Resident Evil
Table of Contents
Introduction
Resident Evil, known in its home country of Japan as Biohazard, is arguably the most influential horror title in video game history. Released in 1996, it introduced players to the chilling world of survival horror, a term the game itself coined. Whether it is referred to by its short-hand RE, its Chinese title 生化危机, or its Taiwanese name 惡靈古堡, the game’s reputation for tension and terror is global. Developed by Capcom under the direction of Shinji Mikami, it successfully blended atmospheric exploration with intense combat and complex puzzle-solving, setting a benchmark for every horror title that followed. The game did not just start a franchise; it defined the parameters of an entire subgenre of action-adventure games.
Story & Setting
The narrative begins in the outskirts of Raccoon City, specifically the Arklay Mountains, where a series of bizarre, cannibalistic murders have occurred. The Raccoon City Police Department dispatches its elite S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Service) unit to investigate. After Bravo Team goes missing, Alpha Team—featuring iconic characters like Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine—is sent in. After a terrifying encounter with mutated, skinless dogs, the survivors flee into a massive, seemingly abandoned mansion known as the Spencer Estate.
The mansion serves as more than just a backdrop; it is a character in its own right. As players explore its ornate hallways, dusty libraries, and secret laboratories, they uncover the dark secrets of the Umbrella Corporation. The story transitions from a simple rescue mission into a desperate struggle against biological monstrosities birthed from the experimental T-virus. This infection transforms humans into shambling zombies and creates various other mutants, like the Hunter and the Tyrant, that haunt the mansion's rooms.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Resident Evil was revolutionary for its time, utilizing a unique visual style where polygonal 3D characters moved across highly detailed, pre-rendered 2D backgrounds. This technical choice allowed for stunning visuals that the hardware of the era could not otherwise handle in full 3D. Because the backgrounds were static, the game employed fixed camera angles. This design choice was used to great effect, hiding threats just out of the player’s sight and heightening the sense of cinematic claustrophobia.
Survival is the core mechanic. Players must manage a very limited inventory, often having to choose between carrying health-restoring herbs or essential ammunition. Saving the game even requires a physical item: the ink ribbon. This scarcity of resources ensures that every encounter with a zombie is a calculated risk. Combat is complemented by intricate environmental puzzles, requiring players to find keys, gems, and crests to unlock further areas of the mansion. The "tank controls" require players to rotate their character and move forward relative to where the character is facing, a style that became synonymous with early survival horror titles.
This game was released on several platforms, the original PlayStation and several subsequent consoles in various regions.
Legacy
The legacy of Resident Evil cannot be overstated. It launched a multi-billion dollar franchise spanning dozens of sequels, spin-offs, and feature films. Over the years, the original game has been remade and remastered multiple times, notably as Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil on the Wii, which preserved the classic tension for a newer generation of fans. It paved the way for other legendary series like Silent Hill and Fatal Frame, proving that there was a massive market for mature, slow-paced, and atmospheric horror games. The franchise remains a flagship for Capcom to this day.
Fun Facts
Interestingly, the game was originally conceived as a first-person remake of an earlier Capcom horror title called Sweet Home. During localization, the name was changed from Biohazard (or RE: Biohazard) to Resident Evil because a game and a band already had the rights to the original name in the United States. Additionally, the game's infamously campy live-action opening and voice acting have become legendary among fans, spawning countless memes like the "Jill Sandwich" line and the "Master of Unlocking" dialogue.
