Resident Evil
Overview
Resident Evil is a global media franchise that began with the 1996 PlayStation game of the same name, released by the Japanese game developer Capcom. In Japan, it is released under the title "Biohazard (バイオハザード)," and it deals with large-scale infection incidents caused by viruses and bio-organic weapons (B.O.W.s). As a representative work that popularized the survival horror genre, the series' cumulative sales surpassed 150 million copies as of 2024.
Main Content
Worldview and Setting
The foundation of the series is the various viruses and bio-organic weapons developed for military purposes by the pharmaceutical company "Umbrella Corporation." New sources of infection appear in each installment, such as the T-Virus, G-Virus, Las Plagas, C-Virus, and the fungus-based "Molded," while monsters such as the infected (zombies), Lickers, Tyrants, and Nemesis serve as the main threats. The settings are mainly the fictional Midwestern American city of Raccoon City, rural mansions, laboratories, Africa, and Eastern Europe, and the keywords that run through the entire worldview are "bioterrorism" and the ethical collapse of corporations.
Gameplay Features
The early titles realized "horror" through fixed camera angles, tank controls, extremely limited ammunition and healing items, and puzzle structures using boxes and keys. The fourth installment (2005) shifted the series' direction by combining a third-person shoulder view with action, while the fifth and sixth installments focused on cooperative play and large-scale action. The seventh installment (2017) returned to the roots of horror with a first-person perspective and VR support, and the remakes of the second, third, and fourth installments reinterpreted the originals with modern graphics and controls, achieving great success.
Major Titles
The main numbered titles run from 0 to 8 (Village), and there are numerous spin-offs such as Code Veronica, Revelations, Outbreak, and Survivor. Representative titles include the first installment, which deals with the mansion incident; the second and third installments, which depict the collapse of Raccoon City; the fourth installment, which portrays the rescue drama of Leon and Ashley; and the seventh and eighth installments, which feature the newcomer Ethan Winters as the protagonist.
Characters
Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, Albert Wesker, and Ethan Winters are key figures running through the series. They become embroiled in bioterror incidents in various roles, such as S.T.A.R.S. members, government agents, and civilians.
Media Mix
The live-action film series (2002–2016) directed by Paul W. S. Anderson was a global box office success with an original setting separate from the games; in 2021, "Welcome to Raccoon City," which is closer to the original work, was released, and in 2022, a Netflix drama was released. CGI animated films such as "Degeneration," "Damnation," "Vendetta," and "Death Island" have also been produced, and various derivative works such as novels, comics, and figures exist.
Latest Trends
In 2023, "Resident Evil 4 Remake" recorded a Metacritic score in the 90s and high sales, establishing the series' remake strategy as a success. In 2024, the Gold Edition and the DLC "Separate Ways" were distributed, and ports to Apple platforms such as iOS and macOS were also expanded. As of 2025, Capcom is known to be preparing the next numbered title and additional remakes (reportedly the fifth installment or Code Veronica), and a live-action film reboot and plans for a new drama are also under discussion. In addition, cloud gaming, expanded VR mode support, and graphics improvements based on the Unreal Engine have become major trends.
Related Topics
- [[Capcom]]
- [[Survival Horror]]
- [[Zombie Apocalypse]]
- [[PlayStation]]
- [[Biohazard Series]]
- [[Game Remake]]