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Resident Evil: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Resident Evil
In 1994, a simple marketing decision nearly erased a cultural phenomenon before it began. When Capcom executives prepared to release their horror game in the United States, they discovered the name Biohazard was already trademarked by a DOS game and a New York hardcore punk band. The company held an internal contest to find a new title, and the winner was Resident Evil, a phrase that would come to define a generation of gaming. This renaming was not merely a legal necessity; it was the catalyst for a franchise that would eventually sell over 135 million copies and become the highest-grossing horror franchise in history. The game, created by Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara, drew its core inspiration from Fujiwara's 1989 title Sweet Home, a game that introduced the concept of limited resources and permanent death to the genre. The result was a title that returned zombies to popular culture, shifting them from supernatural folklore to the realm of scientific horror.
The Tank Controls That Trapped Players
The original Resident Evil introduced a control scheme that the community now calls tank controls, a deliberate design choice that made movement feel counter-intuitive and terrifying. In this system, pressing the up button moved the character forward relative to their facing direction, not the camera, meaning that if a character faced the screen, the up button would move them backward. This clumsiness was intentional, designed to heighten stress and exacerbate the difficulty of survival. The fixed camera angles, which switched abruptly as players moved between rooms, created a sense of vulnerability and isolation that defined the survival horror genre. While later entries like Resident Evil 4 abandoned this for a fluid over-the-shoulder third-person view, the original game's rigid controls remain a hallmark of its legacy. The game also pioneered the use of live-action full-motion video cutscenes, which were controversial for their mature content and helped earn the game an M rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
The City That Was Erased
Raccoon City, a fictional metropolis in the Arklay Mountains of the Midwestern United States, serves as the central stage for the franchise's early tragedies. The city was not merely a backdrop but a character in its own right, succumbing to a deadly T-virus outbreak that turned its residents into mindless zombies. The U.S. government, unable to contain the spread, ordered a nuclear missile strike to sterilize the outbreak, effectively destroying the city and erasing its history. This event, depicted in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, became a critical junction for the series' progression, serving as one of the main catalysts for the downfall of the Umbrella Corporation. The destruction of Raccoon City also introduced key characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who escaped the city before its eradication. The city's fate remains a pivotal moment in the franchise, symbolizing the consequences of unchecked corporate power and the fragility of human civilization.
When was Resident Evil first released and what was its original name?
Resident Evil was released in 1994 after Capcom renamed the game from Biohazard due to trademark conflicts. The company held an internal contest to find a new title, and the winner was Resident Evil, a phrase that would come to define a generation of gaming.
Who created Resident Evil and what game inspired its core mechanics?
Resident Evil was created by Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara, who drew core inspiration from Fujiwara's 1989 title Sweet Home. This earlier game introduced the concept of limited resources and permanent death to the genre.
What happened to Raccoon City in the Resident Evil franchise?
Raccoon City was destroyed by a nuclear missile strike ordered by the U.S. government to sterilize a deadly T-virus outbreak. This event, depicted in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, effectively erased the city and its history.
Who is Albert Wesker and what role does he play in Resident Evil 5?
Albert Wesker is a double agent within the Special Tactics and Rescue Service who betrays his comrades to work for the Umbrella Corporation. In Resident Evil 5, Wesker seeks to unleash a highly mutagenic virus that will infect all of humanity, a plan that is thwarted by Chris and the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance.
How much money has the Resident Evil film series made worldwide?
The Resident Evil film series has grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide, making it a financial juggernaut. The series holds the record for the most live-action film adaptations of a video game, as recognized by the 2012 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition.
When was Resident Evil 4 released and how many copies did it sell?
The Resident Evil 4 remake was released on the 24th of March 2023 and became one of the fastest-selling Resident Evil games. It sold four million copies in its first two weeks of release.
Albert Wesker, a double agent within the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (STARS), is one of the most complex and enduring villains in the franchise. Initially appearing as a loyal member of the team, Wesker betrays his comrades, revealing himself to be working for the Umbrella Corporation. His betrayal leads to the decimation of the STARS team, leaving only a handful of survivors, including Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Wesker's survival, despite being seemingly murdered by a Tyrant, a special bio-organic weapon, sets the stage for his return as a mastermind behind bioterrorism. In Resident Evil 5, Wesker seeks to unleash a highly mutagenic virus that will infect all of humanity, a plan that is thwarted by Chris and the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). His character arc spans multiple games, from his initial betrayal to his final confrontation, making him a central figure in the franchise's narrative.
The Films That Outgrossed The Games
The Resident Evil film series, starring Milla Jovovich as the original character Alice, has become a financial juggernaut, grossing more than $1.2 billion worldwide. Despite receiving mostly negative reviews, the films hold the record for the most live-action film adaptations of a video game, as recognized by the 2012 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition. The series, written and produced by Paul W. S. Anderson, does not follow the games' premise but features some game characters, creating a unique narrative that has increased the amount of money made with each successive film. A reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, was released in 2021, and a new film reboot is scheduled for release in 2026, with Sony Pictures securing the rights to the franchise. The films have contributed to the revival of zombie films, with several zombie films being greenlit in the 2000s, such as the video game film adaptation House of the Dead and the remake Dawn of the Dead.
The Remakes That Redefined A Legacy
Capcom's decision to remake older entries in the series began in 2019 with a remake of Resident Evil 2, which outsold the original game within a year, selling over five million copies. This success led to remakes of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Resident Evil 4, with the latter selling more than three million copies in its first two days of release. The remakes have been praised for their modern graphics and gameplay mechanics, while staying true to the original stories. The Resident Evil 4 remake, released on the 24th of March 2023, was one of the fastest-selling Resident Evil games, selling four million copies in its first two weeks. These remakes have not only revitalized the franchise but also introduced the series to a new generation of players, ensuring its continued relevance in the gaming industry.
The First-Person Return To Horror
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marked a significant shift in the franchise, returning to the horror roots with a first-person perspective and emphasizing horror and exploration over action. Set in a dilapidated mansion in Louisiana, the game uses a first-person perspective and virtual reality, drawing comparisons to modern survival horror games such as Outlast and PT. The eighth mainline game, Resident Evil Village, also features a first-person perspective, incorporating more action elements inspired from Resident Evil 4. This shift back to horror has been well-received, with the games being recognized for their ability to create a sense of dread and vulnerability. The franchise's return to first-person gameplay has also allowed for new innovations, such as the VR version of Resident Evil 4, which was released on the Oculus Quest 2 on the 21st of October 2021.
The Cultural Impact Of A Zombie Revival
The Resident Evil franchise is credited with sparking a revival of the zombie genre in popular culture, leading to a renewed interest in zombie films during the 2000s. The series helped redefine the zombie genre, playing an important role in its shift from supernatural themes to scientific themes by using science to explain the origins of zombies. George A. Romero, in 2013, said it was the video games Resident Evil and House of the Dead that popularized his zombie concept in early 21st-century popular culture. The franchise's influence extends to various media, including comic books, novels, and even a theme restaurant called Biohazard Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S. that opened in Tokyo in 2012. The zombie revival trend was popular across different media up until the mid-2010s, and the franchise's legacy continues to this day, with the ninth main game, Resident Evil Requiem, scheduled for release on the 27th of February 2026.