In just 10 days Resident Evil 4 will celebrate its 10 year anniversary, and three days later Resident Evil HD Remaster will hit PC, PS4, and Xbox One. To celebrate this big month for Resident Evil, we’re looking back at the series, specifically at what we believe to be the five games that stand out the most.
Since 1996 there have been a total of 24 Resident Evil releases totaling at 61 million units sold. It’s not only a successful franchise, but an iconic one that has made the jump to film, novel, and more. Its a franchise that has infected all forms of entertainment at some capacity, making it Capcom’s most prized property.
Also See: Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Releases New Enemy Screenshots
So, which Resident Evil games stand out the most? Check out the top five below, and let us know what your favorites are in the comments section.
18 Years of Horror: Top 5 Resident Evil Games of All-Time
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5. Resident Evil Code: Veronica
Release Date: February 3rd, 2000
Original Platform: Dreamcast
What Set it Apart: It was the first in the series to use 3D backgrounds instead of static backdrops. As a matter of fact, it was regarded as one of the most beautiful games ever at its release. This worked together extremely well with its intriguing story that featured Claire Redfield in a search for her brother Chris.
What Keeps it From the Top Spot: Little was done to evolve the aging controls of previous titles. It was notoriously difficult to play, especially at at time when third-person action games were beginning to release with cohesive camera and aiming controls.
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4. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Release Date: September 22nd, 1999
Original Platform: PlayStation
What Set it Apart: The game's main antagonist, the Nemesis, was one of the best in gaming at the time. He was intimidating, made regular appearances throughout the journey, and made the player, as well as Jill Valentine, feel vulnerable. The pacing was also great, with a great flow between action, horror, and exploration.
What Keeps it From the Top Spot: There wasn't much evolution from the two previous games. Although the player choices throughout the journey were welcomed, there wasn't much surprise. Capcom didn't take a whole lot of risk with this installment.
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3. Resident Evil
Release Date: March 22nd, 1996
Original Platform: PlayStation
What Set it Apart: This is the game that started it all. It's astonishing to think that it came out in 1996. At the time 3D character models were a brand new thing thanks to the power of the PlayStation. It was one of the first true survival horror games, and remained one of a kind for several years.
What Keeps it From the Top Spot: It wasn't a very polished game. The dialog was cheesy, the save system was annoying, and it had plenty of nuances that made it difficult to play. It's no wonder a Director's Cut would release a little over a year later.
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2. Resident Evil 2
Release Date: January 21, 1998
Original Platform: PlayStation
What Set it Apart: The success of the first Resident Evil gave Capcom the confidence to invest heavily into its second project. The result was the series' first polished game experience. Its story and environments were great, and so were its gameplay mechanics. It would receive a $5 million marketing campaign that would propel it into popularity, laying the groundwork for strong mind share with consumers.
What Keeps it From the Top Spot: The inventory system was a headache, and some of its puzzles damaged the otherwise great flow of the game experience.
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1. Resident Evil 4
Release Date: January 11th, 2005
Original Platform: GameCube
Why its the Best: Resident Evil 4 was an extremely well rounded product, from its presentation to its gameplay. Capcom took a chance by deviating from the formula and crafted something that had Resident Evil's heart, but took it to new heights. It was frantic thanks to the hordes of enemies that populated its open environments. It was a challenging game that required thought and attention, leading to many feeling compelled to beat it so they could say they braved its challenge. More than anything, it was exciting to play, making simple interactions such as picking up ammo while being chased by hungry zombies an adrenaline-pumping affair.
Resident Evil 4 isn't only regarded by many as the best game in the franchise, but one of the greatest games ever made. It would win the majority of 2004's Game of the Year awards, and for good reason. It's been 10 years and there still hasn't been a survival horror game that's competed with Resident Evil 4.
