Resident Evil Appreciation Topic

[GTMippey]

Hello, fellow Escapists!

With Resident Evil's 20th anniversary right around the corner, I just wanted to take some time to talk about the series, what I love about it and what it means to me as a gamer. I'm fresh off a playthrough of both RE1 Remake, 0 and Revelations 2 so it's pretty fresh in my mind.

I actually can't believe that the series is 20 years old, for starters. I remember as a 5 or 6 year old watching my Dad play the first game for a while, then finally getting to try it myself (win parenting.)
And it absolutely horrified me.
I was used to playing games like Super Mario Bros, Sonic and Crash Bandicoot. This was the first time a game had ever really SCARED me. There were some scary moments in other games I had played, sure. The sun in Mario 3, the water sections in Sonic. But this was the first time I'd ever really felt fear in a videogame. I was so terrified, even just the process of entering a new room would cause my heart to race. I still remember it all so vividly. Granted, I didn't get very far. I wouldn't expect anyone to at that age, but I still enjoyed myself, regardless of how scary it seemed. So any chance I could get, I'd watch my Dad play though it, whether it took weeks or months I don't remember. But I was hooked, even though the game was well above what I should have been exposed to.

And then came Resident Evil 2, aka my favorite game of all time.

I remember seeing pictures in old Playstation magazines. This game looked AMAZING. I was a little older and could comprehend things a little better, and I just remembered being so hyped to see this game in action. There was an image of the Super Tyrant on fire, the streets of Raccoon City looking desolate and in despair with bodies all over the place. My imagination ran wild.

Eventually, we got a demo disc which included Resident Evil 2. I think it also had Gex 3D and Rascal (Great disc.) But I finally got a chance to see a portion of the game. The opening cinematic wowed me. It looked incredible, and to my mind at the time, super realistic. (How far we've come.) Not only that, but it creeped me the hell out. Zombies in a quiet town, skulking around the alleys. That was terrifying to a child. And the game was only just starting. I got through the opening cinematic, and

Dad died in about 10 seconds. Zombies came from every direction and tore him apart before he could even get off the street.

Yeah, this game was awesome. Anyone remember the gun shop? The licker's first appearance? The windows in the green corridor? The licker in the interrogation room mirror? That game was full of genuinely frightening jump scares, especially to a younger mind. Imagination tends to fill in the gaps that the graphics can't do themselves. The lickers looked and moved like something from a nightmare. The pre-rendered backgrounds looked incredible (I still think they do.) The whole game was an experience for me, something I'll never forget, and something I'll always come back to. Even today, I could write pages on what I love about it. How the music and sound direction sets the atmosphere perfectly. The S.T.A.R.S office is a perfect example of this. The feeling of isolation and loneliness, seeing the picture of the group on the wall knowing full well that most of them are dead and the rest missing (remember, we didn't have all the pieces at this point,) you're left behind in an abandoned police station, stuck in a city full of zombies, and the ominous music in the background further emphasizing these emotions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-OgyFuG-oY

Or what about the stairwell between the first and second floor of the east wing? The sounds of zombies moaning in the distance, and beyond the fence, just darkness.

Or the vacant factory, a quiet and abandoned area beyond the main city. The wind in the air, the full moon and abandoned buildings in the background, the sense of pure loneliness that the soundtrack conveys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPglVVYl5Lc

And the save room music. It needs no explanation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53aDI5K49F4


I could go on forever, but my point is, I really, genuinely feel like this is a game with no wasted space. Where every area, every event, piece of music and pre-rendered background has a purpose and a place. It's one of the most tightly designed, beautiful and most haunting games I've ever played. It may be the nostalgia heavily talking, but even today I can fire it up and just get absolutely lost in this game. And that's not even talking about the gameplay, tank controls be damned, It still plays bloody well. 2 separate scenarios for each character, an A and B side. (My mind was absolutely blown when I started Claire B on the OTHER side of the car wreckage.) I always feel in control of my character. The camera angles lend a lot of tension, yet I still think they are fairly placed and you're never caught completely off guard. The guns have a good sense of weight and power behind them. Especially that upgraded shotgun. So satisfying.

I'll leave my thoughts on the Remake of 2 for another day, but I have a lot to say about my hopes for it and I pray to god that they don't mess it up, however, if they do, there's still the original, which I'll always love.

Anyway, moving off RE2 now and starting to wrap up, it's the game that got me into the series for good. I eventually got around to RE3 and CVX too and loved them both. When RE4 came out, even though it was different, I still loved it. I loved how it switched up and modernized Resident Evil, but still FELT like Resident Evil. I was eagerly following 5's development for a long time, and when it finally came out, my sister (who isn't even a gamer in the traditional sense, but enjoyed watching and occasionally playing the RE series) and I sunk over 100 hours into it, replaying over and over to get all of the weapons and secrets. Even RE6 I had a good time with, although I can see the criticisms, it still felt like it was it's own unique thing in the world of shooters. It may have been trying to mimic other games but it had it's own style, and while it couldn't really stick to one idea I did enjoy the variety it offered.

So all in all, having stuck with the series for 20 years and never missing an entry, Resident Evil is still one of my go-to franchises. I'll always find something to enjoy in any of the games (I even liked Survivor. Sue me.) I'm glad that the series has persevered for this long and although others won't agree with me, and I can see why, I, personally, am looking forward to what is hopefully another 20 years with the franchise that showed me the joys of shitting your pants while holding a controller.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I Appreciate RE1, RE2 and RE4, with a slice of Veronica. The series has tanked all but conclusively since RE5.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Outbreak is a forgotten classic, at least for like the first 2 or so missions. Did get sandpaper to balls annoying when you realised how absolutely poorly you've been playing. Like remember that crowbar you didn't grab in the bathroom you didn't go into during the first 2mins of the first mission? Yeah, you kinda' need that 4 missions later to open a chained door to escape the big bad chasing you.

So sorry.

But there was something maddeningly addictive about it!

And Resident Evil 4 I maintain has the best first level of any video game ever. Ever. Of all time!!

 

[Silvanus]

I love the first few (RE1, RE2, RE3: Nemesis & Code Veronica), particularly #3. Nemesis is the best thing they ever did, making me panic more than anything else in those games. The REmake is also solid.

RE4 was good, but not the best in the series as a lot of people tend to think. It represented not only a shift in gameplay but a noticeable shift in tone, too, from (semi?) serious horror to unabashed cheese at times. People seem to think that was always the tone, but I can't really understand that. It had its B-movie elements, but they weren't front-and-centre. It was still very serviceable horror. The first area of RE4, the village, is still incredibly good, though.

RE5 is mechanically decent, but gives up all pretence of horror. Haven't played 6 (or the Revelations games, or RE0).

 

[CritialGaming]

Dude what the fuck is with all these games turning 20? Stop it. I'm old, I get it. The goddamn universe doesn't have to keep reminding me. Goddamn it.

Resident Evil was a good game. RE2 was a great game. RE3 was a turd. RE4 was amazing! RE5 was shit. RE6 never happened.

I've never played the spin offs or side games like Revelations or Code Veronica. So I don't know anything about them other than they may have happened at some point.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I love the first few (RE1, RE2, RE3: Nemesis & Code Veronica), particularly #3. Nemesis is the best thing they ever did, making me panic more than anything else in those games. The REmake is also solid.

RE4 was good, but not the best in the series as a lot of people tend to think. It represented not only a shift in gameplay but a noticeable shift in tone, too, from (semi?) serious horror to unabashed cheese at times. People seem to think that was always the tone, but I can't really understand that. It had its B-movie elements, but they weren't front-and-centre. It was still very serviceable horror. The first area of RE4, the village, is still incredibly good, though.

RE5 is mechanically decent, but gives up all pretence of horror. Haven't played 6 (or the Revelations games, or RE0).

I have such fond memories of my sister wanting to play Resi 3 with me. She would have been 7 at the time. She was alright for most of the start, even past the cutscene in the police station. But then you get in the station and he jumps through that window. she climbed behind the sofa and hid for the rest of the afternoon.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Yeah Resident Evil is a

 

[Ambient_Malice]

Resident Evil 6 is the best entry in the series, obviously. Followed by RE2, I think. Survival horror may be as dead as point and click adventure games, but Resident Evil is still going strong.

 

[Casual Shinji]

The first time playing Resident Evil was when I rented RE1 for the Playstation... and I thought it looked like shit, which it did. However, included in that copy was a demo disc for Resident Evil 2, which looked a hundred times better and with which I promptly fell in love. Let's just say that when the game was finally released I would've married it if I could.

RE4 was good, but not the best in the series as a lot of people tend to think. It represented not only a shift in gameplay but a noticeable shift in tone, too, from (semi?) serious horror to unabashed cheese at times. People seem to think that was always the tone, but I can't really understand that. It had its B-movie elements, but they weren't front-and-centre. It was still very serviceable horror. The first area of RE4, the village, is still incredibly good, though.

RE4 was the shot in the arm this franchise needed though. RE0 showed how much Capcom was scraping the barrel with the classic gameplay ('Look, now it's in a train'). That along with the shitty Outbreak and lightgun games, the franchise was quickly becoming obsolete. That is until Resident Evil 4 brought some much needed innovation and got rid of (nearly) the entire Umbrella/Wesker plot that had severely worn out its welcome. You could argue it set a bad precedent for the games to come, but that's because Capcom was blind to what actually made the game good.

 

[JaKandDaxter]

I got into the series quite later on. I didn't play many games for the PSone. And the ones I had I didn't get far, since I didn't play our PSone enough to know how badly you needed to buy a memory card. And I wasn't aware of PSone classics outside of Crash and Spyro.

The first RE game I played was 5, and I didn't finished it. Eventually I got around to playing the original, and jumped on a PSN sale for 2, 3, 4, 5, Veronica, and brought the Gamecube version of Zero. I really enjoyed the first game, and procedded to play Zero. Then 2, 3, Veronica, 4, and then 5. RE3 was not a bad game and had its moments, even if the Tyrant was an annoying pest.

Veronica is my least favorite, and suffers from the worst shooting mechanics in the series. The "HD" update did nothing to better the poor lighting too. Story was still pretty good. RE4 is an absolute masterpiece. And one of the only games ever to successfully make a major change in its core mechanics and pull it off with great fan reception. RE5 wasn't bad and I need to play RE6 and the Revelations games someday. The story for the series overall is a darn good one too.

 

[Hawki]

I'll just rank all the RE games I've played:

13) Resident Evil Gaiden
12) Resident Evil: Outbreak File 2
11) Resident Evil: Survivour
10) Resident Evil: Dead Aim
9) Resident Evil (original) (the first RE game I owned)
8) Resident Evil: Outbreak
7) Resident Evil Zero
6) Resident Evil Code: Veronica
5) Resident Evil 5 (the last RE game I played)
4) Resident Evil 2
3) Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (the first RE game I played)
2) Resident Evil (remake)
1) Resident Evil 4 (the game that takes #5 on my top 10 games list)

 

[Silvanus]

RE4 was the shot in the arm this franchise needed though. RE0 showed how much Capcom was scraping the barrel with the classic gameplay ('Look, now it's in a train'). That along with the shitty Outbreak and lightgun games, the franchise was quickly becoming obsolete. That is until Resident Evil 4 brought some much needed innovation and got rid of (nearly) the entire Umbrella/Wesker plot that had severely worn out its welcome. You could argue it set a bad precedent for the games to come, but that's because Capcom was blind to what actually made the game good.

I'd highly dispute that Them's fighting words. The "corporate corruption/ espionage" aspect of Umbrella was almost a defining feature of the series, and still had mileage; killing it off (in an opening cutscene, no less) gave a long-running theme and arc a very poor sense of closure. As for Wesker, he'd certainly overstayed his usefulness, but then they actually kept him around and gave him a far larger (and rather ridiculous) role in RE5. Even RE4 is linked to Wesker silliness through the presence of Ada, but only momentarily.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'd highly dispute that. The "corporate corruption/ espionage" aspect of Umbrella was almost a defining feature of the series, and still had mileage; killing it off (in an opening cutscene, no less) gave a long-running theme and arc a very poor sense of closure. As for Wesker, he'd certainly overstayed his usefulness, but then they actually kept him around and gave him a far larger (and rather ridiculous) role in RE5.

Umbrella worked as an evil faceless corperation, similar to, like, Skynet in Terminator. As the games went on though they started to delve deeper and deeper into it, and it just became convoluted. As soon as the Ashfords got introduced Umbrella lost its shady image, and it just got worse from there.

B-movie quality aside, Resident Evil 2 worked so well because the Umbrella corperation was just used as window dressing. The main "plot" was these random characters trying to make it out of a monster infested town.

 

[Evonisia]

I adore "Resident Evil 4", both as a game itself and for what it triggered. I love pretty much everything about it beyond the out of place QTEs. But I'm also massively appreciative of it for helping console third person shooters. I can't imagine some of my gaming loves like "Gears of War" would exist without it.

I love the cheesiness aspect of the previous games, the first game in particular seems to be aware that it's a bit ridiculous and has fun with it. I'd rather not acknowledge what happened in the 7th Gen. Call me when "Resident Evil" can make a comeback like "Silent Hill" (briefly) managed.

 

[Silvanus]

Umbrella worked as an evil faceless corperation, similar to, like, Skynet in Terminator. As the games went on though they started to delve deeper and deeper into it, and it just became convoluted. As soon as the Ashfords got introduced Umbrella lost its shady image, and it just got worse from there.

B-movie quality aside, Resident Evil 2 worked so well because the Umbrella corperation was just used as window dressing. The main "plot" was these random characters trying to make it out of a monster infested town.

I wouldn't say that-- they spend a good portion of that game running around the laboratories, and Birkin is integral to the plot. Umbrella had lost some of its mystery, but giving it a face (or, rather, numerous faces) just made me want a satisfying take-down, rather than a tertiary nod in an opening cinematic.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Resident Evil 6 is the best entry in the series, obviously.

Obviously, that's why it's the lowest-scoring main Resident Evil game on Metacritic, averaging a user score of 5/10.

 

[Ambient_Malice]

Resident Evil 6 is the best entry in the series, obviously.

Obviously, that's why it's the lowest-scoring main Resident Evil game on Metacritic, averaging a user score of 5/10.

Fanboys gotta fanboy. Resident Evil has a portion of its fanbase that can't deal with the fact the series has changed genre, and hate the games that don't fit their preconceptions of what a Resident Evil game should be. "This game is shit because it's not survival horror" is a common, irrelevant complaint.

RE4 was good, but not the best in the series as a lot of people tend to think. It represented not only a shift in gameplay but a noticeable shift in tone, too, from (semi?) serious horror to unabashed cheese at times.

RE4's tone was the product of sloppy English translation. RE4 Leon in particular has pretty much been scrubbed from the series. RE: Degeneration, RE: Damnation, and RE6 Leon are the "canon" versions of the character, and they reflect the character as he was written in Japanese, with a handful of concessions in the form of occasionally deliberately goofy lines injected by translators.

Resident Evil is supposed to be a serious series. It's not supposed to be B-horror. It's not supposed to be cheesy. It's not supposed to be charming. And it's not supposed to be about zombies. Zombies were just a stepping stone to the eventual goal of proper, marketable bioweaponry and also superhumans.

 

[Mcgeezaks]

Unpopular opinion puffin: RE4 was pretty dull and I enjoyed RE5 way more.

But yeah, RE4 was just a bad influence for future Resident Evil games. I remember when I was still in elementary school I used to go home to a friend, fire up his PS1 and we played RE2 which was super scary at the time. Especially when you had to open those doors ever so slowly that were just pitch black until you went in.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I've never been a huge Resident Evil fan. The first game I played was RE4, and then only because X-Play gave it a 5 out of 5. This was back when that meant something, by the way. I had fun, and it was easy to get into it because the story was separate from the first three games. Yeah, it was connected, but I didn't need to play them to understand everything.

I played 5 and 6 and I had fun with them both, though I fully understand why fans decry those games. For me though, they were enjoyable because I played them with friends the whole way through. I also played Operation: Racoon City, and I enjoyed it enough, but it was a bit of a letdown--mainly because I could never find ANYONE to play with. None of my friends got it, and whenever I hosted, no one would join me. I had to search for other games to join, and while I always found one, it was usually with only one other player. Rarely did I get a full lobby--and this was as soon as the game launched. To this day, I'm convinced that something was up with the servers, because the game shouldn't have been that dead right out of the gate.

So anyway, I enjoy RE enough I suppose. When a new one is announced, I turn my head, but I don't claw at the walls like a zombie trying to get it.