Billy Coen

Lore & Background

Billy Coen is a former Marine Force Reconnaissance officer who was to be executed for killing 23 people until the military police van transporting him crashed in the region of the Arklay Mountains. He first appears when Rebecca Chambers discovers him aboard the Ecliptic Express, a train owned by Umbrella that has come under attack from a swarm of leeches carrying the T-virus. The pair teams up to investigate the train and later the abandoned training facility for future Umbrella executives.

Billy possesses unique abilities that complement Rebecca's skills. He can move heavy objects, use a lighter, and has higher defense than Rebecca. However, unlike Rebecca, he cannot mix herbs, which is a staple ability in Resident Evil games. His physical strength and combat experience make him valuable in combat situations, while his lighter proves essential for solving certain puzzles throughout the facility.

Throughout their journey, Billy and Rebecca discover that the former director of the facility and Umbrella's co-founder, Dr. James Marcus, was responsible for discovering the Progenitor virus and combining it with leech DNA to develop the T-virus. They eventually confront the Queen Leech, which has taken over Marcus' body and believes itself to be the resurrected Marcus, orchestrating the outbreak as revenge against Umbrella.

Reader's Guide

Billy Coen is a playable protagonist in Resident Evil Zero, controlled alongside Rebecca Chambers. The player may switch between the two characters at any time, and each has unique abilities that are essential for progression. Billy's unique abilities include moving heavy objects, using a lighter to solve puzzles and illuminate dark areas, and having higher defense than Rebecca, making him more resilient in combat. However, he cannot mix herbs, which is a limitation players must work around by having Rebecca handle herb combinations.

His physical strength allows him to push objects and climb to investigate higher levels. When Billy and Rebecca travel together, either one can be controlled while the other is handled by the game's artificial intelligence. The player may also control both simultaneously or split them up to explore areas separately. The partner system is central to solving many of the game's puzzles, requiring coordination between the two characters' unique abilities.

Resident Evil Zero has no item boxes, unlike previous series installments. Instead, players can drop items on the floor, freeing space in the inventory momentarily until they are retrieved later. The locations of dropped items are displayed on the game map, and the number of items that can be dropped in a room is limited. Billy and Rebecca can exchange items when they are close to each other.

Did You Know?

• Billy uses a lighter as a unique tool, which is essential for solving certain puzzles in the abandoned training facility.
• After escaping the facility, Rebecca assures Billy that her police report will list him as another casualty, granting him his freedom.