Resident Evil: The Most Iconic Horror Series of All Time
Resident Evil is easily the most famous Horror IP in gaming. When you think of iconic horror games, Resident Evil is probably the first thing that comes to mind. It’s also easily one of the best game series overall, and it’s managed to achieve that status over several decades.
Resident Evil basically invented the survival-horror genre, although predecessors like Alone in the Dark existed. But when the first Resident Evil game came out, it blew players’ minds. The PlayStation, with its CD-ROMs, was just hitting its stride, and the advancing gaming technology allowed for multiple camera angles and more “realistic” models. The jump from 2D to Resident Evil on the PlayStation was mind-blowing, and it set a bar for what gamers could expect from horror games going forward.
But Resident Evil’s massive success is owed to more than just being an incredibly well-made game. Resident Evil is successful because it combines action and horror, making it enjoyable for both action and horror game fans. Resident Evil also has a very dedicated fan base, which also helps – horror fans love horror stuff. So here are some reasons why Resident Evil is one of the most iconic series of all time.
Resident Evil is successful because of these reasons:
Resident Evil controls were slow and clunky
Yes, the controls in the earlier Resident Evil games were slow and clunky. Capcom has admitted as much. The tank controls were a common complaint, and they were definitely frustrating. But if you are a fan of action games, you know that it’s often worth sticking it out – once you get used to the controls, you can feel the payoff. And in the case of Resident Evil, that payoff was huge.
Imagine if the controls in the first Devil May Cry game were clunky and slow. How many fans would that have turned away? Not too many, I would imagine. But Resident Evil on the N64 was a marvel and a great achievement for gaming, so it’s easy to overlook the controls.
Resident Evil 2 on the N64 was a huge leap over its predecessor, especially in terms of graphics. Resident Evil 2 on the N64 was a great game, and it proved that Nintendo was capable of handling more mature games. It’s easy to look back at the original Resident Evil games and think they weren’t that great. But Resident Evil 2 on the N64 was a marvel and a great achievement for gaming.
Resident Evil was always an action game
While the earliest Resident Evil games leaned more towards horror, the action elements were always there. The Tank controls in the original Resident Evil might have been frustrating, but you could run and gun, and the zombies were more like Resident Evil 4 undead – they could take a lot of damage before dying.
Resident Evil 2 on the PlayStation, on the other hand, is one of the first truly great action games on the system. Resident Evil 2 on the PlayStation is a marvel, but it’s also one of the best action games on the console. Resident Evil 2’s gameplay is still a lot of fun, and it set the standard for third-person action games. Resident Evil 4 took the series in an entirely different direction – instead of survival horror, it became horror-comedy action, and it revitalized the series.
Capcom is good at business
Capcom is an experienced game developer. Even though the company is Japanese, it’s had a lot of success with Western games. Resident Evil is a huge cash cow for Capcom, and the games sell incredibly well. So even though Resident Evil as a series has had some missteps, the games are of high quality and sell well. Resident Evil is easily Capcom’s most famous brand, and it’s an IP that the developer can leverage to bring in business.
Resident Evil sells well because the games are good
Resident Evil sells well because they are good games. The series has had its ups and downs, but since the Resident Evil 2 remake, the games have been excellent. Resident Evil is easily more famous than franchises like Dead Space, which are also excellent horror games. Resident Evil is both a pioneer and an icon in the industry, and Capcom knows what it’s doing with the series.
Capcom has had its share of missteps – the later Fatal Frame games were not as good as the original, and Dino Crisis 2 was a bit of a misfire. But since the Resident Evil 2 remake, the series has been excellent. Resident Evil 4 set the standard for third-person action games and revitalized the series. Resident Evil 7 was one of the best horror games of the 2010s and one of the best virtual reality games. And Resident Evil 2 – one of the best Resident Evil games – was also a major influence on BioShock.
