Resident Evil, 30 years later

I can’t remember whether I’ve played the OG Resident Evil aka Biohazard in Japan. I do remember my friend, in the schoolyard that spring, extolling it as the best game for any system. Skip ahead to now, and I’ve only now returned to normalcy after my three-week obsession with Resident Evil 9. The series has had its ups and downs, but it’s always been a staple in the video game industry.

I’ve put them into tiers in ascending order. For tiers with more than one game, I’ve ranked them.

F-Tier

Nothing here. I haven’t played the often-maligned Operation Raccoon City or Umbrella Corps, though.

D-Tier

Nothing here either, for now.

C-Tier

I’ve played these iterations, but I haven’t finished them all. I have no desire to play them again, but if forced to do so, I’ve ranked them based on my preference.

6. Resident Evil (1996)

The original RE started, or at least popularized, a lot. Its depiction of zombies became the blueprint for pop culture for the next 20 years. It also coined and spawned the entire survival-horror genre. The fixed camera and tank controls were always going to age bad, though. The script dialogue and scene direction would’ve been laughable even then. Nonetheless, this game came into being at the right time.

I can’t remember ever playing this version for more than an hour, let alone finishing it. I would only do it for financial incentive, to be honest. I’m glad that playthroughs are viewable on YouTube, though. It is a monumental game.

5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)

I might’ve rented RE3: Nemesis for the original PlayStation, but I definitely played it for the PC. It was likely the official demo, but it might’ve been a pirated copy. In either case, I didn’t make a lot of progress in the game. It proved to be the least successful of the original trilogy, but it had some innovations. Its stalker concept and Mercenaries mini-game became series mainstays. The choice system was never used again, but the character epilogues were gold.

This RE3 marks the start of my infatuation with Jill Valentine. I’m reluctant to finally complete it though, despite its availability on the PS5. I can’t compel myself to go back to this era of gaming.

4. Resident Evil 6 (2012/2016)

I bought RE6 for the PS3 on Day One and got the Platinum Trophy. I bought the remaster for the PS4 during the COVID pandemic and got its Platinum Trophy. I had a bit more fun with my second playthrough, only because I better understood the game’s systems. At the time of its original release, this game was clear evidence of the series being at a crossroads. It was a game that only hardcore fans enjoyed, but not all hardcore fans enjoyed it.

The re-used scenarios, drawn-out battles, and unfair deaths are major pain-points. The options for combat and evasion are robust and still unmatched, though. They’re not explained within the game, and this lousy onboarding indicates minimal play-testing. An RE6 remake would need to be a complete re-imagining, but the level of improvement could be dramatic.

3. Resident Evil Village (2021)

I bought this game for the PS4 on Christmas in the year of its release. I was hoping to play it along with a cousin like we’d done with the RE2 remake, two years earlier. They weren’t as interested in RE8, though. It being in first-person might’ve been one reason. I enjoyed my first playthrough, and I played it well into the new year. I hit a wall with the end-game on Village of Shadows difficulty. So, I didn’t get the Platinum Trophy until two years later.

In hindsight, this game has been a moderate success. It’s an actual successor to RE7 and a spiritual successor to RE4. People regard the former, which I haven’t played, as the savior of the series and the latter as the pinnacle. This one doesn’t have the replay value or memorable characters—aside from Lady D&mdsh;of RE4. Its story beats are silly, even for an RE game, and its lead character is lame.

2. Resident Evil: Code Veronica (2000)

I rented a Sega Dreamcast and a copy of CV from Blockbuster when the game was still a console-exclusive. It was enthralling, partly because of its setting and partly because of its graphics. It was the first in the series to have real-time, 3D rendering for environments as well as objects. I beat the first half featuring Claire using a GamePro guide. I soft-locked myself, though, by not saving weapons for the second half featuring Chris.

I haven’t considered playing the original or its port since that rental over 25 years ago. My closest experience is a recent viewing of a YouTube playthrough. There seem to be a lot of soft-locking and back-tracking scenarios, even for an RE game. Modern design and player research can relieve those things if CV is the next remake. Its story is memorable, so it has great potential that the remake treatment could realize.

1. Resident Evil 5 (2009/2016)

I bought a used copy of RE5 for the PS3, and I played through the campaign with a family friend while I stayed with them. I went grinding by myself afterward and got the Platinum Trophy several months later. That was 15 years ago. I bought the remaster for the PS4 a few years ago, and I got the Platinum Trophy for it after a lot of grinding. It seemed more tedious for the second time, likely because I played solo and I avoided glitches.

This game will always have bittersweet associations in my mind. It’s the last game that I’ve ever played with that friend, who has since passed away. I realize now that my second Platinum precedes their death by, almost exactly, six months. If RE5 does get a remake, it needs expanded inventories and improved partner-AI. I would control Sheva for my first playthough of it, like my first playthrough of the original.

B-Tier

I’ve completed these games and enjoyed doing so, at least for my first playthrough. I’ve gotten my money’s worth with them, but I’d rather replay better iterations.

2. Resident Evil 0 (2002/2015)

I rented a GameCube and a copy of RE0 from Blockbuster during the Christmas break in the year of its release. I managed to finish the story within that rental period. I somehow avoided getting stuck or, worse, soft-locked. I likely consulted GameFAQs at some point, though. I got the remaster for the PS3 a little over 13 years later. I didn’t finish it again until I got the free PS4 upgrade 8 and half years later. I finally got the Platinum Trophy last year.

The lack of item boxes and the semi-controllable partner are still unique. The former is the most common criticism of this game, though. Excluding item boxes would be reasonable for higher difficulty levels of a remake. I do hope that RE0 is among the next iterations to get the remake treatment. There needs to be better cues to prepare first-time players for dicey situations. In any case, the main characters are memorable and the stylized visuals are great.

1. Resident Evil 2 (1998)

I didn’t play RE2 until a few years after its release. I traded my N64 and all my games for a PlayStation to play Metal Gear Solid. The next game on my must-buy list was RE2. I overheard classmates at the time talking about whether first playing as ‘the guy’ or ‘the girl’ was easier. I definitely played the tandem scenarios. I played Claire A and Leon B because the latter’s ending seared into my memory. I likely played it the other way around, too.

RE2 is the quintessential blockbuster sequel. It’s better than its predecessor, itself a landmark game, in every imaginable way. It helps solidify 1998 as, in my view, the greatest year of gaming. The so-called zapping system isn’t that amazing, in hindsight. Its opening area, the RPD station, and its two leads are iconic for good reason, though. It’s the oldest iteration that I wouldn’t mind playing again.

A-Tier

4. Resident Evil (2002/2015)

Like RE0 and RE8 after it, I played the RE remake over the Christmas holiday of its release year. I rented a GameCube and a copy of the game from Blockbuster. I played as Jill without knowing that her campaign, by design, was easier than Chris’s. Unlike RE0, I didn’t finish it during my rental period. I finally finished it when I got the HD remasters for the PS3 a decade ago. I got the Platinum Trophy for the upgraded PS4 version, about five years afterward.

The visuals are timeless because of their art direction and technical quality. It’s a remake done well. It follows the original game, but it adds noteworthy gameplay and story elements. Defensive items and Crimson Heads are still present, in modified form, almost 25 years later in RE9. Lisa Trevor, introduced in the remake, is the template for The Girl. The first hour is a major slog for new players, but another RE remake could make it a lot more accessible.

3. Resident Evil 3 (2020)

I didn’t play the RE3 remake until a year after its release, which happened near the onset of the pandemic. I would’ve been waiting for a sale, based on the consensus that it was too short. I’ve still never finished the original, so I wasn’t disappointed by my experience. The only thing that I didn’t like was the final battle against Nemesis on Inferno difficulty. Otherwise, I got the Platinum Trophy for the PS4 in a few weeks without any issues.

I like Jill’s depiction in this game: she’s hot as hell. Her portrayal is something else, though. She’s too pissy for my liking; in my mind, she would be more level-headed. Her scorn for Umbrella is understandable, but it should be more understated. Her interactions with Carlos are great, though, because he’s a likeable dude. The gameplay is the same as the RE2 remake, but like everyone else, I wish there’d been more of this game.

2. Resident Evil Requiem (2026)

I got the digital RE9 Deluxe Edition to play it on Day One, and I wasn’t disappointed. My first playthrough was about 21 hours, and it enthralled me for the entire time. I struggled at first because I didn’t play Grace’s first chapter in the care center like a stealth game. The game’s designers placed enough ammo to keep me going, though. Despite that barrier, I played non-stop for a few weeks and got the Platinum Trophy with no real setbacks.

Leon has always been a fan favorite, but Grace is a worthy addition to the cast of playable characters. I appreciate RE7 and RE8, but these two characters and camera options should be the blueprint. The only gameplay oversight is the lack of a dodge button, at least for Leon. I agree with the consensus that the game’s first half is stronger. Otherwise, RE9 is a worthwhile blend of great RE games, other notable games, and 90s crime movies.

1. Resident Evil 4 (2005)

The first version of RE4 that I played was the PS2 port. I bought it, along with Halo 2, as a Christmas gift for myself in the year of its release. I would’ve finished it that holiday season. I later did playthroughs of the Professional difficulty and the exclusive Ada content. I unlocked and upgraded all the special weapons and collected all the bottle caps, too. I’ve finished the PS4 remaster a few years ago, and I’ve even tried the Quest 2 port.

I’ve finished the RE4 campaign several times. It’s hard to overstate the impact and influence of this game. Its behind-the-character camera and contextual inputs are its main innovations. The game’s adaptive difficulty and player choice make it enjoyable, 20+ years later. Leon’s herculean journey through a series of absurd monsters make it the gaming equal of a Greek epic. I would rate it higher if not for the stiff movement controls.

S-Tier

2. Resident Evil 4 (2023)

I bought the RE4 remake a couple of months after its release. All through my first playthrough, I dreaded not having enough resources. I did another playthrough right afterward, though. I got the Platinum Trophy within a couple of months. I did buy DLC to make that process more convenient. Of course, I bought the robust Separate Ways remake a few months later and got its Platinum Trophy, too.

It’s clear that the design philosophy had been to give more chances and more choices to the player. The new mechanics revolving around Leon’s knife add a new dimension to the gameplay. Being able to craft ammo and do Merchant quests is more evidence of this philosophy. The plot is more sensible and the world is more believable. The experience is different enough to be a fresh experience compared to the original RE4.

1. Resident Evil 2 (2019)

I got the RE2 remake for the PS4 on Christmas Day in the year of its release. I played it as my cousin watched; he watched me play the remake of the first RE, 17 years earlier. This time, he was old enough to play and buy a copy for himself afterward. I finished Leon’s story first and Claire’s story second. I was super cautious on my first Hardcore playthrough, but I got the Platinum Trophy in a few months.

I’m glad that the RE2 remake has introduced, and still introduces, gamers to the series. The RE Engine, first introduced in RE7, still looks good. Besides the modern controls and camera, I appreciate the ease-of-use features. They include the Assisted difficulty level, unlimited save instances, and updating in-game map. I’ve gotten S-rank in all scenarios except for Leon B, and I’m tempted to complete that table.

Closing

I can’t imagine the RE series becoming irrelevant, although it’s come close to it. I’m grateful for its continued success, because it’s my favorite series after Metal Gear. Another 30 years of great RE should be more than enough for me.