Resident Evil features some of horror gaming's most iconic writing, with sweeping arcs of villains threatening the world with bioterrorism, cheesy one-liners courtesy of series protagonists such as Leon Kennedy, and villain monologue's that certainly raise a few eyebrows or draw some laughs. This is particularly true in earlier entries, which can often sound like a B-horror cheese-fest.
Fans of Resident Evil can certainly quote a few lines from memory thanks to how iconic and quotable the series is, though there are lines that definitely stand out among the rest, as these examples surely demonstrate.
12 "STARS!" – Resident Evil 3
Resident Evil 3 proves even just one simple word can chill the blood and get the heart beating just a bit faster. Nemesis is the main antagonist of the installment, patrolling Raccoon City and encountering the player on multiple occasions. Mostly mute, he utters only one word: STARS.
STARS refers to the unit in the Raccoon City Police Department: Special Tactics and Rescue Service, and his constant uttering of the word in his signature gravelly voice stems from his desire to eradicate every one of its members, starting with Jill Valentine, who is unfortunate enough to find herself in his crosshairs.
11 "This Thing Is A Lot More Reliable Than Any Person" – Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
Although Steve Burnside never made it past Code Veronica X, this quote of his did, with Claire repeating it to Moira in Revelations 2 as a subtle nod to her brief partner, Steve Burnside.
This quote also reveals some things about his character, namely that he has a jaded outlook on people in general, and struggles to allow himself to rely on them. As the game continues, more about Steve is revealed, and players can understand why he relies on guns more than people.
10 "They Risked Their Lives For Me Back In Raccoon City..." – Resident Evil 6
Love or hate it, none can deny that Resident Evil 6 did bring some genuinely touching and deep dialogue, with series ensemble protagonists sharing thoughts, fears, and dreams with their counterparts.
This particular quote is spoken by Sherry Birkin, now all grown up following her escape from Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2 thanks to Leon and Claire.
The full quote, "they risked their lives for me back in Raccoon City. Guess I'm still just, trying to live up to their example. Never giving up, no matter the odds" is an obvious reference to the events of Resident Evil 2, and drives home the reality Sherry is no longer the little girl players would recognize. Her hopeful optimism is inspiring and shows how her character has grown through the years.
9 "Trust Is Built Through Actions, Not Words" – Resident Evil Revelations
Chris doffs the stereotype of a muscular, boulder-punching macho man, courtesy of Resident Evil 5. But in Resident Evil: Revelations he imparts this small nugget of wisdom.
While being questioned about former partner Jill Valentine and how deep their relationship runs, Chris imparts these words to current partner Jessica, revealing to her the way she can build his trust as much as Jill. It is refreshing for Resident Evil to take a break from witty one-liners to offer players some dialogue containing a bit more wisdom, especially since Capcom created more gritty and serious installments with their more recent releases.
8 "You're Right Hand Comes Off?" – Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 could be in the running for one of the most quotable games in the series. Featuring an older, post-Raccoon City Leon Kennedy tasked with rescuing the President's kidnapped daughter, Leon is much more jaded and severe, yet it does not stop him from wise-cracking throughout the game.
Perhaps the most infamous of all is when Leon retorts to Salazar informing his right hand is on its way to dispose of him, leading to a sarcastic remark questioning his ability to remove his right hand. Even more hilarity ensues when the original release of Resident Evil 4 features a typo that changes your to you're, though this was rectified in remakes.
7 "I'm Going To Murder That Boulder-Punching A*****e, But You're First!" – Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village introduced fans to the four lords that served as the game's boss battles, as well as this line referencing an infamous scene featured in Resident Evil 5 that Capcom cannot stop poking fun at, nor the players.
Heisenberg says this quote during the mecha boss fight between him and Ethan. Though it seems unlikely Heisenberg would know of this specific event taking place, it's still a fun nod to one of the most well-known memes throughout the entire franchise.
6 "Where's Everyone Going, Bingo?" – Resident Evil 4
Leon returns with another witty one-liner, which occurs early in the game when Leon arrives in the village proper. He has a daring skirmish with the armed villagers, and perhaps even with Dr. Salvadore, the chainsaw-wielding infected, depending on if he attempts to take shelter in one of the houses.
A bell rings, prompting all the villagers to abandon their attempts to separate Leon's head from his shoulders, prompting him to question where they are going with this hilarious line of dialogue.
5 "What're Ye Buying?" – Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village features another reference to a previous installment, as Duke does his impersonation of the merchant from Resident Evil 4, asking Ethan what he's buying in the style of the mysterious merchant. The Duke then laughs, claiming it's something a friend of his said.
This has prompted players to wonder just how the Duke and Merchant know each other, and how the two unlikely friends met. This opens the doors for theories surrounding the mysteries of the Duke, and his presence and purpose in Village.
4 "It Might Come In Handy If You, The Master Of Unlocking, Take It With You." – Resident Evil
Another stellar quote delivered by Barry Burton comes in the form of the master of unlocking dialogue, when Barry hands Jill a lockpick, claiming that she is the master of unlocking. This one also gained some fame outside of Resident Evil's influence and certainly lives in the memory of fans.
The master of unlocking may be a nod to the trope of the same name that is said to be a reason only certain doors can be opened at certain times, and only the Master can determine which doors can be opened, and which are merely for decoration.
3 "You Were Almost A Jill Sandwich." – Resident Evil
This line remains so iconic that even non-players of Resident Evil could quote this, just from the online jokes this spawned. Barry Burton delivers this humorous dialogue after he saves Jill from a trapped shotgun, that when removed from the wall mount, triggers the ceiling to slowly descend, threatening to crush her to death.
Its influence carries outside of the Resident Evil franchise, referenced in other video games such as Dead Rising and Dead By Daylight. What is most interesting about this line is that it was never used in the original Japanese dub, only when it was localized in the English language.
2 "You Want STARS? I'll Give You STARS!" – Resident Evil 3
After hours of being doggedly pursued by Nemesis, gunning down zombies in the ravaged streets of Raccoon City, and facing other horrific creatures, Jill finally is given the means to take down her stalker and does so in style.
In the original, Jill delivers this line when she finally puts an end to Nemesis's reign of terror at the climax of the game, though the original features it much earlier, when Jill leads Nemesis away from the subway as a way to taunt him. This is just one of the ways the lukewarmly received remake deviates from the original.
1 "Seven Minutes. Seven Minutes Is All I Can Spare To Play With You." – Resident Evil 5
While Resident Evil 5 proved to be divisive among fans with its focus more on action than horror, it cannot be denied it is a treasure trove of memorable dialogue, most of which is provided by the series' famed antagonist, Albert Wesker. This one particular line gained so much traction it featured as part of Wesker's dialogue in Dead By Daylight.
During the climactic battle against Wesker, he delivers the famed line "seven minutes is all I can spare" as he prepares to dispatch Chris and Sheva and carry out his plans for global domination. This line proves Wesker's confidence in his ability to kill his nemesis and their partner, and that he sees their attempts to defeat him as mere child's play.