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Biohazard 3: Last Escape
Version Changes Guide
Dreamcast / PlayStation / GameCube
A FAQ/Guide by CVXFREAK
Copyright 2002-2006 by CVXFREAK
August 23, 2006
Version 2.0
E-mail: fireemblempride[at]gmail[dot]com
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Table of Contents
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01. Introduction
02. Version History
03. About Biohazard/Resident Evil
04. List of Versions
05. Biohazard 3: Last Escape (PlayStation)
06. Biohazard 3: Last Escape (Dreamcast)
07. Biohazard 3: Last Escape (GameCube)
08. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PlayStation)
09. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Dreamcast)
10. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (GameCube)
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Conclusion
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01. Introduction
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Welcome to this FAQ. It was originally written in March 2002, but has
not been updated since then. Like a few other guides I've updated this
year, I stumbled upon this guide one day, having forgotten that I had
written it, and it really needed an update.
This guide covers all the versions of Capcom's Resident Evil 3: Nemesis,
known in Japan as Biohazard 3: Last Escape. As should be common
knowledge by now, Biohazard is the name of the Resident Evil series in
Japan; due to copyright reasons, the name is Resident Evil in the west
(i.e. North America and Europe, also Australia). I should also write it
that the series is also known as Biohazard in China and Korea, in
addition to Japan. Herein, mentions of Biohazard will relate to the
Japanese game; Resident Evil will relate to the western name.
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02. Version History
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August 23, 2006
Fresh off redoing my CODE: Veronica changes guide, I'm here to update
this outdated FAQ on the various versions of Biohazard 3: Last Escape.
It hasn't been updated since 2002, before the GameCube version was
released, and certain details were lacking.
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03. About Biohazard/Resident Evil
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Biohazard/Resident Evil is a survival horror videogame series by Capcom
first launched ten years ago in 1996. It has sold over 30 million units
worldwide across platform consoles like the PlayStation, PlayStation 2,
GameCube, Dreamcast, Saturn, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Color,
the PC, Tiger Game.com and even mobile phones. In the future, it'll be
coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and also the Nintendo Wii.
Seldom have the North American and Japanese versions of any Biohazard
game been completely identical. In fact, the only one that comes to mind
that were the same (disregarding language) is the remake of the original
Biohazard/Resident Evil.
Only a little more common in the series are identical versions on
different platforms. Most ports contain something unique about them.
Biohazard 3's various versions, SKUs and packages all have something
unique about them, and in different regions. Compared to the other RE
games, they're noticeable but still minor.
Biohazard 3's history is as follows. It was announced for the original
PlayStation exclusively in 1998, and was to feature Raccoon City again,
this time from Jill's perspective rather than the isolated setting in
Biohazard 2. It was released on September 22, 1999 in Japan and nearly
two months later in North America, on November 11.
A year later, a Dreamcast port was announced, to bring the series in
line with Sega gamers, since Biohazard, Biohazard 2 and Biohazard CODE:
Veronica were already on the Saturn and Dreamcast, respectively. The new
version for Japan contained a network option, Arrange Mode, which
comprised of the difficulty modes in the North American version of the
PSone game, since the Japanese version was easier. The North American
version of the Dreamcast port did not have Arrange Mode, the network
feature or the easier Japanese difficulty modes.
When the series' 5th anniversary came in Japan, Biohazard 3 was re-
released for the PSone as part of the Biohazard 5th Anniversary Package
FAQ.
In September 2001, Capcom announced the series's move to Nintendo
GameCube, and a port of Biohazard 3 was part of the announcement and
finally released in January 2003, as a port from the original
PlayStation version, the same day a budget CapKore version ("Kore" is a
Japanese transliteration of "colle" from "collection") was released for
the PSone.
And in August 2003, the same day CODE: Veronica Kanzenban made it to the
GameCube, the Biohazard Collector's Box was released, containing the 5
GameCube Biohazard games released to that point.
Further down the FAQ are the variations of them, explained.
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04. List of Versions
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The list of all different versions of CODE: Veronica in North America
and Japan as follows. I'm deliberately ignoring the PAL region for now,
but I'll get to it *someday*.
Japan
-----
Biohazard 3: Last Escape (PlayStation)
Biohazard 3: Last Escape (Dreamcast)
Biohazard 3: Last Escape (GameCube)
Biohazard 3: Last Escape CapKore (PlayStation)
North America
-------------
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Demo (PlayStation)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PlayStation)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis including Dino Crisis demo (PlayStation)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Dreamcast)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (GameCube)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Greatest Hits (PlayStation)
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05. Biohazard 3: Last Escape (PlayStation)
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Region: Japan
Platform: PlayStation
Release Date: September 22, 1999
Price: 6800 Yen (original)
4800 Yen (CapKore)
This was the very original release of Biohazard 3. It differs from the
North American version because the difficulty modes are named Light Mode
and Heavy Mode, which do not correspond to Easy Mode and Hard Mode in
Japan. In order to receive Mercenaries and extra costumes, you have to
beat the game, and use the Boutique Key to retrieve costumes from the
boutique. Epilogues are only unlocked after beating Heavy Mode.
It was eventually re-released a year and a half later. On March 22,
2001, the Biohazard 5th Anniversary Nightmare Returns package was
released in limited quantities of 10,000 units. That's not a lot
considering that the series has sold tens of millions of units. The set
included a briefcase modeled after CV's Duralumin Case, a CD binder
containing special prints of Biohazard, Biohazard 2: Dual Shock Edition
and Biohazard 3: Last Escape, as well as a key ring, finger ring, dogtag
with case number, ball point pen, Wesker's Report and the ordinary
release of Biohazard CODE: Veronica Kanzenban.
On the same day the GameCube version came out in Japan, the CapKore
(Capcom Collection) version was released, identical to the original at a
discounted price of 4800 Yen (still expensive for a PSone game, though).
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06. Biohazard 3: Last Escape (Dreamcast)
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Region: Japan
Platform: Dreamcast
Release Date: November 17, 2000
Price: 5800 Yen
This was a PlayStation/PC port with a few differences. Unique to it is
Arrange Game, which allows Japanese gamers to play the difficulty modes
from the North American version. Also unique is online connectivity,
using Netfront JV-Lite service. Using a Dreamcast modem, gamers could
access the Biohazard 3: Last Escape homepage from Capcom. Mercenaries
mode was unlocked from the beginning, and there were two extra costumes
to choose from when starting a new game.
The differences between the North American and Japanese versions of the
PSone version remained with the Dreamcast incarnation, including the
difficulty mode differences. The network option was removed, as well.
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07. Biohazard 3: Last Escape (GameCube)
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Region: Japan
Platform: GameCube
Release Date: January 23, 2003
Price: 4800 Yen
This is an almost exact port of the very original release of Biohazard 3
on the PlayStation, making it a major step back for Japanese gamers in
comparison to the Dreamcast version. Like the other releases, it differs
from the North American version because the difficulty modes are named
Light Mode and Heavy Mode, which do not correspond to Easy Mode and Hard
Mode in Japan. In order to receive Mercenaries and extra costumes, you
have to beat the game, and use the Boutique Key to retrieve costumes
from the boutique. Epilogues are only unlocked after beating Heavy Mode.
The GameCube version featured a new "Biohazard" voice at the title
screen, which actually says "Biohazard 3" rather than just "Biohazard".
Several months later, the game was re-released. Released on August 7,
2003 for 19,800 Yen in Japan only, the Collector's Box was a set
containing a few Biohazard titles and a few extras. It came in quite
literally a greenish-blue box that held the GameCube editions of
biohazard 0, biohazard, Biohazard 2, Biohazard 3: Last Escape and
Biohazard CODE: Veronica Kanzenban. It also contained a simple book with
a black cover and plain white paper that had the Japanese transcripts of
Wesker's Report and Wesker's Report II. Like the 5th Anniversary
Package, this was limited to 10,000 units, but there was nothing special
about the games contained in it, nor was there a number you could use to
see which of the 10,000 you got.
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08. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PlayStation)
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Region: North America
Bundled with: Dino Crisis demo (some units)
Platform: PlayStation
Release Date: November 11, 1999
Price: $49.99 (w/ Dino Crisis demo)
$49.99 (standalone)
$19.99 (Greatest Hits)
This was the very original release of Resident Evil 3. It differs from
the Japanese version because the difficulty modes are named Easy Mode
and Hard Mode, which do not correspond to Light Mode and Easy Mode in
Japan. In order to receive Mercenaries and extra costumes, you have to
beat the game, and use the Boutique Key to retrieve costumes from the
boutique. Epilogues are only unlocked after beating Heavy Mode.
Oddly, some batches came with a Dino Crisis demo, though Dino Crisis had
been released in North America already. At some point in 2001, the game
became available on the Greatest Hits lineup for $19.99. It did not
include the Dino Crisis demo.
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09. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Dreamcast)
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Region: North America
Platform: Dreamcast
Release Date: November 16, 2000
Price: $19.99
This was a PlayStation/PC port with a few differences. Mercenaries mode
was unlocked from the beginning, and there were two extra costumes to
choose from when starting a new game. The North American version removed
Arrange Mode (well, technically, it removes the Original Mode since
Arrange Mode was actually the North American difficulty mode) and the
useless network feature.
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10. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (GameCube)
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Region: North America
Platform: GameCube
Release Date: January 12, 2003
Price: $39.99
This is an almost exact port of the very original release of Resident
Evil 3 on the PlayStation, making it a major step back in comparison to
the Dreamcast version. Like the other releases, it differs from the
Japanese version because the difficulty modes are named Easy Mode and
Hard Mode, which do not correspond to Light Mode and Heavy Mode in
Japan. In order to receive Mercenaries and extra costumes, you have to
beat the game, and use the Boutique Key to retrieve costumes from the
boutique. Epilogues are only unlocked after beating Heavy Mode. The
GameCube version featured a new "Resident Evil" voice at the title
screen, which actually says "Resident Evil 3" instead of just "Resident
Evil".
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11. Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: So, which version of Biohazard 3 is right for me?
A: It doesn't matter, really, since the differences are pretty
insignificant in 2006 compared to a few years ago (if you want
differences, then examine RE4). Get the cheapest version, the one on the
system you play the most, or one that you'll be able to conveniently
play on a next-generation system like the PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii.
Q: Is there a PC version? Why isn't it covered?
A: I can't adequately cover the PC version, considering that I'm on a
MacBook that has a graphics card that might choke trying to run the
game. But there is, and there was one re-released in Japan, called
Biohazard 3: Last Escape PC, which is optimized to run on Windows XP.
Q: How does each version compare to one another?
A: They're all pretty close, but the Japanese Dreamcast version comes
out on top due to features alone. The PSone version sometimes takes a
long time to load when playing on certain PlayStation 2 models. The
Dreamcast version does have oddly compressed CG, despite coming on a
larger format. Graphically, the Dreamcast version comes at the highest
resolution, while the GameCube version is stuck at PSone levels with a
bit of a cleaner look.
Q: Will a Japanese version suit me well?
A: Sure, since there are various FAQs to help you through the game's
various versions, and there are File Transcripts as well. If you like
playing games in easier difficulties, then you'll need the Japanese
versions.
Q: Why was the GameCube version ported from PSone instead of Dreamcast?
A: Beats me. I guess it's because the Dreamcast version was based off of
the PC version thanks to Windows CE, and it would have been a little
harder to port the PC game to the GameCube, so they took the easy route
with the PSone.
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12. Conclusion
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And that concludes this FAQ. Please note that you can e-mail me, but I
check my e-mail ONCE A MONTH. So it's unlikely I will be able to answer
back, sorry.
Thanks to the usual family, friends, CJayC of GameFAQs, Capcom and
anyone else I neglect to mention.
CVXFREAK
[email protected]
