Leaked: Near-Final Resident Evil Game Boy Color Port Surfaces Online

In a significant development for gaming enthusiasts and preservationists, a near-final ROM of the canceled Resident Evil port for Game Boy Color has recently emerged. This version, reportedly 98% complete, surfaced on the platform Games That Weren’t. It is believed to originate from the time just before Capcom decided to terminate the project.

Canceled Resident Evil Project for Game Boy Color

Nearly thirty years ago, developer HotGen was tasked with adapting Capcom’s iconic survival horror title for the Game Boy Color. This initiative marked one of the first known cases of an official “demake.” However, Capcom lost confidence in HotGen’s ability to deliver a satisfactory port and redirected their focus toward developing Resident Evil Gaiden with another company, M4.

Background on the Port

According to a 2000 article by IGN, Capcom deemed the quality of the Game Boy Color port unsatisfactory. Despite HotGen successfully incorporating almost all elements from the original PlayStation version, the project faced challenges.

• Project Initiation: Assigned to HotGen nearly three decades ago.
• Quality Concerns: Capcom believed the port did not meet their standards.
• Final Decision: The project was canceled at the behest of Resident Evil’s creator, who felt the Game Boy Color was unworthy of the franchise.

Details on the Near-Final ROM

Recently uploaded by Pete Frith, an assistant programmer associated with the project, this ROM reflects extensive communications between the development team and their quality assurance counterparts. Frith recalls an atmosphere of collaboration during its later stages, suggesting the potential for a fully playable experience.

Previous Leaks

This is not the first instance of a Resident Evil Game Boy Color version being leaked. In 2011, two separate builds were circulated, estimated at about 90% completion. However, neither of those versions was completable. In contrast, the current ROM allegedly allows players to reach the ending sequence, which includes the character Tyrant.

• ROM Status: Approximately 98% complete.
• Playable Features: Possible to trigger the ending sequence.
• Historical Note: Previous builds were not completable.

Future Exploration

Fans of the franchise and those interested in game preservation are excited to see how this nearly finished port compares. As speedrunners and archivists begin testing the ROM, more insights into its playability will likely surface in the coming days.

This recent leak represents an important moment in the history of gaming preservation, giving fans a glimpse of what could have been for Resident Evil on the Game Boy Color.