Is there a way to unlock "hard" mode for Jill without having to play through the game on "easy" mode first?

I would like to play through the game with both characters on maximum survival horror tension if possible. Is there a save file available somewhere that would unlock that mode or a cheat I could use?

Just idle the game for 10 hours, save 50 times for fun before the final boss and dont save Chris. Finish the game and make a save. I guess!?!? hahaha unless someone else shares a save before that. good luck!

You're better off playing it on easy first. RE is game about making decisions between save rooms and if you don't know what's coming you could screw yourself.

You know? I wonder why the whole Jill Easy thing was added to the PC version to begin with. I don't remember people complaining about the difficulty level for Jill back then, and giving her the two extra item slots seemed like a huge buff in and of itself.

I haven't played this port yet but isn't the overall difficulty in the PC version based on the original japanese PS1 version's difficulty?

The japanese version is pretty easy as it is, even as Chris but especially Jill's campaign. Making her campaign even more easy by removing ink ribbons seems unnecessary.

There is no hard mode for Jill. and Jill isn't even easy anyway... None of them are unless you know what you are doing.

I don't know why Jill is marked as easy, she takes damage easier than Chris... she has two more inventory slots and thats her only real advantage.

Chris can't read sheet music, has two slots less and has higher health I think? Either way

It's more like more trips back to the box vs less. it's not easy or hard

I can confirm that the difficulty on this port from GOG is based on the japanese version from the consoles. Like every other PC port of this game, such as UK PowerVR.

The japanese version is easier than the western version. I might be wrong but I think the only differences are ink ribbon-less saves playing as Jill and the enemy hp overall, Yawn for instance (the big snake) it takes 4 acid rounds to kill on the japanese version and 5 acid rounds on the western version.

The difficulty label on character selection screen is just a label, nothing less, nothing more. Jill is meant to be easier just because she has more inventory space and ink ribbons aren't needed in order to save the game.

Jill has 8 inventory slots
Chris has 6

Jill has 96 HP give or take and Chris has 200 HP.

On the other hand, on western console versions of the game, the enemies have slightly more HP and both characters need ink ribbons to save. Characters HP and inventory space stay the same as the Japanese version.

It's always been like that ever since the original ps1 version.

Right it's not just the lack of ink ribbons. On your first run all the enemies are weaker like zombies will die in around 3 or 4 handgun shots instead of 6 to 7

In both the western and japanese PS1 versions Jill also has noticably less enemies to face. Like, rooms that have 2 or 3 zombies or hunters in Chris' campaign have less in Jill's. And while Jill has less health than Chris, enemies also have less. So I think classifying Jill as Easy mode, even before taking whatever additional changes where made to Jill in the PC port, is very accurate.

In the Director's Cut's Arranged Mode...or the Remake...that's where you can call Chris and Jill pretty even with their own pros and cons.

I grew up with these games so they are very familiar to me. I know what I'm doing. I've heard that you unlock hard mode for Jill after completing the first playthrough with her. Has someone beaten the Jill campaign yet and can confirm that this is true?

Can confirm that Hard mode exists for Jill. There's no notification or anything but finish the game and load your clear save. The ink ribbons will be in their proper place and enemies are tougher to kill. You will have the machine gun naturally so put that away first chance you get for the full experience. Play the Japanese version and Jill's game is literally labelled as Easy mode! Jill's game will always be easier than Chris. Even on the harder mode she still has all the advantages: a lockpick to get around faster, instant access to the grenade launcher and shotgun with Barry's help, and the extra inventory slots make it all so much easier.

Good to know. Now the question still is: can you unlock this mode without playing through the game on "Easy" first?

It is possible, but you need to modify a file in the DATA folder. Open up BIOCARD.DAT in a hex editor, edit the byte with the new value shown in the attachment and just hit save. That way every time you start a new game it will be at the correct western difficulty that we had on the original PlayStation release, where Jill has to use Ink Ribbons and enemies take a few more bullets / do more damage etc.

I've attached an image showing the exact value and what to change it to. Enjoy a much better and authentic experience!

I've been modding RE1 for so long that it's like a second home to me.

Thanks for this tip.