Kevin Ryman
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| Resident Evil character | |
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| Kevin Ryman | |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 1967 (Age 31 as of 1998) |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 182cm (6'0") |
| Weight | 89kg (196lbs) |
| Race/Ethnicity | Caucasian (United States) |
| Occupation | Police Officer, S.P.F. unit - Raccoon City Police Department |
| Marital status | Single |
| Relative(s) | Unknown |
| Status | Alive |
Kevin Ryman is a video game character appearing in the Resident Evil series. Kevin is one of the main characters in Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil Outbreak File #2.
Contents |
[edit] Background
An R.P.D. officer, Kevin is based from the same central precinct as the legendary S.T.A.R.S. unit. Although an expert marksman, Kevin always finds himself runner-up to fellow officers Chris Redfield and Forest Speyer in local shooting tournaments. Being an eternal optimist, he figures his time will eventually come. Kevin has failed the S.T.A.R.S. selection process twice, due to his slacking nature and carefree attitude, although he is highly qualified for the job in every other regard. However, after the S.T.A.R.S. was disbanded by Chief Irons, he was transferred into the newly created Select Police Force unit. He is athletic, good with firearms and an avid car lover. J's Bar is Kevin's favourite haunt, where he has amassed a hefty tab over the years; his name is on the blacklist until he decides to pay off his debts. Kevin is also a hopeless darts player, and has lost a small fortune attempting to best his far more skilled opponents over and over again, perhaps giving some insight into his irresponsible personality.
[edit] Items
.45 Auto Handgun: Kevin's favourite weapon is the powerful M1911A1, commonly (and erroneously) referred to as the "Colt .45" by action-movie stars. This weapon can deal significant damage to the enemy, especially when used in conjunction with Kevin's "potshot" attack. Unfortunately, the .45 ACP rounds necessary for operation of this pistol are extremely rare, and should be spared for use against tougher opponents. The .45 Auto doesn't quite pack enough punch to be used effectively against boss characters, and is recommended for use against agile and resilient opponents such as Hunters, Lickers, Scissor Tails, etc.
.45 Auto Magazine: An extra clip of ammunition for Kevin's .45 Auto pistol. This clip will not only provide Kevin with extra ammunition, but will also allow Kevin to quickly load the weapon for use, which is very useful when faced against overwhelming odds. After expending all rounds already inside the magazine, it can once again be refilled by combining it with the boxes of loose .45 ACP rounds acquired during gameplay.
[edit] Special actions
Kick: Kevin's superior strength allows him to execute a swift police kick. Use it to send opponents tumbling backwards as they approach. When used properly, and against lone opponents, it will allow more than enough room to aim a firearm or prepare a mêlée attack. The kick can also be used to kick in locked doors and open locked wall panels. The best feature of this kick is that it can be used even while armed. Using the kick against multiple enemies is not recommended.
Potshot: Kevin is an excellent marksman, bested only by the S.T.A.R.S. unit's top snipers, Chris and Forest. Aiming for a long moment while equipped with any available sidearm will cause Kevin to use his "potshot" technique. Kevin will take precision aim at his target, this will add extra force to his attack and the resulting shot will deal critical damage to an opponent. If using Kevin's .45 Auto, the Desert Eagle or the Model 29 revolver, this will likely result in the instant death of almost all common enemy targets. Note that in "Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2" targets can be "locked" by pressing the L1 button. Locking targets will force Kevin to fire regular shots.
Elbow tackle: Kevin's superior athletic abilities allow him to use an "elbow tackle" that will knock his opponent to the ground much more effectively than his fellow survivor's regular lunge attack. When low on ammunition, it is advisable to use this attack combined with the Survival Knife, Iron Pipe or any other type of mêlée weapon to eliminate weaker opponents such as zombies.
[edit] Character Analysis
Kevin is a favourite character amongst players due to his superb combat strength, speed and abilities. His skill with firearms makes him a dedicated offensive character who can always be counted on to provide safety for his fellow survivors in a pinch. His "potshot" attack, combined with his unique and powerful firearm, make him a character that is always ready for combat. Kevin's "kick" allows him ample time to ready a critical shot, reload his pistol or heal his wounds during combat.
Kevin's melee abilities are not to be taken lightly, either. A well-timed "kick" attack, followed up by an "elbow tackle", will send zombies tumbling to the ground. This is especially useful on harder difficulties, as ammo can be scarce and enemies will quickly overwhelm the survivors. Kevin's speed will also allow him to escape potentially dangerous situations quickly and rush to the aid of an injured companion. His vitality is excellent, and second only to that of Mark Wilkins, which makes him capable of withstanding high amounts of damage and focusing an enemy's attention on himself in order to keep his weaker allies safe.
Kevin's weakness lies in his rapid infection rate and poor unique items. Although the .45 Auto is a powerful weapon, its ammunition is almost non-existant, rendering it almost useless after only seven shots. If a player is lucky enough to locate extra ammunition, it will generally only be enough for a single reload, leaving the extra magazine doing little more than taking up vital space after one single use. His infection rate is the highest of the entire group, and will force players to frantically rush through each scenario at lighting pace. Each time Kevin takes damage will also cause his infection gauge to jump rapidly, making elusive combat tactics absolutely necessary.
It is advisable that players do not choose Kevin for their first playthrough, as the speed at which each scenario must be completed will often lead players to miss extra cutscenes, files and SP Items. Yoko Suzuki makes a valuable companion, due to the fact that her Charm will slow Kevin's infection rate when equipped, although this will also leave him with only three item slots for the duration of the scenario. George is also a highly recommended partner, as his ability to create "Anti-Virus" capsules will ease the rate at which a player using Kevin must race through a scenario.
[edit] Costumes
- Kevin: A Kevin's default S.P.F. uniform
- Kevin: B Six Shooter (Outbreak):
Required Special Items: Western Boots, White T-Shirt, Old Cigarette Box, Faded Jeans, Leather Belt, Cowboy Hat. Kevin wears a cowboy hat, a white T-shirt, an old pair of jeans, a pair of cowboy boots, and a belt with a gawdy buckle.
- Kevin: C Lone Wolf '87 (Outbreak: File #2):
Kevin uses a special hairspray to lighten his hair, and puts on stone-washed jeans, a leather jacket, and a flannel shirt.
[edit] Unique Scenario
"Desperate Times"
Kevin and the survivors arrive at the R.P.D. precinct just in time to render assistance to his remaining colleagues, who had believed Kevin to have died much earlier in the crisis. Whilst officers Marvin and Rita make prepartions for her escape, a handful of remaining officers attempt to hold back the zombie threat as Kevin searches for the key pieces necessary for accessing a ventilation shaft that will allow for a possible rescue effort.
After successfully locating the missing pieces, the survivors and Marvin await the return of Rita, who has escaped through the ventilation shaft and begun a search for possible reinforcements. During this time, most of the remaining officers are slowly picked off by the encroaching zombie horde. Kevin can find the severely injured Tony inside the basement kennel and speak with him before his death. When Rita finally returns with Harry to assist the rescue effort, Marvin is bitten and infected during a particularly fierce push by the surrounding zombies. Unable to join the survivors in their escape, he stays behind to cover their exit.
Kevin attempts to console the heartbroken Rita as Harry drives their vehicle towards the outer limits of Raccoon City. As they do, a police interceptor speeds past their van, presumabley occupied by Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. However, this is merely a non-canon reference, as Rita and Harry's escape takes place on the 27th of September, while Leon and Claire actually arrived in Raccoon City two nights later on the 29th.
[edit] Fate
Like his fellow survivors, Kevin has multiple variations of his attempted escape from Raccoon City. In previous releases, it has generally been the standard for Capcom to use a character's "best" ending as his/her "canonical" event. Although it is almost certainly the same in regard to Kevin's fate, it is mentioned in Resident Evil 2 that Leon S. Kennedy was the lone surviving member of the Raccoon City Police Force. However, as Kevin was introduced many years later, this is more than likely just an oversight by the Capcom development team. Kevin's various endings are listed below, each depending on the player's actions during the final scenario of each game.
Outbreak - "Decisions, decisions" scenario
Best ending: Kevin administers the Daylight serum to himself, and recovers a second sample for the mass-production of a cure. He boards the Raccoon Fire Department's rescue helicopter moments before Raccoon City is destroyed. Tearing up his transfer papers and tossing them to the wind, Kevin asks himself "What should I do with the rest of my life? I'll think about it... after I take a nap." in a final display of his renowned laid-back attitude.
Good ending: Kevin manages to administer the Daylight serum to himself, although he is unable to recover a second sample for mass-production. He boards the helicopter before the city is destroyed but comments about not being able to shake the feeling that, although he survived the disaster, his victory feels hollow and that dark times lie ahead.
Bad ending: Kevin, infected with the T-Virus, successfully recovers a sample of the Daylight serum. Knowing what is at stake, he hands the sample over for mass-production rather than using the only known vial on himself. Still infected, Danny and Gill are forced to leave Kevin behind with Jim Chapman, also infected with the T-Virus. Kevin calmly sits on a bench and begins reloading his pistol, becoming increasingly annoyed by Jim's panicked rambling. Unable to bear any more of his constant babbling, Kevin is almost overwhelmed with relief at the site of Thanatos sluggishly rising to its feet. As the missiles close in, Kevin, Jim and Thanatos prepare for the final monumental battle...
Worst ending: Having failed to recover the Daylight serum, Kevin defeats Thanatos and boards the rescue helicopter. As the Air Force's missiles pulverize Raccoon City behind them, Danny and Gill comment on how close they had all come to certain death, not noticing Kevin slumped over in his seat. As Danny and Gill continue to talk between themselves, Kevin lets out a low groan, raising his head awkwardly and opening his eyes to reveal a blank, lifeless stare. The unwitting firefighters fail to notice Kevin as he slowly creeps toward them.
Outbreak: File #2 - "End of the Road" scenario
Bad endings - Run like the Wind, Up and Away: The survivors have been stopped at a roadblock several miles outside Raccoon City, on a highway overpass in the forest. Kevin muses that he couldn't remember just what he felt as he watched the city explode. It all just seemed like "ancient history" to him, and he doesn't intend to dwell on it.
After the credits, in a darkened city somewhere, two men are shown unloading newspapers from the back of a truck. The newspapers' headlines indicate "Worldwide Bloodshed!" Something, the narrator says, has started in Raccoon City that may be impossible to stop.
Good endings - Run like the Linda, Up and Away (w/Linda): Kevin watches the city burn just as he does in the bad ending. After the game's credits, Kevin is shown at a service station somewhere, talking on a pay phone. He tells whoever's on the other end that he's taken a new job in Miami, which he seems to be looking forward to. After he hangs up, Kevin roars off on a motorcycle.
[edit] Trivia
- Kevin's appearance seems to be inspired by Tom Cruise and/or Christian Slater.
- In the "Desperate Times" scenario, Kevin can open his own locker and desk in the Raccoon City Police Department. None of the other characters, including Alyssa Ashcroft, can access Kevin's desk drawer or personal locker. Kevin can also find Leon's resume in the R.P.D.'s east office.
- Kevin and Mark do not have a good relationship. Police officers and security guards are notoriously competitive professionally.
- Kevin is credited with teaching Yoko how to properly fire a weapon. He also offered her his hankerchief to clean her face. This led her in-game relationship with Kevin to be excellent; she will not leave his side during gameplay.
- Kevin was a personal friend of Jack, the owner of "J's Bar", although he has no idea that Jack is illegally embezzling money from the business.
- Kevin's hobbies include baseball, maintaining his car and collecting sports merchandise.
- Kevin believes himself to be highly professional and refuses to accept any career-related guidance. This attitude has almost certainly contributed towards his rejected applications during the S.T.A.R.S. selection process.
- Kevin earned a "Runner's Up" distinction in an R.P.D. sponsored shooting tournament, displaying Kevin's prowess as a skilled marksman.
- Kevin is addicted to cigarettes. He has tried to quit unsuccessfully on several occasions, in another example of Kevin's infamous inability to commit himself to a goal or resolution.
- Kevin was good friends with Raymond Douglas, an R.P.D. officer credited with the evacuation of hundreds of citizens from Raccoon City before his death whilst attempting to protect the survivors as they fled from "J's Bar".
- Kevin is a member of the same unit as rookie officer, Leon S. Kennedy. The two had met only once before the outbreak occurred, and while they aren't friends, Kevin does have a fond opinion of Leon, mentioning whilst reading Leon's resume that: "The new guy? He seems pretty cool."
| Main | Chris Redfield | Jill Valentine | Barry Burton | Rebecca Chambers | Claire Redfield | Leon S. Kennedy | Ada Wong |
|---|---|
| Villains | Albert Wesker | Alfred Ashford | Alexia Ashford | Jack Krauser | James Marcus | Lisa Trevor | Nemesis | Nicholai Ginovaef | Ozwell E. Spencer | Osmund Saddler | Bitores Mendez | Ramon Salazar | William Birkin |
| Supporting | Steve Burnside | Billy Coen | Carlos Oliveira | Ashley Graham | Luis Sera | Annette Birkin | Sherry Birkin | George Trevor | Minor S.T.A.R.S. Characters | Minor Characters | HUNK | Mikhail Victor |
| Outbreak | Kevin Ryman | Mark Wilkins | George Hamilton | Cindy Lennox | David King | Alyssa Ashcroft | Jim Chapman | Yoko Suzuki |
| Film | Alice | Angela | Carlos | Dr. Ashford | Claire Redfield | Jill Valentine | L.J. | Lisa | Matt | Nemesis | Nicholai | Peyton | Rain | Red Queen | Dr. Isaacs | Spence | Terri | Major Cain | Dr. Birkin | Yuri |
