Resident Evil

In the depths of the underground Arklay Laboratory, at the end of Resident Evil Remake, you discover that Albert Wesker, team leader of S.T.A.R.S., is actually an Umbrella employee! His orders are to sacrifice S.T.A.R.S. to the mutants to provide combat data, eliminating them as witnesses at the same time (in fact, it was Wesker who released the Hunters from the lab earlier in the game). He is also instructed to collect the remaining B.O.W. embryos and then destroy the Spencer Mansion and its hidden lab, to remove all evidence of Umbrella’s activities.

During your confrontation with Wesker, he introduces the fruit of the t-Virus research, the culmination of every one of the hideous experiments you’ve seen thus far: the Tyrant. From the very beginning, one of Umbrella’s primary aims was to create a living, thinking killing machine – one with unmatched combat abilities and high durability, capable of understanding and executing complex commands – in their minds, the ultimate bioweapon. An army of near-indestructible super-soldiers would be able to crush virtually any enemy with ease.

After 10 years of B.O.W. development, the Tyrant Project was finally initiated in 1988 at the Arklay Laboratory, presided over by William Birkin and Albert Wesker. Birkin had just successfully synthesised a new t-Virus variant, which would help retain the host’s intelligence – crucial if the ‘ultimate B.O.W.’ were to succeed. However, this variant would only work if it successfully bonded 100 per cent with the host subject.

Further research and simulation models confirmed that finding a compatible subject to match the genetic characteristics of this new t-Virus variant would be extremely difficult. Only one person in every 10 million would adapt successfully, meaning there would be only about 50 suitable hosts in the entire United States. The lack of suitable hosts almost terminated the whole program before it had even begun. A few subjects were found to have genetic sequences that closely matched the new virus strain, but ultimately, they were not compatible enough, and the Tyrant Project stalled. It was delayed so that a new strain of t-Virus could be engineered, one that would hopefully expand the number of genetically compatible test subjects.

The Tyrants finally entered prototype production several years later, when the ε-strain was completed. This new version of the t-Virus was capable of causing mutations at a much faster rate than previously seen; it could also dramatically increase the capacity for regular humans to become a Tyrant, with limited brain damage. This solved the host-compatibility problems, but despite the breakthrough, there were still other hurdles to overcome.

Although the ε-strain t-Virus was able to very swiftly mutate any creature it was implanted into, most subjects were unable to cope with the dramatic and rapid physical changes to their bodies, and they quickly died. This led to serious questions about the practicality of the virus in its current form, despite Birkin’s new variant having the potential to turn more hosts into a base Tyrant organism. To further sustain host durability against the virus, researchers decided to concentrate on using only humans with optimised physical and mental capabilities, such as those with excessive muscle growth and strong, natural immune systems. Umbrella purchased many convicts with beneficial genetic traits to use as guinea pigs and shipped them to the Arklay Laboratory for testing. Due to the severity of the mutations, most of them perished. Four who survived to the latter stages of development were given significant body-strengthening surgeries before being injected with Birkin’s new ε-strain t-Virus.

One of the subjects went on to become the T-002 model, which you encounter deep in the Arklay lab. A combination of the t-Virus and genetic manipulation has created a hideous caricature of a human being. It is huge and imposing, 8 feet tall, and with deathly white skin. Several scars and deformities can be seen over its body, though it hasn’t suffered from extensive bodily decay like zombies do. Its bloated left arm is composed of blackened muscle tissue, and its hand has been reshaped into a set of long, sharp claws ideal for slashing or impaling victims. Thick veins run around its mutated body. It received heart transplants from two large mammals, with both surgically altered to function as a single heart. This procedure effectively led to the Tyrant having two separate cardiovascular systems to support the additional circulation required during its rapid, unnatural growth. The second, exposed heart now pulses grotesquely on the surface of its body.

The T-002 was awaiting completion while minor adjustments were made and repeated. It was scheduled to be cloned and commercialised after a final battle test against experienced combatants. However, the test was postponed following the t-Virus leak at the Arklay Laboratory in May 1998, and development was never formally concluded. The Tyrant has remained inside an adjustment tank… until now. As a contingency, Albert Wesker has decided to use his own S.T.A.R.S. team members as guinea pigs to test out the T-002.

The T-002 has very high offensive capabilities, vitality, and explosive power. Its defensive performance, meanwhile, has been enhanced to the point that it can easily withstand small-arms fire and repel most attacks. Interestingly, the Tyrant is also completely sentient, retaining almost the same amount of intelligence that it had as a human. As such, it can carry out various commands more easily than the Hunter.

After it has been released, the T-002 turns on Wesker and stabs him, seemingly killing him. Then, it turns its attention to the other S.T.A.R.S. survivors. And so begins a boss fight in the cramped laboratory. Though you can defeat the Tyrant at this stage, you can’t kill it. After you escape the lab and make your way to the helipad to finally escape the godforsaken estate, the Tyrant returns, having forced its way through the concrete of the Arklay Laboratory to catch up with S.T.A.R.S.

The T-002 had a ‘power limiter’ implanted in its body, which tracked its vital signs. After passing out in the lab’s culture room, the limiter automatically disengaged due to the endangerment of its life, enabling the t-Virus to act to its full extent. This allowed T-002 to mutate even further, into a ‘Super Tyrant’. Dramatic internal changes have taken place, with its strength, speed, agility, and attack power all exceeding conventional levels. Although it is in an irregular state, its capabilities as a weapon have been significantly enhanced. Perhaps this was the ultimate, ideal Tyrant that its creators were aiming for.

Even so, the T-002 is still no match for Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Finally, after suffering a direct hit from a rocket launcher, the Tyrant is killed once and for all. The last few surviving members of S.T.A.R.S. manage to escape the Spencer estate seconds before it self-destructs, ending their horrific ordeal. For now. Little do they know that this was just the first Resident Evil game. For them, and many other characters, the nightmare is only just beginning…