Summary
Ever since Capcom gave life to its survival horror franchise,Resident Evilhas been one of the most influential and successful IPs on the market. Its commitment to horror and atmosphere is commendable, as its exploration of science gone wrong has become one of the industry’s most endearing sagas. And with any great horror franchise comes a key aspect of the genre, which is the ability to create an alluring and sinister atmosphere.
Resident Evilfeatures iconiclocations like the Spencer Mansionand Raccoon City Police Department. AsResident Eviloften drops the player into a single, evolving environment, it allows for these worlds to feel alive and elicit the type of fear that only Capcom can produce. These games have been ranked on their art direction, music, and world design, as the franchise has prided itself on crafting experiences that combine atmospheric environments and intricate worlds.
By the timeResident Evil: Revelations 2launched in 2015, it had been fifteen long years since Claire Redfield starred in a mainline title in the series. This episodic adventure is set on Sein Island, an isolated mass of land located in the Baltic Sea. Its sparse, lonely feeling is punctuated by its dark, narrow hallways nestled inside old Soviet military bases while venturing outside into its more open areas adds a sense of environmental evolution that is one of the franchise’s key ingredients.
Revelations 2’s atmosphere is oppressive and escalates naturally over time, as thestories of Claire Redfieldand Barry Burton intertwine organically. Both campaigns rely on the themes of parental responsibility, as navigating the dark hallways of Sein Island sees the vulnerable AI partners of Claire and Barry having to come into their own.
AfterResident Evil 6, Capcom gave their survival horror series a bit of a well-earned break, as the franchise had been veering into a heavy focus on action. It proved to be the right decision, asResident Evil 7: Biohazardtook the series back to its roots, abandoning the globe-trotting action ofRE5and6for an intimatefirst-person horror adventureset in a single, secluded location.
Set inside the walls of the Baker Farmhouse,Resident Evil 7is a tight, concise horror story that echoes the feelings of isolation and paranoia that the original game used so effectively. Ethan Winters' journey through the farmhouse is a bleak, truly frightening experience, one that relies on tension and quiet moments to enhance its more horrific moments. The creaking hallways of the Baker Farmhouse are lined with sinister intent, as creeping through trying to avoid Jack and his family leads to some of the franchise’s most harrowing moments.
As one of the last traditional games in the franchise tofeature fixed camera anglesand tank controls,Resident Evil Code: Veronicawas released during a fascinating time of change and evolution for the series.Resident Evil 4was four years away and the franchise was still steeped in its origins.Code: Veronica’sdark, complex tale of family and betrayal was one of the Dreamcast’s most exciting horror experiences.
The environments are expertly crafted, making great use of the powerful Dreamcast hardware. The details within the environments tell their own stories, while the notes and diaries left behind are quintessentialResident Evil, chronicling the twisted bond between siblings Alexia and Alfred Ashford. Their bizarre relationship mirrors that of Claire and Chris Redfield, as the tone and energy ofCode:Veronicaalmost resembles a Gothic horror novel.
After teaming up with Nintendo for an agreement that eventually led to the infamous Capcom Five, the two giants signed a deal to bringResident Evilto the GameCube. But having felt that the original game’s graphics didn’t hold up, series creator Shinji Mikami returned to the series to take the director’s chair, crafting a meticulously detailed, highly compelling remake that is still one of the GameCube’s most spectacular horror games.
The Spencer Mansion has never looked better, brought to life with stunning detail via the game’sincredible pre-rendered backgrounds. They are peppered with a thick, dark atmosphere, as wandering through the halls of the insidious mansion is still absolutely fantastic. The droning, pulsing musical score is the perfect accompaniment, as every element of the game’s sound design and art direction work together masterfully.
Originally conceived as a side story, the third and finalResident Evilgameof the PS1 generationwas eventually given the subtitleNemesisand promoted to mainline status. Focusing on Jill Valentine’s desperate escape from the crumbling Raccoon City,Resident Evil 3: Nemesisuses finely detailed pre-rendered backgrounds and has a sense of looming, unfettered dread that filters throughout the entire game.
Jill’s ongoing confrontation with an Umbrella-created killing machine named Nemesis, as this mammoth beast hunts the former S.T.A.R.S. member down with reckless abandon. His presence permeates the entire game, as walking through the streets of Raccoon City feels ominous at all times.Resident Evil 3does its best to create one of the most uneasy, intimidating atmospheres in gaming.
When it came time to finally remakeResident Evil 2for modern hardware, Capcom wasn’t interested in a simple touch-up. Rather, they used their new engine, which poweredResident Evil 7: Biohazardin its debut. With its stunning art direction, fantastic musical score, and commitment to what made the original game so special,Resident Evil 2was one of the most chilling and enthralling horror games of its generation.
Set in the confines of the Raccoon City Police Department and an explosive finale in the NEST lab,Resident Evil 2relies on a dark, moody atmosphere and some of the most amazing cutscenes seen during the seventh generation. The creaky hallways of the RCPD are thick with tension, asthe arrival of Mr. Xadds an extra layer of paranoia to the whole affair. Its claustrophobic level design and phenomenal pacing are outstanding, as this densely packed horror experience is still one of the franchise’s most immersive entries.
To move the franchise forward, expanding beyond what the series had done just one console generation ago, Capcom used the seemingly unlimited potential of new hardware to powerResident Evil 4. Shifting away from pre-rendered backgrounds and fixed camera angles,Resident Evil 4took the cameradirectly behind Leon Kennedyand equipped him with pinpoint accurate weapons, changing not just the dynamic of how the series plays, but how it can be experienced.
The shift in game design required new, faster enemies, while also taking the opportunity to relocate the action out of the suburbs, settling into an undisclosed location in Spain. The opening hours ofResident Evil 4are heavy with a seedy, unfriendly atmosphere, as Leon and Ashley make their way through the creepy villages and abandoned shacks. While Leon arrives in the day, the transition to night makes the whole game feel on edge, as the distant screams of Plagas-infected villagers are enough to make one’s skin crawl. This dynamic carries over into the second half, where the game combines this darkness with more of an action-adventure feel, as this expertly designed masterpiece continues to be one of the most influential games of all time.
