Please note this is a rough draft on the final report. Photos and additional video will come later.
It started out with a tweet, how did it end up like this? It was only a tweet.
And with that, on June 25, 2006, Universal Horror Unleashed announced the soft launch of its widely-anticipated IP-heavy summer event previously teased at Monsterpalooza earlier this year: Resident Evil.
thE RESIDENT EVIL TAKEOVEr
While Resident Evil has had a smaller presence in the United States previously, in particular Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Universal Studios, it has had a much larger presence at Universal Studios Japan, where the franchise is better known as Biohazard. This collaboration with Capcom, however, has brought the franchise to full fruition in a way that can only be experienced at Warehouse 25.
Before we get into the experience, let’s take a moment to discuss what hasn’t changed for the event: the houses. All four houses (Scarecrow: The Reaping, Universal Monsters, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Exorcist: Believer) remain largely the same. Everything else, however, has changed. Even the Boiler bar now sports a healthy toxic green look and occasionally spews Zombie-speak.
tHE ESCAPE ROUTe
Upon entering the main portion of the Warehouse, now Raccoon City, you will likely be greeted by a Raccoon City police officer (RPD) sporting a healthy decontamination gun and may be sprayed by the green gas (you can take it — you almost need to). You will then be directed just ahead to the RPD station where you will be indoctrinated with your first of several challenges to help you on your mission to find the escape route and make your way out of the city (spoiler alert: joke’s on you, you will just end up back in the Warehouse).
Inspired by escape rooms and, of course Resident Evil itself, the first challenge will find you randomly assigned to one of three games: one game uses a fusebox that requires you to find wires and make connections that will cause a drawer containing a ring of keys to pop open, you must then locate which key opens a second drawer which contains your ticket to the second challenge. The second possible game involves a chess board and invites you to find missing pieces and then use clues to complete the board, causing a drawer to open containing (you guessed it) keys. At soft launch, the third game, which involves a phone and many post-it notes scattered around, was not working.
After you complete the first challenge, you are sent further into the Warehouse (Raccoon City) to locate a traffic light (there are two, but only one is needed). The traffic light will emit a Morse-code inspired cryptogram with each letter consisting of a combination of red, green and yellow lights, followed by a noticeable pause when the word you are looking for has been completed. This will be slightly tough, unless you team up and alternate decoding each letter. There is no break between letters so as you are trying to decode one letter, the next is already being shown. Subtle clue to Resident Evil fans, though, the word is related to the game/lore. It’s also not an impossible word so it’s should be somewhat guessable even to those not familiar.
The final challenge to the escape route continues outside of the Warehouse in the patio area, the same area used for the hedge maze during Feasters Grieving’s, only much hotter now. Evade the zombies as you look for numbered pots which will lead you to a code you must use to enter into one of the locked gates to allow yourself out. While this is actually currently the most challenging of the games (sorry, but it’s just not as easy as pi), you don’t actually have to solve it yourself, just wait for someone else to open the door and sneak through. Or better yet, the actual exit back into the Warehouse is completely accessible before the gated doors anyway. You will need the code, however, to claim your reward, so do keep that in mind.
Which brings us your reward. Bring both completed cards to the Umbrella employee by the stage and just like with Feasters Grieving’s, you will be given a discount for merchandise in the Horror Unleashed gift shop. Before you get too excited, however, not only is there currently no merchandise for Resident Evil, but even if there was (more on that later), the discount will not apply. But make no mistake, the discount can be significant and there’s plenty of merchandise it will work on.
WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY
Back inside the Warehouse (still Raccoon City), you will encounter many zombies, along with characters central to the Resident Evil storylines (Claire Redfield, Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, etc.), environmental/supporting characters (RPD/Umbrella) and Raccoon City residents or tourists, dealing with the infection and in a panicked-state to leave. Some of them may already be well on their way to zombie-ism. All of them are worth engaging with and can offer you side-quests, though there is no risk/reward here, just a bit of fun. If you are well versed in Resident Evil lore, this is a spectacular time to flaunt it, though do keep in mind that we are talking about a very specific timeframe — I was even asked if I had met Albert Wesker by an officer at the station. Oof. While the city is teeming with your standard fare of t-virus zombies, you’re also likely to spot a licker or even Nemesis and they can pop up anywhere.
Without a proper schedule (and for all I know, there may not be one), it’s hard to take it all in, you just have to happen upon things by chance, such as Claire and Leon or Jill taking on an armed Nemesis or other villains, or a zombie outbreak by the police station, overrunning an officer equipped with only a shield. And naturally it’s a good time to remember Jack’s Demented Circus in the Premiere House. The show has changed to fit its new environment, including a Conversations with Chaos segment, in which Jack and Chance cruise the room and interview diners. The Juggler’s show is largely the same, but still worth seeing, especially if you haven’t before (both shows offer a standing room only line by the entrance for those opting not to dine at a table).
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
One thing Universal Studios has become well known for in recent years is its commitment to event themed food and drink and while Horror Unleashed has already proven itself to be an industry leader, the Resident Evil event takes it several steps further.
Jack’s Alley has been converted to the Umbrella Corporation Cafe, a table-service dining room inside NEST (or The Hive), complete with a brand new menu inspired by the franchise. Not to be outdone, Jack and Chance’s stage show and The Juggler have been displaced into the official table service restaurant, The Premiere House, with an elevated menu which consists of items such as octopus with squid ink pasta and a 32 oz tomahawk steak with a retail price of nearly $200.
The drinks are particularly interesting at Umbrella, though. I had the T-Virus Trio, three Tito’s gelatin-based concoctions with green apple, blueberry and cherry limeade flavors, which each come served in a syringe with a fabulous presentation. The demand for this particular item had been so high that two of the three I had didn’t have any real time to set, so they were more liquid form. Still delicious, but something to keep in mind. The Biohazard Elixir includes an Umbrella/Horror Unleashed co-branded beaker, which is currently the only Resident Evil merchandise to be found.
I also indulged in the undead hash, the least expensive of the entrees — incredibly delicious, but left me a little unsatisfied after wolfing it down. I also had the RPD raspberry blood filled donut (props to my server who quickly pointed out the menu pluralizes it, but it is just one donut), which comes in a plastic Umbrella biohazard bag. Unfortunately I slipped it into my pocket ‘for later’ and when I tried to eat it later on, the frosting had mashed with the bag and essentially came off the donut. No icing for me, but still very good, though I found the filling to be lacking in quantity.
MERCHANDISE
Not much to say here, because other than the $35 souvenir drink, there was no Resident Evil merchandise to speak of. That of course will change in the upcoming weeks. As mentioned earlier, I was advised the discount reward from the escape route challenge will not apply to the new event merchandise anyway. Also worth noting for those unfamiliar with Horror Unleashed, a ticket (even the Fraidy Cat option, which will allow full access to the event itself) is required to get to access gift shop, save for the small selection currently offered online.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The event is scheduled to go on through August 2026, shortly before the already announced plans to support Halloween with a new ‘house’ and the arrival of a HamiKuma, so I wouldn’t expect it to deviate much beyond that. As with all events, it’s a bit raw right now, but still very enjoyable, but expect things to be tweaked over the next few weeks, or even months. The Feasters Grieving’s event wasn’t the same when it ended as it started, but honestly, unless you attended frequently, you wouldn’t know. That said, if merchandise is a driving force, it’s best to await confirmation before visiting.
Cosplay is absolutely allowed and encouraged at Universal Horror Unleashed, but there are limits and it may be a bit cloudy, especially where Resident Evil is concerned, so use your best judgment. The costume policy can be found online here.
TALK BACK
So what’s your take on this new limited time event at Universal Horror Unleashed? Are you a Resident Evil fan? Will you be making the pilgrimage to Area15 in Las Vegas for it before the virus is eradicated? What are you looking forward to the most? Comment below!
