We have Resident Evil: Retribution T-Shirts (one of which is signed by the cast!!) up for grabs. Ten lucky commenters that tell us their favorite RE game, movie, or character will receive a PM if they've won!
The Resident Evil series has seen more games and movies in the past 12 years than many franchises see in their entire lifetime. Whether you're talking about zombies, or weird cow people, or crazy-sunglasses wearing traitors, or Chris Redfield's muscles, there are games, games, and more games. Let's start our retrospective with the all those subtitled entries:
2000 – Resident Evil Survivor
Survivor shifted the perspective from third-person to first-person and stuck a big plastic gun peripheral in the fans of survival horror. "What the shit is this?!", they all exclaimed. Then they played the game. "This is the shit!", they exclaimed immediately afterward. Survivor focused on an "amnesiac helicopter crash survivor" named Ark Thompson. In those four words alone, I described to you the insanity of Resident Evil. How could this game be bad?
Ark explores Sheena Island, shoots a lot of zombies, and generally has a crappy time of it before escaping the island just as it explodes. That's too bad. If Ark had died, would it have stopped Capcom from making a bunch of sequels to Survivor? Would it have stopped them from putting Gun in the title so as to drive home the point that you hold a gun while playing this game?
2000 – Resident Evil Code: Veronica
Code: Veronica is notable because it's the first RE game to debut on a system not titled PlayStation. The Dreamcast got the "true" sequel to Resident Evil 2 thanks to Sega executives offering backrubs and birthday party invites in exchange for a key pieces of software for the new console.
Fun Fact: select "Very Easy" when starting a new game and get a Rocket Launcher and an unlimited supply of ink ribbons!
2001 – Resident Evil Gaiden
If you're going to play a Resident Evil game on your Game Boy Color, make sure it's Resident Evil Gaiden…. Well… it's the only one so you kind of have to. Gaiden featured Leon S. Kennedy and Barry Burton in an adventure game that switches to first-person when in combat with the undead.
Wikipedia had this gif that shows the battle system in action. I liked it, but I was like 10 at the time so what the fuck did I know? Way back when, the elitist game press slammed Gaiden for its visuals and save system, but someone has to ask: Did they know they were playing a Game Boy game?
2001 – Resident Evil Survivor 2 Code: Veronica
I had no idea this game existed. For all intents and purposes, it probably shouldn't exist. Namco and Capcom decided to band together and create a Survivor-style game based on Code: Veronica, so what players got was a light-gun shooter that made no sense in the canon.
Fun Fact *Spoiler Alert*: It had no bearing on canon. At the end of the game, players discover that everything they just did was a dream and Claire was just sleeping off the box of wine she had the night before.
2003 – Resident Evil: Dead Aim
While Capcom had an exclusivity agreement with Nintendo at the time, Dead Aim slipped by as a non-numbered sequel, and therefore not as part of the agreement. There's really nothing notable about the story in this game, despite acting as a precursor for Revelation's trapped-on-a-boat setting and the persistent switching between third-person transversal and first-person shooting.
Dead Aim is among the few original RE games that allows players to move and shoot at the same time, but that didn't stop it from receiving middling review scores. With Resident Evil 4 two years away, it could be said that Dead Aim served as a functional building block for the changes RE4 would bring to the series.
2003 – Resident Evil: Outbreak
Taking RE to the internet was no easy task, but Capcom set about doing so with Outbreak, and in the same year as Dead Aim to boot. Outbreak returns survivors to Raccooon City around the same time as RE2 and RE3, but with an episodic twist to help promote the new gameplay. Once again, I had a lot of fun with Outbreak before being a critic ruined any enjoyment I could find in such things, but the spin-off once again received middling reviews.
In GameRevolution's review, we called Outbreak "so good, it will keep fans playing despite the problems. Unfortunately, the game is too ambitious for its own good and too top-heavy for the system for which it's exclusively designed."
2004 – Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2
More episodic cases, more online multiplayer, more middle-of-the-road review scores. Outbreak File #2 fixed some problems with the original, created some new ones, and generally released to a heavy sigh and a "meh." People were hungry for the next numbered RE sequel at this point, not unlike how the zombies were hungry for brains. Sweet, sweet Jill Valentine brains. *HHHhaaaaauugghhh*
Fun fact: Thanks to Engrish, Linda, as she's known in the US and European versions is called Rinda in the Japanese version.
2007/2009 – Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, The Darkside Chronicles
Not wanting to ignore Nintendo's Wii console, Capcom returned Resident Evil to the depths of light-gun shooter hell with two releases for the Wii Sports machine. Umbrella Chronicles featured sequences from the first three numbered RE games while Darkside Chronicles focused more exclusively on RE2 and Code: Veronica.
Fun fact: Members of the now defunct Capcom Clover Studio (responsible for the likes of Okami and God Hand) assisted development on Umbrella Chronicles.
2012 – Resident Evil: Revelations
Revelations is easily the best reviewed spin-off outside of the numbered RE series, notably because of the way it returns to survival horror roots. Players took control of Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield shortly after the government establishes the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA) and its mandatory steroid program for all male members. Seriously, Chris Redfield is huge.
Revelations remains one of the better experiences on the 3DS thanks to its high-fidelity visuals and the way the screen size draws players in. Also Jill's butt.
And now let's all go to the movies!
We have Resident Evil: Retribution T-Shirts (one of which is signed by the cast!!) up for grabs. Ten lucky commenters that tell us their favorite RE game, movie, or character will receive a PM if they've won!
The Resident Evil films have always had a dedicated following. They'd have to, anyway. They've made five of them after all, but I've always had a personal fondness for them. When I was in Japan during high school, I stayed for a while with a family in Aomori who did everything they could to make me feel as welcome as possible.
Among their endeavors was a rental of Biohazard, a movie they assumed I'd enjoy. The fact is I hate horror movies so I was reticent to jump for joy and instead feigned excitement in an effort to purport the circle of over-politeness we'd started on my arrival.
Luckily, the Resident Evil films have always had true horror on the back burner, opting for a mix of action and horror, much like the modern games. The result is some crazy bullshit, but I'll be damned if it's not popcorn-worthy. The reality is that the film franchises have succeeded not because of deference and undying loyalty to the games, but because of their willingness to give the audience more of what they love: high-fidelity action, gorgeous visual flair, and a heaping helping of Milla Jovovich.
2002 – Resident Evil
Umbrella retains its status as a super-secretive, genetic research corporation and the T-Virus still infects everyone with a pulse, but the RE films introduce a brand new character for the lead role. Alice (no last name) once worked security for Umbrella but her memory has been wiped and instead she assists a team of Umbrella Corp commandos into The Hive, the source of the T-Virus outbreak.
At the end of the film, Alice wakes unconscious in an abandoned Raccoon City. Spooky! The first film is quite earnest in its delivery, but it lays the tense groundwork for what would become a series all about high-flying, high-energy action.
2004 – Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Raccoon City is sealed off to everyone, regardless of infected status. Apocalypse introduces Jill Valentine and Peyton Wells, her partner, to moviegoers. The duo meet up with Alice and head off on a search for an evacuation point in the city. Of course, now's as good a time as any to tell you that Matt Addison, from the first film, has been transformed into Nemesis by Umbrella and the government after his encounter with the Licker in the first film.
Shit's about to get real. Of course, the trio make it out of Raccoon City just as a nuclear bomb wipes life from it. Funny thing about flying a helicopter near a nuclear bomb: It's really, really hard to do. Alice is taken to another Umbrella facility where she escapes with some extreme abilities. The film ends with an Umbrella logo flashing in Alice's eyes and the words "Project Alice Activated."
2007 – Resident Evil: Extinction
With the t-Virus beating the world's population to a zombified pulp and Umbrella intent on cloning Alice for her enhanced physical abilities, Claire Redfield leads a team of survivors across the desert. When the convoy meets up with Alice, crows attack. CROWS!
The survivors aim to head to Alaska, via Las Vegas, in the hopes of reaching Arcadia, a safe haven free from the t-Virus. Zombies attack, people die, people are bitten, but they don't tell the others. Then one of the survivors transforms into Tyrant. Claire gets away in a chopper, Alice fights Tyrant with the help of one of her clones. Tyrant is defeated and everyone lives happily ever after.
No, I'm just kidding. Alice finds a shit load of her clones.
2010 – Resident Evil: Afterlife
Alice and her army of clones still aren't enough to kill Albert Wesker… nor is a helicopter crash. Alice survives this opening sequence as well and, with Wesker nowhere to be found, heads to Arcadia. There she finds Claire Redfield and pretty much nothing else. When Claire and Alice fly to L.A. and find Chris Redfield in a prison surrounded by zombies, Chris informs them that Arcadia is actually a tanker.
And that tanker is really a secret Umbrella facility used to test the survivors. Of course its abandoned by the time the trio make it back. Claire then remembers how to enter the research facility, at which point the three run into Wesker again. Alice once again beats the bastard and Jill Valentine leads an assault on the facility.
2012 – Resident Evil: Retribution
And that brings us to today. I'm completely lost, despite having written and researched this whole thing, but one thing's for sure. The spectacle will return on Friday, with Retribution taking Alice and company all around the world, including Washington D.C. How will Wesker return and will the president be a zombie?
One thing is for sure: Leon and Barry will appear, along with Ada Wong. All of whom should get us all pumped for Resident Evil 6 in October.
Which of course brings us to the numbered entries.
We have Resident Evil: Retribution T-Shirts (one of which is signed by the cast!!) up for grabs. Ten lucky commenters that tell us their favorite RE game, movie, or character will receive a PM if they've won!
The break-out zombie vehicle this year will surely be Resident Evil 6, the first true numbered sequel since 2009's RE5. While the movies have their own plot in motion, the Resident Evil games have been moving from Mansions and Cities to Spain and Africa. The characters are lined up and the three full campaign sequences put the spotlight on Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and a newcomer. Let's recall the events that brought us to this point.
2002 – Resident Evil 0
A prequel to the first RE game sees the STARS Bravo Team sent to the Arklay Mountains outside of Raccoon City. When the helicopter crashes, Rebecca Chambers is separated from the others and stumbles upon a zombie-infested train. Assisting her is Billy Coen, a man sentenced to death by the military.
The two discover an underground Umbrella facility where the T-Virus was bred and born. People get lost, boss fights ensue, and, shockingly, the facility's self-destruct sequence is started. When Rebecca and Billy escape, they find the Spencer estate. At the end of the game, Rebecca declares Billy "officially dead" and the go their separate paths.
1996 – Resident Evil
In 1998, Alpha team finds Bravo team's helicopter and no survivors. When dogs attack and kill one of their members, the team reaches shelter in a mansion. Wesker, Chris, Jill, and Barry are separated and explore the mansion, at first discovering a member of Bravo team quickly becoming zombie chow.
Below the mansion is… holy crap, a secret underground Umbrella facility! Monsters attack, killing Wesker after its revealed that he was a double-agent for Umbrella. When… you won't believe it… the self-destruct system is activated, the player reunites with either Chris or Jill and escapes with either Rebecca or Barry. When the group gets to the roof heliport and calls for the chopper, Tyrant attacks. The monster is defeated and the group finish their escape.
1998 – Resident Evil 2
Two months later, the citizens of Raccoon City have almost entirely been transformed by the T-Virus. Leon, a rookie cop, and Claire, a college student looking for Chris Redfield of STARS, head to the RCPD building. With the police force dead and dying and Chris leaving for Umbrella headquarters in Europe, the two split up, an entirely advisable move in a zombie outbreak. *end sarcasm*
Leon sets out to find evidence of Umbrella's foul play and Claire runs around the city for some silly reason. All of this involves the discovery of the G-Virus, a little girl with a bioweapon around her neck, and a possible cure. Leon and Claire ready the vaccine, save the little infected girl, and board a self-destructing train. Seriously.
Leon and Sherry escape with the intention of taking down Umbrella while Claire is off to continue searching for her brother. It's also suggested that Ada Wong, who double-crosses our heroes, escapes Raccoon City with the G-Virus pendant.
1999 – Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
In September 1998, STARS member Jill Vallentine tries to escape Raccoon City. On her way to the police department, former teammate Brad Vickers is killed by the monster Nemesis. After fleeing, Jill meets with the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service team which is quickly narrowed down to just Carlos Oliviera thanks to the violent handiwork of Nemesis and a pack of zombies.
Nemesis continues pursuit, destroys an evacuation helicopter, and nearly kills Jill. Carlos creates a vaccine, leaves Jill soon after and the two eventually meet up in… a secret Umbrella facility. How many of these things are there?
Nemesis reappears, is defeated, and Jill escapes Raccoon City with Carlos. Raccoon City is, once again, destroyed by a nuclear blast.
2005 – Resident Evil 4
Six years later, Leon Kennedy is sent to rescue the President's daughter. Wait… what?
Ashley Graham has gone missing in Europe and Leon finds her in Spain where a cult has kidnapped her. The cult has injected Ashley with Las Plagas, a mind-controlling virus. On his way to kill the cult leader, he receives chemicals to suppress the Las Plagas infection from another agent and has to face off against Jack Krauser, a fellow agent responsible for the kidnapping of Ashley. Working with Krauser is Ada Wong and cult leader Osmund Saddler. Knowing Krauser will turn on him, Saddler orders Krauser to fight Leon, knowing either's death will ultimately benefit him.
Leon wins the fight, recovers Ashley, and eradicates the virus from their bodies. Leon fights Saddler and, with Ada's help, defeats the leader. While Ada escapes with a sample of Las Plagas, Leon and Ashley escape via jetski. The Island explodes behind them (possibly by means of self-destruction).
2009 – Resident Evil 5
Five years after RE4, Chris Redfield is sent to Africa as part of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance where he works with Sheva Alomar to arrest Ricardo Irving before he can engage the black market with a bio-organic weapon. A mysterious hooded figure aids them on their mission, and Chris and Sheva discover the source of the T and G-Viruses, the Progenitor Virus (P-Virus, huh?).
Chris and Sheva discover… an underground… secret… Umbrella facility where thousands of capsules are holding human test subjects. Among the capsules is one labeled "Jill Valentine", though there's no one inside. Wesker shows up and reveals that Jill is under his control by way of mind-control device. Chris and Sheva free Jill, and then follow Wesker in pursuit. Wesker sends a mutated monster after Chris and Sheva learn from Jill that Wesker needs persistent doses of the virus to maintain his power. When Chris and Sheva force Wesker's escape bomber plane into a volcano, they fight and force Wesker into the lava.
Wesker continues fighting and tries to take down the escape helicopter piloted by Jill. That's when Sheva and Chris just start shooting rockets at Wesker. Seriously, what's going to take this guy down?
2012 – Resident Evil 6
And that brings us to today! Are you ready for Resident Evil 6's release on October 2nd? This'll be the first time the game has launched simultaneously across Western territories 2 days before the Japanese launch.
Resident Evil 6 also introduces Dark Souls-like multiplayer and three separate single-player campaigns, all of which can engage in cooperative play like RE5.
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