Side Activities & Collectibles

While Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City doesn't feature traditional open-world side quests, it offers a robust array of secondary objectives, hidden collectibles, and engaging multiplayer modes that significantly extend gameplay beyond the main campaign. These activities are crucial for maximizing character progression, unlocking powerful gear, deepening your understanding of Raccoon City's tragic events, and providing endless replayability. This comprehensive guide details every aspect of these optional pursuits, ensuring you don't miss a single opportunity to gain an edge or uncover a hidden secret.

In-Mission Collectibles & Bonus Objectives

Throughout the main campaign missions, Umbrella Security Service (USS) operatives will encounter various optional objectives and hidden items. Successfully completing these not only grants valuable XP and Credits but also contributes to mission ratings and unlocks achievements/trophies.

Data Collectibles (Intel)

These are scattered throughout every campaign mission, often in out-of-the-way locations or requiring specific actions to access. Collecting them provides lore snippets, background information on Umbrella's experiments, and character insights. There are typically 3-5 Data Collectibles per mission.

• Appearance: Glow with a faint blue aura, often found on desks, shelves, or near environmental story elements.
• Reward: Significant XP boost (e.g., 500-1000 XP per collectible) and Credits.
• Strategy:
  • Thorough Exploration: Always check side rooms, dead-end corridors, and elevated platforms.
  • Environmental Cues: Look for subtle visual cues like flickering lights or unusual object arrangements that might hint at a hidden item.
  • Teamwork: If playing co-op, coordinate with teammates to cover different areas.
  • Replayability: If you miss one, you can replay the mission on any difficulty to pick it up. Your collection progress is cumulative.
• Common Locations:
  • Mission 1 (Containment): Inside the RPD station, check the interrogation rooms and the chief's office. One is often found near the main desk in the lobby.
  • Mission 3 (The New Recruits): Within the hospital, search patient rooms, the morgue, and the administrative offices.
  • Mission 5 (Nothing is Left): In the sewers and underground labs, look in maintenance tunnels and secure research areas.

Raccoon City Mascot Emblems

These small, iconic Raccoon City emblems are exceptionally well-hidden and serve primarily as an achievement/trophy hunt. There are 10 emblems total, one per campaign mission (including the final mission).

• Appearance: Small, circular emblems with the Raccoon City logo, often blending into the environment. They do not glow like data collectibles.
• Reward: Specific achievements/trophies for collecting all of them.
• Strategy:
  • Pixel Hunting: These require meticulous searching. They can be tucked behind objects, high on walls, or in dark corners.
  • Environmental Damage: Sometimes an emblem is hidden behind a destructible object (e.g., a wooden crate, a thin wall). Shoot everything!
  • Online Guides: Due to their extreme subtlety, consulting an online guide for specific locations is often necessary for 100% completion.

Bonus Objectives

Each mission often features dynamic, unstated bonus objectives that reward additional XP and Credits upon completion. These are usually tied to specific enemy types or environmental interactions.

• Examples:
  • Headshot Streaks: Achieve a certain number of consecutive headshots on standard zombies.
  • Melee Kills: Eliminate a set number of enemies using only melee attacks.
  • Environmental Kills: Explode barrels, drop chandeliers, or use other environmental hazards to kill enemies.
  • No Damage Taken: Complete a specific combat encounter without taking any damage.
  • Specific Enemy Takedowns: Defeat a certain number of Hunters, Lickers, or Tyrants with a specific weapon type (e.g., "Kill 3 Hunters with a Shotgun").
• Reward: Varies, but typically 250-750 XP and a moderate amount of Credits per objective.
• Strategy: Pay attention to the flow of combat and experiment with different tactics. Some bonus objectives are revealed through on-screen prompts after you've already started working towards them.

Multiplayer Modes & Activities

Operation Raccoon City features several distinct multiplayer modes, each offering unique objectives and rewards that contribute to your overall progression and unlockables.

Team Attack

A classic team deathmatch mode where two teams (USS vs. Spec Ops) compete to eliminate the opposing team. This is a straightforward way to earn XP and Credits through combat performance.

• Objective: Reach the kill limit or have more kills than the opposing team when the timer runs out.
• Rewards: XP and Credits based on kills, assists, and match outcome.
• Strategy: Focus on teamwork, use character abilities effectively, and learn map layouts for tactical advantages.

Biohazard

A unique objective-based mode where teams compete to collect G-Virus samples scattered across the map and return them to a designated extraction point. Infected creatures (including Nemesis) roam the map, adding an extra layer of threat.

• Objective: Collect and secure more G-Virus samples than the enemy team.
• Rewards: High XP and Credits for sample collection, successful extractions, and enemy kills.
• Strategy:
  • Prioritize Samples: Don't get sidetracked by endless firefights; the samples are key.
  • Team Coordination: Designate carriers, escorts, and defenders.
  • Nemesis Avoidance/Engagement: Nemesis is a powerful force. Decide whether to avoid him, distract him, or focus fire as a team. He drops significant XP if defeated.
  • Extraction Point Defense: Expect heavy resistance at extraction zones.

Survivors

A frantic mode where teams must reach an extraction helicopter before time runs out, all while fending off hordes of infected and the opposing team.

• Objective: Be among the survivors who successfully board the extraction helicopter.
• Rewards: Significant XP and Credits for surviving, assisting teammates, and eliminating threats.
• Strategy:
  • Stick Together: The infected numbers are overwhelming; strength in numbers is crucial.
  • Manage Resources: Ammo and health are scarce.
  • Race Against Time: Don't linger too long in one area.
  • Opponent Elimination: Eliminating enemy players reduces competition for extraction slots.

Heroes

A fan-favorite mode where players take on the roles of iconic Resident Evil characters (Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Hunk, Jill Valentine, etc.) in a team deathmatch scenario. Each hero has unique abilities and weapons.

• Objective: Eliminate the opposing team's heroes.
• Rewards: High XP and Credits, often with bonus rewards for playing as specific characters or achieving hero-specific objectives.
• Strategy:
  • Character Synergy: Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each hero and how they complement each other.
  • Ability Usage: Master each hero's unique active and passive abilities.
  • Target Prioritization: Focus fire on high-threat heroes or those with low health.

Progression & Rewards

Engaging with all side activities and multiplayer modes is essential for maximizing your character's potential.

Experience Points (XP)

XP is earned from virtually every action: killing enemies, completing objectives, collecting items, and winning matches. Accumulating XP allows you to level up your chosen USS operative.

• Leveling Up: Each level unlocks Skill Points.
• Skill Points: Used to purchase and upgrade passive and active abilities unique to each character class (e.g., Medic's "Biometric Vision," Recon's "Thermal Vision," Assault's "Body Armor").

Credits

Credits are the in-game currency, primarily earned from completing missions, collecting items, and performing well in multiplayer.

• Weapon Purchases: Buy new weapons from the Armory.
• Weapon Upgrades: Enhance existing weapons with better damage, accuracy, or clip size.
• Consumables: Purchase health sprays, anti-viral sprays, and grenades.
• Character Customization: Unlock new outfits and accessories for your USS operatives.

Achievements & Trophies

Many side activities are directly tied to achievements/trophies, offering additional incentives for completionists.

• "Raccoon City Mascot": Collect all 10 Raccoon City Emblems.
• "Data Collector": Collect all Data Collectibles across the campaign.
• Multiplayer Specific: Achievements for winning a certain number of matches in each mode, performing specific actions (e.g., "Kill Nemesis in Biohazard"), or reaching high ranks.

Maximizing Your Rewards: Tips for Success

• Replay Missions: Don't hesitate to replay campaign missions on different difficulties. This is an excellent way to farm XP and Credits, especially if you're hunting for missed collectibles.
• Co-op Advantage: Playing with friends in co-op makes finding collectibles easier and completing bonus objectives more manageable. It also enhances the multiplayer experience.
• Experiment with Classes: Each USS operative class offers unique advantages. Try them all to find your preferred playstyle and maximize their specific bonus objective potential.
• Learn the Maps: Familiarity with both campaign and multiplayer maps will give you a significant edge in finding hidden items, planning routes, and outmaneuvering opponents.
• Prioritize Upgrades: Invest your Credits wisely. Early weapon upgrades and essential character abilities can drastically improve your combat effectiveness.
• Check Your Progress: Regularly review your in-game stats and achievement lists to track your progress on collectibles and specific objectives.

By thoroughly engaging with these side activities and multiplayer modes, players will not only extend their enjoyment of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City but also gain a deeper, more rewarding experience of Umbrella's ill-fated operations in the iconic city.