For years, the Resident Evil series has entertained those players who are the fans of horror games.
How?
Quite simple, the game has an unforgettable and magnetic collection of characters. These include heroes and villains that have indeed carved their way straight into pop culture.
Let us narrow down our approach and look more closely at a few among the most memorable Resident Evil characters and their influence on this game.
Barry Burton
Barry Burton
An incredibly accomplished professional in weapon expertise and a consultant, the series lead protagonist Barry Burton has been a close friend to Chris Redfield since his time from his United States Air Force service. Later, Barry assisted Jill Valentine in surviving events at the Spencer Mansion despite working with Wesker for most of the game in the original Resident Evil. While Barry has appeared in more Resident Evil games than most of the cast, Revelations 2 marked the first time he actually got to be a main playable character.
Chris Redfield
Chris Redfield
Of the original protagonists in the first Resident Evil game Chris Redfield is among the most well-respected character of the series. Formally an elite member of the S.T.A.R.S. police unit, Chris is be a rough & tough no-nonsense soldier and equally committed to standing against the bioterrorism threats of the Umbrella Corporation and others.
Known for his unending determination and coupled with physical prowess, he has become a favorite of the fans and has appeared in several of the franchise’s mainline Resident Evil titles, including the seminal Resident Evil 5. His running feud with the traitorous Albert Wesker has really driven much of the overall narrative in the series.
Jill Valentine
Jill Valentine
Jill Valentine, also Chris’ teammate in S.T.A.R.S., has become an iconic character to the Resident Evil game as much as Chris was to the original game’s introduction. With her incredible sharpshooting and lock-picking and explosive skills, she is invaluable to the team fighting against Raccoon City’s horrors of the undead.
Her bravery and skills have made her a favorite among the fans. Jill has been one of the main protagonists who has appeared in many Resident Evil games such as Resident Evil 3 Nemesis. Meanwhile, her struggle with Wesker, who likes to play with her as his puppet, brings new tension.
Leon S. Kennedy
Leon S. Kennedy
Leon S. Kennedy is one of the most famous characters in the series who first appeared in Resident Evil 2. He was a trainee cop who came into the middle of the incident with the Raccoon City outbreak. In the course of the game, Leon becomes a tough, highly skilled agent who is able to pass through the horror of the zombie apocalypse.
This has been a continuing journey for Leon in the following Resident Evil titles, such as Resident Evil 4 in which he sets out to save the President’s daughter from a radical cult. The character that he has developed with his own brand of charm and uncanny skills in battle has become very popular and Leon easily qualifies as the most iconic lead series protagonist.
Albert Wesker
Albert Wesker
Whereas the protagonists of Resident Evil won over the hearts of the fans, the most charismatic and iconic villain of the series has and probably will always be Albert Wesker. Introduced as the seemingly heroic leader of the S.T.A.R.S. unit in the original game, Wesker is later revealed to be a double agent working for the Umbrella Corporation.
Being one of the superhuman, shrewd, and mean antagonists of the franchise, Wesker has managed to direct much of the general Resident Evil narrative with his single-minded obsession with power and reshaping the world into the one of his particular vision, as he clashes repeatedly with the likes of Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine.
Wesker is a tragic character, who, with the explanation of his transformation from an ardent young scientist to a possessed power maniac, surely becomes deep and one of the most captivating villains in the whole gaming world.
Rebecca Chambers
Rebecca Chambers
While the previously mentioned characters have certainly been the face of Resident Evil, the series has had the inclusion of several other very notable supporting characters, such as Rebecca Chambers. A young medic for the S.T.A.R.S., Rebecca was first introduced in the original Resident Evil game and quickly became a favorite of the fans.
Rebecca’s role has expanded with following titles, most notably Resident Evil Zero, wherein she is also a playable protagonist, this time partnered with the convict Billy Coen. Certainly, her sense of survival under the horrors of the Umbrella Corporation had already labeled her as a prior and resilient character of the Resident Evil universe.
Ada Wong
Ada Wong
Another iconic Resident Evil character is the enigmatic Ada Wong, a mysterious mercenary and corporate spy who has appeared in numerous games throughout the series. Ada often works to advance one or more of the shadowy organizations’ agendas, including that of Wesker, with motives constantly enigmatic.
Despite her morally grey nature, Ada has become a fan favorite for her combat prowess and striking visual design, let alone her thorny relationship with show stealer Leon S. Kennedy. Her sometimes-ally, sometimes-adversary role in the series has long provided depth and intrigue to the Resident Evil narrative.
Ethan Winters
Ethan Winters
The next Mold-empowered protagonist of a Resident Evil entry, Ethan Winters debuts in a game where he is in search of a love interest, Mia, in the Baker House. Little did he know that his wife’s history with bioweapons would come knocking and be tied to her being at the Baker House. After all, while Ethan and Mia try to settle down after the events of RE7, Village brings them right back into the thick of it.
Rosemary Winters
Rosemary Winters
Rosemary, commonly referred to as Rose, is Ethan Winters’ daughter. Ethan risks his life, putting himself in the line of danger toward the end of Resident Evil Village, to save a then-infant Rose. Unfortunately for the both of them, that would mean that Rose would grow up fatherless and estranged from her mother, Mia. Chris is the only parent figure she has.
Rose is a character who is only playable in the storyline downloadable content (DLC) game mode of Resident Evil Village, called Shadows of Rose. In this mode, she has kind of a greatest hits of classic Resident Evil: slow gameplay, without a dodge or block, very few weapons, and then a whole bunch of more strange stuff based on her Mold-based powers.
Jake Muller
Jake Muller
An Eastern European native, a mercenary roped into the series after his group is tasked with launching the C-Virus. He’s one of four main characters in Resident Evil 6 and is revealed to be the long lost son of Albert Wesker. After the events of RE6, Jake decides to forge a new, better path. However, the series’ recent focus on the Winters family will not make Jake a probable Resident Evil protagonist very soon.
Conclusion: Resident Evil Character’s Enduring Legacy
The Resident Evil series is more than survival horror elements in gameplay; it is the characters that populate this world. Be it heroic protagonists or nefarious villains, immortalized into pop culture and inspiring endless cosplays, mountains of fan art, and endless discussions within the gaming community.
As Resident Evil continues to grow, with various remakes, spin-offs, and a new mainline entry coming very soon, these timeless characters remain at the forefront. Be it the rugged determination of Chris Redfield, the resourcefulness of Jill Valentine, or the cunning of Albert Wesker, such characters have left an ineradicable mark on the horror gaming landscape, cementing Resident Evil’s status as one of those most beloved and influential franchises of all time.
