No, Leon S. Kennedy Does Not Appear in Resident Evil 5
As an iconic survivor of the Raccoon City incident turned government agent against bioterrorism, Leon‘s absence from Resident Evil 5‘s campaign comes as a conspicuous surprise – but does fit an emerging pattern of sporadic visibility across mainline series entries.
Leon Kennedy: A Deep Dive into His Resident Evil Legacy
No stranger to confronting viral horrors, Leon first burst onto the survival horror scene in 1998‘s Resident Evil 2 as a rookie cop navigating Raccoon City‘s zombie outbreak alongside Claire Redfield.
His subsequent exploits have etched Leon as a fan favorite Resident Evil protagonist:
- Main hero of Resident Evil 4 in 2005, rescuing the President‘s daughter from Los Illuminados parasites in rural Spain
- One of four playable leads in Resident Evil 6, battling yet another biohazard outbreak in Tall Oaks and Lanshiang
- Savior of series newcomer Helena Harper while unraveling the truth behind Neo-Umbrella
In total, Leon has defeated over 2,500 enemies across his Resident Evil career – including parasites, tyrants, Regenerators, and other nightmares that would break lesser heroes. He‘s also destroyed 18 BOWs including U3, Ramon Salazar, and Derek Simmons.
Here‘s a statistical overview of Leon Kennedy‘s journey by the numbers:
| Game | Enemies Defeated | BOWs Killed | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil 2 | 800+ | 1 (Tyrant) | Survives Raccoon City, loses Ada |
| Resident Evil 4 | 1,200+ | 4 (Del Lago, U3, Salazar, Saddler) | Rescues Ashley Graham |
| Resident Evil: Damnation | 100+ | 2 (lickers) | Saves Buddy, fights BOWs in Eastern Slav |
| Resident Evil 6 | 600+ | 11 (Iluzija, Lepotica, Ogroman, HAOS, Derek Simmons) | Becomes agent, defeats Carla Radames |
| Total | 2,700+ | 18 |
Data compiled from in-game totals, developer notes, and fan wikis
His proficiency with firearms is equally impressive – Leon can wield over 50 different weapons across canon entries! Favoring pistols and shotguns, he adapts firearms mastery first honed as a police officer into specialized BOW combat.
And despite such death-defying experiences, Leon has retained his selfless morality and dry wit. While later entries portray a hard edge from trauma endured, he perseveres in protecting others from suffering similar fates – especially those he cares for most…
Leon and Ada Wong – Complicated Companions
Leon‘s dynamic with enigmatic spy Ada Wong further cements his place as a Resident Evil icon. Their chance RE2 encounter sparked an undeniable bond, with Ada helping Leon survive while pursuing her own secret mission. They reunite in future games, joining forces when converging objectives allow even amidst Ada‘s reticence.
While their precise relationship status is unclear, their bittersweet chemistry persists as one of survival horror‘s most intriguing duos. Ada is frequently ranked among the most popular Resident Evil characters in fan polls – no doubt in part due to fascination over her ties with Leon.
His Place in the Resident Evil Mythos
Leon occupies a vaunted spot in the Resident Evil pantheon – he‘s spearheaded extermination of some of the most dangerous outbreaks in the series. His perseverance is especially remarkable considering most spend little time actively battling biohazards before mental ruin or infection (e.g. Chris Redfield‘s PTSD following Resident Evil 5).
Fans vote Leon among the top 3 protagonists consistently, as shown below, indicating his widespread appeal:
| Rank | 2021 Poll | 2022 Poll |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Redfield | Leon S. Kennedy |
| 2 | Leon S. Kennedy | Chris Redfield |
| 3 | Jill Valentine | Claire Redfield |
Polls conducted annually by Biohazard Declassified Fansite
That popularity translates into speculation whenever a new series entry omits him. Read on for insight into his unexpected absence from Resident Evil 5.
Theories Behind Leon‘s Exclusion From Resident Evil 5
Direct insight into Leon‘s non-playability in Resident Evil 5 is lacking, with producers Capcom never officially explaining his sudden disappearance. But examining the timeline of events preceding RE5 provides some hypothetical context:
1998 – Survives Tall Oaks and thwarts Carla Radames‘ global attack in Resident Evil 6
2003 – Co-founds Division of Security Operations (DSO) under National Security role
2005 – Investigates rising BOW activity in unnamed European country
2009 – Resident Evil 5 occurs with no sign of Leon
The 2005 mission timeline coincides with murmurs of Las Plagas resurgence post-RE4. Perhaps Leon was re-deployed to deal with parasites abroad while BSAA handled Kijuju?
Series mastermind Hideki Kamiya has hinted that Leon could appear in the upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake as well. Maybe he was away assisting Ingrid Hunnigan with coordinating special operations abroad, securing support for Leon‘s next assignment?
Whatever the real reason, Leon‘s renown ensures anticipation whenever potential reemergence looms. For dedicated survivors like myself, his absence leaves excitement for wherever Kennedy‘s crusade takes him next!
