LAW AND DISORDER

Drive north from Capcom’s headquarters in downtown Osaka, along the Tosabori River, and in about 20 minutes you’ll see a unique red-bricked building with a domed roof. This is the Osaka City Central Public Hall, one of the city’s most beloved buildings and part of the inspiration for the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil 2. This iconic setting, which fans count among the series’ best, was confidently reimagined in the 2019 remake, and this is the story of how it was designed.

Enter the Central Public Hall, which was built in 1918 and is an important cultural centre for the city, and you’ll find polished floors, towering pillars, ornate detailing, and a vast church-like ceiling – the same kind of grand architecture Leon and Claire see when they escape the zombie-ravaged streets of Raccoon City and enter the RPD’s impressive main