Resident Evil 0 – The Pattern Solution for Quick-Solving the Train Brake Puzzle

This is a short, simple guide that reveals the pattern for solving the brake puzzle at the end of the Ecliptic Express segment.

Introduction

Note: Credit goes to Grave Titan

Skip to the end of this guide if you just want to read the condensed version of the solution pattern.

Growing up, I played through the original release of Resident Evil 0 on the GameCube back in 2002. And now, a little over 17 years later, here I am playing through the HD Remaster. When I made my way to the train’s brake puzzle, it brought back vague childhood memories of stumbling my way through to a solution, all the while wondering what the intended solution was — how you were supposed to solve the puzzle.

Well, what I missed then, I immediately spotted now. So I thought I would throw this guide together to share with the Resident Evil community. Whether this actually helps you with your playthrough(s), or if you’re just reading for curiosity’s sake, read on for the pattern behind the puzzle!

The Pattern and the (Not-Really) 67-Exception

Let’s get right to it.

The Pattern

The solution for solving any number (except for 67, I’ll get to that in a moment) is as follows:

• Step 1: Take the two digits that make up the displayed number, and then add them together. Enter the resulting number once.

  Example: 36 –> 3 + 6 = 9 –> Enter 9 once.

• Step 2: Mash away on the in-game keypad, entering the first digit of the displayed number nine times to finish the puzzle!

  Example: 36 –> Enter 3 nine times –> done!

Note: the possible non-67 numbers you may encounter are: 36, 42, 53, and 81.

The (Not-Really) 67-Exception

It wouldn’t be a Resident Evil puzzle without a twist, right?

The number 67 follows the pattern, but in its own way!

• Step 1: Add together the two digits that make up the displayed number, as explained above. This gives us 13, which is not a valid entry on the in-game keypad. So, repeat Step 1 a second time using our result of 13.
• Step 2: Taking our resulting number, 13, from Step 1a, we get 1 + 3 = 4. Enter 4 once.
• Step 3: Since we had to perform Step 1 a second time, we have to enter the second digit of the displayed number nine times. Mash away on the in-game keypad, entering the number 7 nine times to finish the puzzle!

Summary & Conclusion

Summary:

This is a condensed version of Part II, read that for more details and examples.

The Pattern

• Add together the two digits of the displayed number; enter the result once.
• Take the first digit of the displayed number; enter this nine times.
• Success!
• The possible non-67 puzzle numbers are: 36, 42, 53, and 81.

The (Not-Really) 67-Exception

• Add together the two digits of the displayed number; result is too large to enter.
• Add together the two digits of the result; enter this new result (4) once.
• Take the second digit of the displayed number (7); enter this nine times.
• Success!

Conclusion: I hope you enjoyed reading my guide. Thank you for the gift of your time!