It is learned in this game that the play character Ark Thompson is good friends with Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 2 (1998).
The game was meant to be released as a light-gun compatible game but the light-gun accessory was scrapped after the then recent Columbine tragedy. The Japanese and European version still utilize the light-gun accessory however.
This is the first Resident Evil to feature first person viewing.
This is the first Resident Evil game to be released in the Arcade format.