The History of the Horror Game "Resident Evil" - Part 1

The Biohazard series, known globally as Resident Evil, is a horror game franchise that enjoys immense popularity worldwide, with new installments continuing to be released to this day.

Recently, remakes of previous titles have been released, with most of these works enjoying significant success.

Resident Evil (1996)

The original Resident Evil begins in 1998 as a series of mysterious murders occur near Raccoon City, prompting an investigation by the elite Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) team.

Alpha Team members, including Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, arrive at the terror-filled Spencer Mansion, only to find it overrun with zombies and mutated creatures caused by the T-Virus, a biological weapon developed by the malevolent Umbrella Corporation.

The protagonist, Chris Redfield, is an exceptional marksman and a loyal agent who acts based on bravery and a strong sense of justice.

The heroine, Jill Valentine, is famous for her quick thinking and resourcefulness, possessing the skills to solve puzzles and survive under intense pressure.

Resident Evil 1 introduced limited resources alongside fixed camera angles, creating a sense of visual vulnerability that heightened the horror.

Players had to carefully manage ammunition and healing items; with fixed save points, survival became paramount, and inventory constraints forced even stricter item management for the sake of staying alive.

In particular, elements such as puzzle-solving required players to be cautious and deliberate in their exploration and decision-making as they progressed through the game.

Resident Evil 2 (1998)

Released in 1998, Resident Evil 2 is set two months after the events of the first story in the series.

The game follows rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who is searching for her brother, Chris.

Upon arriving in Raccoon City, the two discover that the city is swarming with the undead due to another T-Virus outbreak.

The game can be played from the perspectives of both characters; Leon and Claire must complete their own unique missions while uncovering Umbrella's dark secrets related to the deadly T-Virus.

Leon is a determined and resourceful rookie officer, while Claire Redfield is driven and resilient, focused entirely on finding her brother.

Resident Evil 2 introduced the "Zapping System," where events in one character's storyline affect the other's, and the game features branching narratives and multiple endings.

The strengths of the horror genre were further emphasized through enhanced graphics and atmospheric design, while the game inherited the original's fixed camera angles and core systems.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Resident Evil 3 is set both before and after the events of the second game, following Jill Valentine as she attempts to escape from Raccoon City.

Jill Valentine is hunted by Nemesis, a powerful bio-weapon sent specifically to eliminate all remaining S.T.A.R.S. members.

The game allows for more thorough exploration of the city, showing the protagonist's struggle to survive against all odds.

By introducing the unpredictable Nemesis—who bursts out in front of players at unexpected moments to attack—the game maintains a constant level of tension throughout.

The introduction of a dodge system enabled faster, more action-oriented gameplay, and players could make choices that influenced the story, leading to variations in each playthrough route.

Resident Evil: Code: Veronica

Released in 2000, Resident Evil: Code: Veronica follows Claire Redfield to an Umbrella facility on Rockfort Island as she continues her search for her brother, Chris.

She and Chris eventually confront Alexia Ashford, the twisted descendant of one of Umbrella's founders, who is experimenting with a new virus.

The game's narrative delves deeper into the origins of the Umbrella Corporation, unraveling the complex and interconnected backgrounds of its founders.

Claire is the character standing against the powerful Ashford family, while Chris Redfield joins midway through the story to destroy Umbrella's latest creations and put an end to their operations.

Code: Veronica was developed with full 3D backgrounds instead of pre-rendered ones for the first time in the series, implementing dynamic camera angles within the fixed-camera framework to enhance immersion.

The game expanded inventory management and added a linear, story-driven progression that helped deepen the narrative.