As far as zombie video game series go, Resident Evil ranks among the most famous and well-received. In every sense, the franchise is the very catalyst for the zombie video game craze that started in the 1990s that has persisted until this day.
Resident Evil has changed a lot since its early days, but that is not to say everything in the series has been altered significantly. There are still a lot of common misconceptions surrounding the series and its many entries. Die-hard fans might be able to see past these stereotypes, but new players might have their bubbles burst.
10 The Quality of The Spin-Offs
It's easy to write off any major franchise's spin-offs, and deservingly so. They are usually shameless cash grabs with little to do with the main story of the games. But Resident Evil's many spin-offs actually bring something to the table.
The Chronicles and Outbreak series both changed up the gameplay with light-gun shooting and survival mechanics. The Revelations series continued the stories of many iconic characters. Not every spin-off was incredible, but plenty were fun enough to earn their stay among the main entries in the franchise.
9 The Older Games Are Outdated
While their graphics might be the best to look at, the older Resident Evil games still possess a certain charm to them.
Not only are many of the areas and puzzles different than the remakes, but their stories differ greatly too. They are almost completely different games in many respects. Needless to say, fans of retro video games can do much worse than the original survival horror classics.
8 The Newer Games Aren't Scary Enough
Old-school fans of the series have long insisted that the newest entries in the franchise aren't scary, citing their over-reliance on shooting and continuing shift into action-oriented gameplay.
While these are valid criticisms of the series, Capcom has openly listened to fans and since introduced some seriously spooky mechanics into their newest games.
7 There Is Only One Style Of Gameplay
Unlike some other survival horror series, Resident Evil embraces change and stylistic revisions.
Early games in the franchise are noted for their tank controls and emphasis on puzzles over action, while the third-person shooter games of later entries made use of a free perspective and loose shooting mechanic. The newest games in the series are first-person shooters that make full utilization of the limited perspective.
6 Terrible Dialogue
The infamous dialogue of the first game is still burned into the memories of many fans of the series.
From the iconic "Jill sandwich" line to the utterly strange zombie remarks, the original game really soiled the dialogue for the rest of the series. That being said, the most recent games have largely moved away from the corny zombie tropes of the early entries.
5 There Are No Multiplayer Components
Resident Evil is of course known for its campaigns, which have long been praised by fans and critics alike. Regardless, even regular players may not realize that a few of the games have a multiplayer component to them.
The Chronicles series allowed for two players to shoot their way through monster-filled rooms. Resident Evil 5 also featured a co-op mode that had two players fighting side by side.
4 There Is Only One Main Character
Many gamers expect a series as popular as Resident Evil to have one main character to fall back on. Jill and Chris were the central characters of the first game, but with each subsequent release, new playable characters have been introduced.
While not every character returns in every game, there is a lot of crossover between characters and many of the protagonists seem to be aware of one another in some regard.
3 Zombies Are In Every Game
The Resident Evil series was a huge influence on the resurgence of zombies in popular culture, from video games to movies to TV shows. Zombies are the iconic early villains of the games, but as the franchise expanded and furthered the story along, new enemies were needed.
Since the fourth game, new enemies modeled as bioweapons and genetically mutated monsters have been the mainstay. Slow-moving and groaning zombies are no longer a major threat to well-armed protagonists.
2 The Raccoon City Games Are All Alike
The Raccoon City setting is a classic for the Resident Evil series, expanded over several games and even further expanded through recent remakes. While Raccoon City is a central part of the story, some fans see the games that take place in the city as unoriginal and uninspired.
There might be a lot of repeating areas in the games, but that doesn't mean they are all alike. In fact, every Raccoon City game adds something unique to the story and furthers the lore along.
1 Albert Wesker Is The Only Antagonist
Albert Wesker is one of the most iconic characters in the series. Notorious for his backstabbing ways and awesome sense of style, it is easy to see why most fans new to the series expect him to be the central antagonist of every game.
He does make plenty of appearances throughout the games, but not always as a central villain. Oftentimes, Wesker is most comfortable on the sidelines as he plots against and uses friends and foes alike as pawns.