RESIDENT EVIL

'''Resident Evil''' (known in Japan as ) is a media franchise consisting of a survival horror video games series, comic books, novelizations, two Hollywood motion pictures (with a third under production), and a variety of collectibles, including action figures, game guides and publications. Developed by Capcom and created by Shinji Mikami, the game series has been heavily influenced by George A. Romero's ''Dead'' movies, as well as the ''Alone in the Dark'' series of PC games.The games have sold over 30 million copies as of February 2006.^[1] As of 2007, there are six games in the main series (excluding remakes), with seventh and eighth installments currently under production.

Contents

History

Spin-offs

Games

Main series

Spin-offs

Future releases

''Resident Evil 5''

In other media

Films

Novels

Comics

Merchandise

Sourcebooks

Critical response

References

External links

History

The original ''Resident Evil'' made its debut in 1996 for the Sony PlayStation. It was both a critical and commercial success, leading to the production of two immediate sequels, ''Resident Evil 2'' in 1998 and ''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'' in 1999, both also for the PlayStation. A port of ''Resident Evil'' was released for the Sega Saturn and a port of ''Resident Evil 2'' was released for the Nintendo 64. In addition, ports of all three were released for Windows. The fourth game in the series, ''Resident Evil Code: Veronica'', was developed for the Sega Dreamcast and released in 2000 (followed by ports of ''2'' and ''3''). Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube versions were later produced in the form of an updated version entitled ''Code: Veronica X''.
Despite earlier announcements that the next game in the series would be released for the PlayStation 2 (which resulted in the creation of an unrelated game titled ''Devil May Cry'') series' creator and producer Shinji Mikami decided to make the series exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube. The next three games in the series: a remake of the original ''Resident Evil'', the prequel ''Resident Evil Zero'' (originally planned as a Nintendo 64 game) and ''Resident Evil 4'', were exclusive to the GameCube. In addition, the console received ports of the previous ''Resident Evil'' sequels as they originally appeared on the PlayStation and Dreamcast. The remake and ''Resident Evil Zero'' were both released in 2002. Despite this exclusivity agreement between Capcom and Nintendo, Capcom released several spinoffs for the PS2 that were not part of the main series. Eventually, Capcom released the GameCube version of ''Resident Evil 4'' in 2005. A PlayStation 2 version was later announced, which launched later the same year with additional supplemental features. A Windows port was released in May 2007, while a Wii version with the PS2 port's extra features and motion sensitive controls was released on June 19th, 2007.

Spin-offs

In addition to the main installments in the series, Capcom has also produced various ''Resident Evil'' spinoffs that serve as side stories to the main storyline.
There is a trilogy of GunCon-compatible light gun games known as the ''Gun Survivor'' series in Japan. The trilogy consists of ''Resident Evil Survivor'' (2000, PlayStation/PC), ''Resident Evil: Survivor 2 Code: Veronica'' (2001, Arcade/PlayStation 2) and ''Resident Evil: Dead Aim'' (2003, PlayStation 2). It is worth noting that ''Dead Aim'' is actually the fourth ''Gun Survivor'' game in Japan, with ''Gun Survivor 3'' being the ''Dino Crisis'' spinoff ''Dino Stalker''. In addition, the North American release of ''Resident Evil Survivor'' did not retain the light gun support of its overseas counterpart, while ''Survivor 2'' only saw release in Japan and the PAL region. To date, all of the ''Gun Survivor'' games have launched with poor to mediocre reviews^[2] that became increasingly better with each installment.
''Resident Evil Outbreak'' is an online game for the PlayStation 2 released in 2004 depicting a series of episodic storylines in Raccoon City set during the same time period as ''Resident Evil 2'' and ''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis''. It was followed by a single sequel, ''.
''Resident Evil Gaiden'' is an action-adventure game for the Game Boy Color featuring an RPG-style combat system. It was developed by now-defunct British-based M4 Limited. The game is a non-canonical side-story starring Leon S. Kennedy and Barry Burton, and notable for its cliffhanger ending that was left unexplored in later games. There have also been several downloadable mobile games based on the ''Resident Evil'' series in Japan. Some of these mobile games have been released in North America and Europe through Capcom Mobile.

Games

Main series

Name	Year of Release	Original Platforms	Ported/Remake Platforms
''Resident Evil''	1996	PlayStation	PC, Sega Saturn, GameCube, Nintendo DS
''Resident Evil 2''	1998	PlayStation	PC, Game.com, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, GameCube
''	1999	PlayStation	PC, Dreamcast, GameCube
''	2000	PlayStation	PC, PS
''	2000	Dreamcast	PlayStation 2, GameCube
''Resident Evil Zero''	2002	GameCube	None
''Resident Evil 4''	2005''	GameCube	PC, PlayStation 2, Wii
''	2007''	Wii	TBD

Spin-offs

Name	Year of Release	Original Platforms	Ported/Remake Platforms
''	2001	Arcade	PlayStation 2
''Resident Evil Gaiden''	2001	Game Boy Color	None
''	2003	PlayStation 2	None
''Resident Evil Outbreak''	2004	PlayStation 2	None
''Resident Evil Outbreak File #2''	2004	PlayStation 2	None
''Resident Evil Confidential Report''	2006	Mobile Phone	None

Future releases

''Resident Evil 5''

Main articles: Resident Evil 5

''Resident Evil 5'' is the new game to be released for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 starring Chris Redfield from previous Resident Evil games. In contrast to the previous exclusivity agreement between Capcom and Nintendo, executive producer Keiji Inafune commented that Capcom wants the series to grow into a multi-platform franchise, and expects a simultaneous release date for both versions of the game.^[3]

In other media

In addition to video games, the plot of ''Resident Evil'' has also been adapted into officially licensed materials such as films, comic books, and novels.

Films

There are currently two ''Resident Evil'' films, with the third (''Resident Evil: Extinction'') set to release in September 21, 2007. Like the first two installments, part three will be written by Paul W. S. Anderson. Though acclaimed horror film director George A. Romero was hired to write a script for the film, it was ultimately rejected in favor of one penned by Anderson.^[4] As Romero's script was a close, but not full, adaptation of the game, Capcom believed fans would feel that the movie had been altered too much from the game, and that newcomers would dislike the premise.^[5] Sony released a revised synopsis that referred to ''Extinction'' as "the third and final installment" of the ''Resident Evil'' film series.^[6] The movies were mostly panned by critics.^[7] and reaction from fans was mixed. Some praised the movie for bringing the series to a mainstream audience,^[8] while others criticized the fact that it was not a complete adaptation of the ''Resident Evil'' games. Many fans also noticed that the movies contain many plot elements that directly contradict those from the games, though the general consensus is that the games and the films take place in separate "universes".
Despite the criticism, the films have been financially successful enough to encourage the approval of a trilogy. Released films and films to be released are as follows:

★ ''Resident Evil'' (2002)

★ '' (2004)

★ '' (2007)

Novels

The earliest ''Resident Evil'' novel was a novella titled ''Biohazard: The Beginning'' by Hiroyuki Ariga. It was published in 1997 as a portion of the book ''The True Story of Biohazard '', which was given away as a pre-order bonus with the Saturn version of ''Biohazard'' and was not sold in stores. The story serves as a prelude to the events of the original ''Resident Evil'', in which Chris investigates the disappearance of a missing friend.
Author S.D. Perry has written novelizations of the first five games, as well as two original novels taking place between games. The Perry series is: ''The Umbrella Conspiracy'', a novelization of the first game; '', an original novel set after the first game; ''City of the Dead'', a novelization of ''Resident Evil 2''; '', another original novel set after ''Resident Evil 2''; ''Nemesis''; ''Code: Veronica''; and ''Zero Hour''. The novels often took liberties with the plot of the games, either by giving names to unnamed characters in the game or exploring events occurring outside and beyond the games . This often meant that the games would later contradict the novels by taking the story in a different direction . One notable addition from the novels is the character of Trent, who often served as a mysterious behind-the-scenes string-puller who aided the main characters. Perry's novels were translated and released in Japan with new cover arts by Wolfina[1].
There was also a trilogy of original ''Biohazard'' novels in Japan. was published in 1998 and was written by Kyu Asakura and the staff of Flagship. Two additional novels were published in 2002, ''To the Liberty'' by Suien Kimura and ''Rose Blank'' by Tadashi Aizawa. While no official English translation of these novels had been published yet, the last two books were translated into German and published in 2006.
Novelizations of the three films, titled ''Genesis'',''Apocalypse'', and ''Extinction'' were written by Keith R.A. DeCandido. Extinction being released in late July of 2007, several months before the films release. There was also a Japanese novelization of the first film, unrelated to DeCandido's version, written by Osamu Makino.

Comics

In 1998 Wildstorm began publication of a monthly comic book series based on the first two games titled ''Resident Evil: The Official Comic Magazine'', which lasted five issues. Each issue was a compilation of short stories that were both adaptations of events from the games (alluded and depicted), as well as related side-stories. Like the Perry novels, the comics also explored events occurring beyond ''Resident Evil 2'' (the latest game during the series' publication) and thus were contradicted by later games. Wildstorm also published a four-issue mini-series titled ''Resident Evil: Fire & Ice'', which depicted the ordeal of Charlie Team, a third S.T.A.R.S. team appearing only in the comic.
There has also been a few officially licensed (as well as unlicensed) ''Biohazard'' manhua series published in Hong Kong. One of these comics, an adaptation of ''Code: Veronica'' by Lee Chung Hing, was translated into English and published by Wildstorm.

Merchandise

Over the years, various toy companies have acquired the ''Resident Evil'' license and each producing their own unique line of ''Resident Evil'' action figures or models. These include, but not limited to, Toy Biz, Palisade Toys and Moby Dick (in Japan only). NECA currently holds the license. Originally the company was only producing figures based on ''Resident Evil 4'', but extended the line to include characters from previous installments. Tokyo Marui also produced replicas of the guns used in the ''Resident Evil'' series in the form of gas blow-back BB guns. Some models included the S.T.A.R.S. Beretta featured in ''Resident Evil 3'', and the Umbrella Desert Eagle in a limited edition that came with other memorabilia in a wooden case, along with the Gold Lugers from ''Code: VERONICA'' "Samurai Edge" from the Gamecube ''Resident Evil'' remake.

Sourcebooks

''Resident Evil Archives'' (''Biohazard Archives'') is a reference guide of the ''Resident Evil'' series written by staff members of Capcom. It was translated into English and published by BradyGuides. The guide describes and summarizes all of the key events that occur in ''Resident Evil 0'', ''Resident Evil'', ''Resident Evil 2'', ''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'', and ''Resident Evil Code: Veronica''. Along with the main plot analysis, it also contains character relationship charts, artwork, item descriptions and file transcripts for all five games. While one of the few video game-based reference guides that was translated into English, the translation was criticized by fans for inconsistencies with the original Japanese version , as well as inconsistencies in the official translations provided by the games themselves .

Critical response

Utilizing heavy horror elements, puzzle solving, and action, most of the games in the main ''Resident Evil'' series have been released to positive reviews. Many of the games, notably ''Resident Evil 4'', have been bestowed with multiple Game of the Year honors^[9] and frequently place on lists of the best games ever made.^[10] A common criticism of the series is its odd placement of puzzles. When speaking of ''Code: Veronica'', one critic wrote that the game is ''"still largely a puzzle-driven (as opposed to plot driven) experience."''^[11] Capcom has been commended, however, for making an attempt to phase out and better integrate the puzzles, with IGN writing that the puzzles of ''Resident Evil 4'' are ''"not so obscure that they can't be figured out, and indeed many of them are downright clever."''^[12]

★

★ ''Sweet Home'' - a game that ''Resident Evil'' borrowed many elements from. It was released only in Japan in 1989 for the Famicom (NES)

★ ''Devil May Cry'' - a game that was originally planned to be a Resident Evil game

★ List of video games featuring zombies

★ Genetic engineering in fiction

References

1. Gamesindustry. ''Financials''. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
2. IGN.com. ''''Resident Evil Survivor'' Review''. September 13, 2000. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
3. IGN.com. ''Capcom Aims for Simultaneous Online Evil''. December 7, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
4. TNMC Movie News. ''TNMC Movie News: Resident Evil''. May 27, 1999. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
5. TNMC Movie News. ''TNMC Movie News: Resident Evil''. November 29, 1999. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
6. http://movies.ign.com/articles/751/751224p1.html IGN: An End to ''Evil''?. December 16, 2006. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
7. Rottentomatoes.com. ''Reviews of Resident Evil''. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
8. IGN Flimforce. ''Videogame Movies: A Retrospective''. October 21, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
9. IGN. ''IGN Presents: The Best of 2005''. 2006. Retrieved January 28, 2006.
10. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''. ''Top 100 Video Games of All Time''. Issue 200, page 94. Retrieved January 28, 2006.
11. Gamecritics.com. ''Resident Evil Code: Veronica Review''. April 11, 2000. Retrieved January 28, 2006.
12. IGN.com. ''Review of Resident Evil 4''. January 7, 2005. Retrieved January 28, 2006.

External links

★ Official ''Resident Evil'' Website

★ Official ''Biohazard'' Website

★