Summary
Resident Evilis the king of zombie horror games, uncontested with its colorful cast of characters, creative yet grotesque monsters, and the themes of human corruption and corporate greed that appear in many of its entries. After all, none of the monsters would exist were it not for the viruses engineered by the games' genius yet nefarious scientists.
Even with these recurring themes, Capcom makes every game feel brand-new and unique, introducing new threats and occasionally new heroes that will challenge them. As such, it is no easy task decidingwhichResident Evilgames have the best stories, as each one has its own strengths that draw in fans.
Many fans would raise their eyebrows in surprise when they finally gotResident Evil 5, as it was an even bolder departure from the series than the originalRE4was. Set in Africa,Resident Evil 5definitely packed a more action-focused punch, placing horror to the side as a decoration only for certain boss fights. It was also designed with co-op in mind and could be quite a chore to play if relying on the AI to handle Sheva.
At the time, this gotRE5slated by die-hard fans who enjoyed the survival horror elements. Over time, however, some fans have warmed up, and there are those who would now defend it to its death. And that’s because it leans into the over-the-top cheese fest thatResident Eviloccasionally dips its toes into. It went on to spawn countless memes about how laughably ridiculous its dialogue is, all in good-natured fun, of course. Fans who want a more serious experience have games such as theRE2remake, which is definitely a straight-edge horror. But Wesker’s dialogue and scenes such as Chris punching straight through a boulder are here for fans looking for a less grim and gritty game. Also, Sheva Alomar is a fantastic partner,definitely deserving more love and more games.
Fans will no doubt recognize and rejoice at some of the familiar faces returning to the secondRevelationsgame, as Claire Redfield and Barry Burton are the main playable characters of their respective campaigns, joined by newcomers Moira Burton and Natalia Korda.The former duo, Claire and Moira, are kidnapped during a Terrasave office party and taken to Rockfort Island to be the unwilling participants in an experiment testing a new virus. Barry journeys there in order to find his daughter, Moira, and meets Natalia, who is clearly more than an ordinary young girl.
As it turns out, Claire and Moira are infected with a virus that reacts to fear, which is monitored via a bracelet. Obviously, being infected with such a virus while under duress is less than ideal, so the two need to team up together to find a cure and leave with their lives and minds intact. It’s an interesting premise that definitely adds an element of pressure, as no one wants series icon Claire transforming into a monster. With plenty of mystery and a phenomenal character arc for Moira, there is a lot to enjoy in the plot ofRevelations 2.
While most know Leon and Claire to be the heroes of the Raccoon City Incident, there was another legacyResident Evilcharacter present for its fall: Jill Valentine. The S.T.A.R.S. member found herselfthe target of a creature called Nemesis, whose prime directive was to eradicate all witnesses to the events in the Spencer Mansion.
This leads to one of the most tenseResident Evilexperiences, as the players must navigate Jill safely through streets crowded with zombies. This game was also the only one in the series to pose the player with choices throughout the game, which could alter the ending they got. Giving players agency in this way helps them feel closer to the story at the heart of the game, as they themselves have a hand in shaping it.
All great game series start somewhere, andResident Evilhad a remarkable opening. An elite team known as S.T.A.R.S. are investigating the Arklay Mountains when a pack of rabid dogs chase them into a mansion, and that is when they and the players formally enter the survival horror. Players havethe choice of two playable characters, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, though this decision doesn’t have too much of an impact on the story.
Whoever players choose, they must explore the sprawling, opulent, albeit creepy, mansion, discovering through various encounters and documents all the goings-on in the Spencer mansion; it’s a whole lot more than someone’s stately home. Experimentation and viruses, common themes found inResident Evil, debuted here while also introducing players to the most popular villain in the series: Albert Wesker. The reveal of his duplicity was simply brilliant and paved the way for his inclusion in future installments.
Continuing with Ethan’s story,Resident Evil Villagebrings back him, Mia, and Chris Redfield to face the newest threat in a brand-new location. After the events ofRE7, Ethan has been trying to rebuild his life with Mia, now living in Romania with their infant daughter Rosemary. Chris soon comes to crash their peaceful life, however, shooting ‘Mia’ dead and absconding with Ethan’s daughter, until another intercepts their transport and snatches Rosemary.
Thus, Ethan finds himself in the snow-capped village trying to rescue his daughter from the Four Lords who have taken her. Each of them resides over their own domain and offers a new subgenre of horror, such asthe gothic horror of Castle Dimitrescu. Though it is rather formulaic with its infiltrate-and-grab approach, the story still works well; it deepens the further the player goes and starts making tenuous ties to the plot of the previous game, specifically regarding Eveline’s involvement.
Resident Evil 4brought Leon back into the fold, swapping out his earned do-gooder nature forsomeone with far more snark and action-man heroism. Now an agent working under direct orders from the President, a big step up from his prior job as a rookie cop, Leon is tasked with rescuing Ashley Graham, the President’s daughter who was last seen in a remote Spanish village. Leon gets far more than he bargained for, however, when he realizes the villagers aren’t quite right.
The story unfolds in grand fashion, as it turns out that all who live there are inflicted with the Las Plagas parasite, of which Ashley is a carrier who is being used in hopes of unleashing its influence over America. Leon’s mission to cure himself and Ashley and get them both out of dodge makes for a simple enough premise. It’s also dressed up with various locations, such as the church, the castle, and the prison island, adding far more scope to the plot. Throw in a few zany villains and some appearances from Ada, and one has a bona-fideResident Evilgame.
Resident Evil 2is often cited as one of the greatestResident Evilgames of all time, and it is clear to see why. It introduced popular characters such as Leon, Claire, and Ada and gave rise to one of themost effective stalker enemies of all time, Mr X. The stakes are much higher compared to the original, as an entire city has fallen victim to the T-Virus, transforming ordinary citizens into zombies.
Players control Leon or Claire and must guide them through locations such as the Raccoon City Police Department, the sewers, and the underground lab while searching for a way to escape before the city is wiped off the face of the earth. One might expect the plucky heroes to find a way to save Raccoon City from the virus and the missile launched to eradicate it, but they don’t, which is a bold but refreshing take on this kind of plot. On top of that, it works perfectly for the world ofResident Evil.
There have been a few instances where Capcom decided to reinvent the wheel regarding their flagship franchise, and one of these times was withResident Evil 7. The numbered title was by no means a continuation of any previous plot, instead opting for a brand-new protagonist and a brand-new storyline.
Unlike previous protagonists, Ethan is not a professional with combat experience; he is just a husband searching rural America for his missing wife Mia. He soon meets her captors, the deranged and dangerous Baker family, who immediately seek to cut his life short since he’s not feeling the family love. The truth behind their nature is tragic, as Eveline’s influence made them the monsters they are, and there is no saving them. The Baker mansion and bayou provide excellent backdrops forthis southern gothic horror gamethat places horror as its main focus.
