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When gamers think about the most influential games of all time, there are some that come to mind almost immediately. Half-Life, Mortal Kombat and Doom are just a few of the many games from the 90s that have changed the landscape of gaming by simply existing. Another one of these 90s classics is the game that popularized the survival horror genre for years to come, Resident Evil.
Resident Evil is a survival horror video game that was released by Japanese video game developer Capcom on Mar. 22, 1996. This original endeavor would eventually spawn one of the most iconic gaming franchises of all time. That all began with this initial venture into a biohazard. It focuses on the story of a police task force unit called S.T.A.R.S as they investigate a string of disappearances in the local Arklay Mountains on the outskirts of a large metropolis known as Raccoon City. The two playable characters are S.T.A.R.S members Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield. The gameplay of Resident Evil consists of battling to survive the different horrors that lie within the secluded location of the Spencer Mansion.
Resident Evil begins by allowing the selection between Jill or Chris. The game’s scenarios are altered depending on who the player selects. If they pick Chris, then they are gifted with more strength and health but hindered by less inventory space and no lockpick. If they decide on Jill, they are granted extra inventory space and a lockpick but are impeded by reduced speed and health.
This distinction between the two characters adds to the dimensions of the game. It fixes the problem that most games face with replayability by having two scenarios that are, for the most part, completely different from each other. In these scenarios, Chris and Jill are faced with some of the most terrifying creatures that gaming has ever seen.
Resident Evil gives the player an ultimatum when faced with most of these creations. They must either fight and finish their enemy off or retreat to a different area of the house and save their ammunition and gear. This is the heart of the survival horror genre. It allows the player to decide how they want to continue forward with the game, giving them a degree of freedom that will determine their survival in such situations.
The only drawback one could note on the gameplay of Resident Evil is that it’s held down by the controls of its time. The tank controls restrict the amount of movement a player can have and may be a drawback when retreating from an enemy.
The alternating camera angles as the player progresses through the mansion became a staple in the franchise. It creates a cinematic feel, allowing the player to experience a sort of playable horror film. This immersion is a large reason why Resident Evil was as impactful as it was.
The story of Resident Evil has become a compact compilation of multiple narratives and styles of gameplay. Before it got to that point, it had a rather straightforward plot.
Chris, Jill and the rest of the S.T.A.R.S Alpha Team are investigating the disappearance of the S.T.A.R.S Bravo Team that was sent in the day before. The Bravo Team was sent to investigate a series of grizzly murders that occurred in the Arklay Mountains, but they’ve fallen radio silent ever since their arrival.
After landing in the mountains in their helicopter, the Alpha Team begins observing the scene to determine what really happened to their comrades. They are soon attacked by a group of Cerberuses, mutated dogs, and one of them is killed. The rest of the team attempts to retreat to the helicopter but the pilot, Brad Vickers, begins to take flight out of fear, leaving the rest of the team behind.
Now forced to fend for themselves, the Alpha Team sprints through the wooded mountains until they reach a large mansion. Depending on who the player selected in the beginning of the game, either Chris or Jill fail to make it to the mansion with the others. The fate of the unchosen is left up to speculation as the player progresses through the game.
From this opening alone, Resident Evil lets the player know what it’s all about. The fast-paced, live action cutscene builds tension and suspense for what’s to come. There are plenty of twists and turns filtered throughout the game’s story. It’s best experienced blind, so you’ll find no spoilers here.
Resident Evil has had its fair share of remasters. The most notable of these is the first in what would become a series of games titled REmakes. These are full remakes of the original Resident Evil (RE) games. They are built from the ground up with a new game engine and a slightly altered version of the original story.
Most of the time, these REmakes do very well and capture the original spirit of the initial games. This proves not only the dedication that Capcom has to produce good content for one of their breakout series, but also the love that the Resident Evil fanbase has for the series–evidenced by high sales every time a new one comes out.
Resident Evil is undoubtedly one of the most iconic games of all time. It spawned a series of games that continues to this day. With a multitude of games, movies, books and more, it has breached into the mainstream more than once. The impact that it’s had on survival horror and cinematic gaming cannot be understated. Resident Evil will always stand the test of time as one of the examples of peak gaming.
