leon was n’t the only example , though , as both Chris and Claire Redfield also appeared to fill out out theResident Evilcast of character . Project X Zone 2was developed by the currentXenoblade Chroniclesdeveloper studio apartment Monolith Soft .

His Face Was Modeled After RE4’s Animation Director

Leon went through a obtrusive excogitation change going intoResident Evil 4 , though , part of that could be by nature attributed to the spring in technical potentiality from the PS1 to the PS2 , Nintendo GameCube , and Nintendo Wii . That being said , he still in general resembles his original show .

As evidenced by the four variations the biz endure through , it ’s clearRE4had a troubled growing wheel . Though , the team seemed to nail down nicely on Leon ’s Modern look internally , as they used the game ’s animation director   Christian Duerre as the base . Even break down by his more grizzled smell in the upcomingResident Evil 4remake , Leon ’s   plan has been   fairly logical ever since .

Resident Evil 4 Eventually Turned Into Devil May Cry

The fourth mainline game is unremarkably reckon by longtime fans as one of thebest games in theResident Evilseries , but its former development also paved the way for another Capcom gaming icon .

Early on ,   the development team   wanted to try and makeResident Evil4more fashionable , but some prison term later plot manager Shinji Mikami decided that it ramble too far from the enfranchisement ’s root word . However , the concept was n’t thrown forth altogether , as it was later repurposed intoDevil May Cryfor the PS2 .   This could excuse some superficial visual law of similarity between Leon and Dante ’s character designs .

Resident Evil 4 Had 4 Versions In Varying Stages Of Development

In gain to pave the room for the over - the - top campiness of Dante in theDevil May Cryseries , Resident Evil 4went through four different versions ( viaDen of Geek )   while in development , each   having Leon tackle the plot ’s world in different ways .

The " Hook Man " version , for instance , saw Leon in a new setting and premiss where he contracted a mystical disease in a haunted building and pit him against more supernatural enemies . The others , the " Fog " and " delusion " versions , had like alternative slant forResident Evil 4 ’s story before ultimately settle on the concluding interlingual rendition .

Leon’s Original RE2 Canon Campaign

As with its acclaimed remake , the originalResident Evil 2PS1 game sport two separate campaigns , one for Leon and one for Claire . Whichever players choose , the core account beats of the game are generally the same with some adapted details .

establish on where Leon ’s story continued after the events ofRE2 , work through his " B Campaign " ( which is done simply by playing as Claire first ) is reckon as the master canon tale . The parallel story modes of the game are part of what madethe PS1 game so darling and replayablein the first place , and it ’s interesting to see how each player - chosen approach could modify the narrative .

Leon’s First Live-Action Appearance Came In A Commercial

Some springy - action portraying of Leon Kennedy have been done in ( mostly poorly - receive ) movies , but   longtime fan of the series will have sex that he had his introduction in the ' 90 . A unrecorded - action commercial message for the PS1’sResident Evil 2put former actor Brad Renfro in the role of Leon .

Though gambling is more mainstream than ever now , the ' 90 were known for   seeing fun approach like this to video biz marketing . It ’s an undoubtedly small - plate and brief role , but it was Leon ’s springy - action debut all the same .

NEXT:10 Things Fans Want From Resident Evil 4 Remake , harmonise To Reddit

GTA 6 characters with some imagery

Oblivion Lelles shopkeeper with the docks of Anvil behind him

Key art from Doom The Dark Ages over the level image for Village of Khalim

Leon aiming a shot gun in the RE2 remake and in the canceled PS1 version.

The character select screen in "Resident Evil 1.5" starring Leon and Elza.

Leon aiming a shotgun in the abandoned and zombie-filled RCPD.

Split image of Chris Redfield and Leon holding their guns.

Split image of Leon snowboarding in Trick’n Snowboarder.

Cover art of Project X Zone 2 with a collage of characters and Leon in a cutscene.

Leon brandishing his gun in Resident Evil 4.

Split image of Leon in key art for RE4 and Dante for DMC.

Leon riding in a car on his way to rescue the President’s daughter in Resident Evil 4.

Leon and Claire readying their guns in RE2 key art for the PS1.

Brad Renfro as a Leon aiming his gun in an RE2 commercial.

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