Resident Evil 3 - Courtyard box access for the Magnum explained
How to get the optional - and very powerful - late game weapon.
The Courtyard box is an object which will taunt you from when you start exploring the Hospital as Carlos.
You have to wait you have regained control of Jill to get it - and doing so will allow you to get the Magnum, one of the most useful weapons in the game.
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Optional areas to explore after regaining control of Jill
After you resume control of Jill following the Defend Jill encounter, grab the G18 Handgun (Burst Model) from the side, which uses the same Handgun ammo you've been finding until now, but in a rapid fire setting.
In our opinion the upgraded Handgun up until this point is more precise for picking off zombies at long range - which is what its best used for, especially as you'll want to save meatier ammo for other creatures.
Leave the room and after the cutscene, there are two crates you can open in the Lobby and the small area leading north.
The Underground Storage is east of the Reception. You can go here right away if you like - however, since Jill has the Lockpick, there are several previous areas you can visit for extra items.
This includes:
- The west side of the 1F Corridor - MAG Ammo (requires Lockpick)
- North of Lab Reception - Explosive B (next to the corpse)
- Emergency Entrance locker - Explosive Rounds (locker; watch out for the Hunter which emerges straight ahead when you enter)
- Operating Theatre - the RE: Lost Items file, some Ammo, Grenades and Flash Grenades
- Staff Room - Shotgun Shells (requires Lockpick - and be wary of the zombies coming to life)
- Sickroom - High-grade Gunpowder (watch out for the Hunter in the corridors outside the Nurse's Station)
- Linen Room - MAG Ammo (requires Lockpick)
- Treatment Room - Explosive A (on the right as you enter)
You may also notice the Nurses' Station safe has been opened.
You needed to have accessed this as Carlos. If you have a prior save close to this room as Carlos, at this point it's worth loading one up, as the 'RE: Master of Unlocking' trophy or achievement is game-wide - meaning it'll unlock if you have done all the other requirements across this or other save files.
With that done, there's one last thing to get before we leave the Hospital...
Our full Resident Evil 3 walkthrough explains every aspect's of Jill's, including the Shotgun location, Bolt cutters and Lockpick locations, how to reset the Circuit Breakers to restore power in the Substation, find the Drugstore safe code solution and Aqua Cure clue, Police Station Safe, Locker codes, Hospital safe code and courtyard box for the Magnum explained.
How to reach the courtyard box and get the Magnum in Resident Evil 3
Remember that case in the Courtyard? Once you have done exploring the 2F as Jill, approach the blockage in the corridor next to the Nurses' Station. You can crawl under and drop down into the Courtyard from the window.
Open the case and you'll get the MAG - also known as the Magnum, or .44 AE Lightning Hawk. Lovely stuff.
Make sure you have explored as much as you like (the file in the Operating Theatre is the only must have thing for completionists, while the MAG will help you in the final areas and give you a Trophy.)
When you are ready, it's time to leave the Hospital. Head east out of the Reception, unlocking the door with the Lockpick.
Provided you have used the Lockpick everywhere in the game up until this point, you'll be able to safely dispose of them from your inventory.
Pass through the two generator rooms going east, and you'll enter a long room which is bathed in red light.
On the way north is a forklift truck on your left - there's a Bobble Head on top you can shoot.
Now throw the switch at the end. At the bottom, throw the switch on another console to lower the platform, then another on the platform to go up to reach the Underground Storage proper.
