The one that started it all. The first Resident Evil hit the original PlayStation back in 1996 and blew open the doors for the survival horror genre. It may not have been the very first game to lay claim to the genre, but the immense success of Resident Evil and the introduction of its beloved characters helped establish the series as the prototype for subsequent horror games.
Although the graphics and dialogue might seem a bit dated 25 years later, the game is still just as fun to pick up and play. Interestingly enough, the game could have easily taken several unusual routes and ended up looking completely different.
10 Resident Evil Was Originally Going To Be A Remake Of Another Game
Before Resident Evil was conjured up, there was Sweet Home, a Capcom RPG from 1989 based on a Japanese horror film that follows a film crew making their way through a haunted mansion. Resident Evil was originally intended to be a remake of this game, but plans changed as development went on. That said, many similar elements ended up in the finished product, including the mansion setting, emphasis on puzzles and survival, and multiple endings.
9 The Game Was Also Inspired By Horror Films
Classic horror films also played an immense job in influencing the creepy atmosphere and story. The Shining played a significant role in the mansion's original design, from the creepy wallpaper to the vibrant colors. Zombie films were an important force as well. The films of George Romero and Italian undead flicks, like Zombie, inspired the creators of the game to create their own terrifying zombie story.
8 It Was Almost First-Person
The gameplay went through plenty of changes early on. A first-person perspective was toyed with in the initial development and was mixed with more supernatural elements, as opposed to the biological creature horror the series is known for. Shinji Mikami, the game's director, adopted the third-person perspective with a fixed camera after encountering the horror game, Alone in the Dark, setting the next few games up for a similar style.
7 Co-Op Was Almost Included Too
As the game production progressed so did the ideas. For a spell, a cooperative mode was teased that would have allowed players to play alongside each other at the same time, but the concept was cut.
The co-op mode would make it into several later Resident Evil games and their spin-offs, but the first game couldn't quite make it work out.
6 There Were Additional Characters Cut
The characters of the Resident Evil universe are a huge draw for fans, everyone has a favorite. Interestingly enough, there were several characters who didn't make the final cut of the game. Dewey was designed as a tall African-American man with a sense of humor who would provide lighter moments in the game and Gelzer was designed as a hulking cyborg who would help the team with his brute strength. Both characters were replaced by Rebecca and Barry.
5 There Were Several Versions Of The Game
Several versions were released after the huge success of the initial game. The Director's Cut included a new mode that changed item and enemy locations as well as added new wardrobes and gameplay mechanics. The Dual Shock version supported the DualShock controller and added a new soundtrack. The Sega Saturn version included an unlockable "battle mode" and featured new enemies and costumes.
The Windows version featured uncensored content from the original Japanese game. The Nintendo DS port adjusted the gameplay for the two screens and even included new gameplay mechanics like a first-person knife mode.
4 There Was Almost A Game Boy Color Version
Capcom had their eyes set on the world of handheld consoles early on, attempting to port the entire game to the Game Boy Color. Due to restrictions from the system the game was scrapped, but some footage shows that the port would have been true to the original game's ideas. Some rudimentary footage exists of the almost completed game.
3 Chris Redfield Is Not The Man On The Cover Art
The game's cover art is almost as iconic as the game itself. The lone soldier armed with a massive shotgun facing off against some unknown terror is as eye-catching as it is historic. Fans have long speculated the man on the cover was Chris, due to similar clothing and the fact he is one of the game's main protagonists. In reality, the man is not any particular character. As artist Bill Sienkiewicz explains, the man is simply a composite figure for the game's creepy concept.
2 The Game Was An Unexpected Hit
The creators of the series had low expectations at the time of its release. Producer Tokuro Fujiwara estimated it to only sell about 200,000 copies. The makers of the game were uncertain how a horror game could find success, but as time went on and word spread of this new kind of game, Capcom ended up selling several million copies, making it one of the most successful games on the PlayStation.
1 The Name Was Chosen In A Contest
The original Japanese name, Biohazard, would not be available for trademark in the United States due to previous claims to the name. Thus a new name was needed for a Western release. Capcom ran a company contest to come up with a new name, leading to the Resident Evil tag. The name was chosen for its relation to the mansion setting. It's tough to think about Resident Evil being named anything else, but it very well could have been.