It's always interesting to see how the novelizations of video games differ from their original source material. The Resident Evil novels were written concurrently with the original video game series by writer S.D. Perry. A total of seven were written, five based on the games and two original stories. A number of authors have written additional books for the series, some based off the movie franchise and others involving original characters joining familiar faces in the fight against Umbrella.
While the books deviate from the games in some regards, they also provide additional context to the depth and personality of the beloved characters.
10 Jill Is The Daughter Of A Professional Thief
Jill may seem like the perfect hero. After all, she's always one to throw herself headfirst into the fight for justice and help those less fortunate. But her past is more complicated according to the books, given her background as an apprentice for her master thief father, Dick Valentine.
After her father's arrest, Jill decides to become a police officer herself and thus the wheels are set in motion. This likely explains why she is so good at picking locks.
9 The Mansion Incident Was Personal For Jill And Chris
The mansion incident is burned into the memories of many fans, but for Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, the terror is forever inescapable.
Jill personally knew two of the young victims of the undead attacks in the area, leading her on a personal vendetta to stop the perpetrators, originally believed to be a ritualistic cannibal cult. Chris also has a friend working in the mansion laboratory who disappears.
8 Rebecca Chambers Continued Fighting Umbrella
Rebecca Chambers is known as the combat medic and biochemist of the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team who encounters Chris Redfield in his storyline of the first game. She is also the star of the prequel game, Resident Evil Zero.
Despite her place as an early character in the series, she has rarely appeared in subsequent games. The second S.D. Perry novel, Caliban Cove, explores Rebecca's mission to the Maine coast to investigate Umbrella's scheming some time after the mansion incident.
7 The Mansion Incident Was Covered Up
The mansion incident of the first game is such a bombastic event that it seems impossible to cover up the atrocities committed. But where there's a will, there's a way.
Brian Irons, the Chief of Police, makes sure that the public and media think the mansion fire was caused by a campfire. He also spreads the idea that the disbandment of the S.T.A.R.S. team is due to disorderly conduct.
6 Barry Burton Takes Charge Of The S.T.A.R.S.
Perhaps known best for his cheesy one-liners, Barry Burton is something of the father figure for the S.T.A.R.S. team.
Despite his back-stabbing antics in the first game, Barry continues to be a team player in the battle against Umbrella. He takes control of the remaining S.T.A.R.S. team in the S.D. Perry novels, moving the squad to New York in the process.
5 Raccoon City Is Located In Pennsylvania
Fans have long speculated the location of the notorious Raccoon City. While Capcom hasn't made a location official aside from it being located in the United States, the books place the ill-fated city in Pennsylvania.
The location makes sense given the context of the games. However, the books don't go much beyond naming the state that this ghost town dwells in.
4 Leon Has Ties To Raccoon City
A famed Raccoon City rookie and government special agent, Leon S. Kennedy is always one to deliver a sarcastic quip and add some humor to the grime situations of the games.
In the books, Leon still runs late for his first shift as a police officer, setting up the events of the classic second game. He has a love for the city too, having spent summers there with his grandparents when younger.
3 Other Clandestine Organizations Are At Play
While Umbrella has the most name recognition, the books also add some additional organizations into the realm of the series. "The Agency" is one such shadowy group that opposes Umbrella and includes Ada Wong as a member.
A man named Trent leads this mysterious organization. While exclusive to the book series, he's still an integral part in the events of the novels and games.
2 Ada Wong Has Some Interesting Alibis
While Ada is cool and collected in the games, the books offer a more detailed look into her personality and manner of thinking, adding some further depth to her character.
While she is working for Trent and "The Agency," Ada comes up with a unique way to cover for her amazing combat skills, chalking it up to experience as a paintball player with her uncle in New York.
1 There Are Terrifying Creatures The Games Don't Show
The Resident Evil games have terrified players with some of the creepiest creature designs in the history of horror games, leaving fans sleepless for weeks after playing.
The books include many additional monsters not seen in the game series, including invisible Hunters, giant scorpions, and trained humanoid bio-weapons. Zombies are of course the mainstay, but it is always exciting to see what new monsters Umbrella conjures up.