resident evil has always been one of the most bipolar and schizophrenic sagas in the history of video games. In fact, over the years we have alternated with great masterpieces some very questionable, if not downright bad, chapters. In this perennial dichotomy, In recent years, Capcom has decided to revive its historical saga, once again giving prestige to this historic brand among new noteworthy titles and remakes of unforgettable episodes. As you surely know, the remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis will also be released soon, and on the occasion of this event we have decided to create a retrospective for you where we will analyze what are, in our opinion, the five worst and the five best titles in the series.
The five worst titles in the Resident Evil saga
5) Resident Evil Gaiden (2002)
As far as the Game Boy Color can count on a respectable stock of titles, unfortunately Resident Evil Gaiden it remains a big wasted opportunity. Nintendo I wanted to bring to his laptop the various successful brands born on home consoles, and after the excellent results obtained with tomb raider e Alone in the Dark an attempt was also made to convert Capcom's horror saga into portable sauce. The result, unfortunately, is definitely forgettable, resulting in a sketchy platformer that all seemed but a horror video game. The settings were bare and all identical to each other while the shooting phases were managed by an embarrassing minigame. If you have never heard of this production there must be a reason, right?
4) Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (2012)
The idea of being able to play (for once) the role of the bad guys, or the soldiers of the Umbrella, it was certainly tempting. In addition to that, the concept of setting the events of this game parallel to those of Resident Evil 2 it seemed basically winning. Too bad that, although it was a spin-off, apart from some references, with the Resident Evil saga it had very little to do. Horror component totally absent, survivor factor we are not even talking about it; and we are not even discussing how the Nemesis was rendered, or the narrative inconsistencies with the second official chapter of the saga. Very bad.
3) Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (2011)
How much to play the fast mode Mercenaries on 3DS may be fun, the real problem is that the game is all there. Those who already own one of the last chapters of the Resident Evil saga can easily do without this bizarre experiment, this extra mode already made available in other chapters of the franchise. The one of Revelations 2, for example, it's really complete and fun. The problem behind The Mercenaries it is precisely its lack of content, and after a couple of games you will have already switched to something else. Also for 3DS it is much more memorable Resident Evil: Revelations.
2) Resident Evil 6 (2012)
Today the saga of resident evil is experiencing a second youth, among the surprising Resident Evil VII, the incredible remake of the second chapter and the remake of the third that will see the light this year. But there was a time when there seemed to be no hope for the famous horror saga created by Capcom. This sixth chapter specifically seemed more of a bad one Gears-Like than a canonical chapter of the series. Even the two Revelations they had managed to do better, in terms of gameplay and atmosphere. Overly action, with exaggerated characters (Chris Redfield reaches embarrassing levels of trash) and emptied of their historic charisma. Zombies, among other things, also return fire from behind covers. In short, a disaster, and it is not even the only (or the last) of the bipolar Capcom saga.
1) Umbrella Corps (2016)
As mentioned above for Resident Evil 6, there was a really dark period for the saga of Capcom, and in this scenario a title like Umbrella Corps it certainly hasn't helped the franchise to recover, quite the opposite. You know the problem behind Metal Gear Surive, or the heavy inheritance he carried on his shoulders? Well, here everything is amplified to the nth degree, because if at least the title of Konami he had some interesting ideas and a not bad play structure, Umbrella Corps is just ugly. It has nothing to do with the rest of the saga, it is based on a bare and boring multiplayer and lacks a single campaign (apart from the terrible missions that serve as tutorials). The technical sector then seems to have come out of the previous generation. Hopefully Capcom do not fall back on it, even if doing worse than that is really difficult.
Dishonorable Mention: Resident Evil Survivor (series)
Three titles belonging to the series were released between 2000 and 2003 Survivor, or the namesake Survivor, a second chapter focused on the events of Code Veronica, Dead Aim. This arcade version of the series was produced for the sole purpose of competing with the much more famous The house of the dead di Sega. We are not talking about official titles, and for this reason they are not among the five worst, but they are still too forgettable (and forgotten) experiments.
The five best titles in the Resident Evil saga
5) Resident Evil VII (2017)
If the sixth chapter threatened to destroy the saga irremediably, its "sequel" has succeeded in making it reborn. Although apparently it may seem like a chapter in the series that is far too innovative compared to its predecessors (first person view, no zombies, new protagonists) it's actually an unexpected return to the origins of the franchise. The house, the true protagonist of the title, perfectly embodies the spirit of the series, amidst ingenious puzzles and distressing situations, characteristics that Capcom now seemed to have forgotten and that are back here stronger than before. Sure, it's not a perfect title, but the merits far outweigh the faults. And some twists are very classy!
4) Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Resident Evil 7 is remembered for having revived the saga, while the fourth chapter has instead marked the rift that would have made it veer towards the now well-known action component that was able to infuriate many users. We couldn't have known at the time, but Resident Evil 4 it would have been the precursor to everything that was wrong with the evolution (or involution) of the series. Objectively speaking, however, Resident Evil 4 is a great title that marked the definitive passage towards the view behind the protagonist, putting aside the now obsolete fixed cameras. Resident Evil 4 perfectly embodied the balance between action and horror, with faster zombies and larger but still terrifying scenarios. If he had continued on this path, the saga would not have lived through those terrible dark years.
3) Resident Evil: Code Veronica (2000)
Originally born on the ill-fated console SEGA, Or the Dreamcast, Resident Evil: Code Veronica is the only title in the series resident evil to have been developed externally by Nextech Corporation, although Capcom oversaw the entire project. We are talking about a small masterpiece that many undeservedly neglect, with a style that embodies the first chapters of the series but with a technical sector and avant-garde gameplay for the time. The graphics were in fact for the first time totally in 3D, with backgrounds no longer pre-rendered, and the camera offered dynamic shots and no longer static as they used to be. In addition, the puzzles had returned to the glories of the first two chapters, putting aside the more "simpleton" ones of Resident Evil 3. An underestimated episode that many should (re) discover.
2) Resident Evil (1996)
You certainly cannot put aside the progenitor, the title from which it all began. Even today, after 24 years, the atmosphere of the former resident evil remains unique and unrepeatable, despite the technical limitations of the time. The atmosphere of tension is perfect, and the limited ammunition combined with a tight inventory only made the experience even more distressing. The real protagonist of the work, however, was the Villa Spencer, or the building owned by Umbrella Corporation, which still echoes in every gamer's nightmares today. If you have never played it, you must fix it now!
1) Resident Evil 2 (and Resident Evil 2 Remake) (1998 and 2019)
The production of this title was somewhat troubled and saw the passage from Mikami at the then very young age Hideki Kamiya. The various problems of a productive nature seemed a bad omen, but in reality the final result was one of the best video games ever made in history, as well as the best survival horror of its generation. A videogame event so unique and unrepeatable that nothing less than George Romero, director of Night of the Living Dead. His remake of 2019 deserves to be on an equal footing with his "dad" for having succeeded in the not simple feat of bringing those same mechanics and atmospheres back to life, however, declining everything with a modern and fresh gameplay. Resident Evil 2 Remake he managed to bring the original back to life by renewing it but without betraying it, and this without limiting himself to a new graphic design like other remakes of the same generation. Resident Evil 2 and its remake are the best any fan of the series could wish for, no self and no but.
Honorable mention: Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
Originally conceived as a spin-off of the series, codenamed Biohazard 1.9, Capcom eventually decided to make it a full-fledged main chapter. It is not out of the Top 5 because it is an insufficient title, far from it, but of the original trilogy it is perhaps the least memorable one. The puzzles become all too simple, the cramped spaces are put aside and it veers decidedly towards a shooter component. If it weren't for the presence of the Nemesis, Resident Evil 3 would be nothing but a more of the same of the previous episode, which is the main flaw of many "chapters 3" of the era PlayStation. However, there is no lack of news, such as the presence of eight endings, the ability to dodge enemy shots, 180-degree rotations and projectile crafting. What is certain is that we can't wait to get our hands on its remake!
