What Resident Evil Game Should You Start With?
The Resident Evil (Biohazard in some regions) series is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and terrifying Survival Horror franchises in gaming. With over two decades of entertainment, the series has witnessed numerous games, spin-offs, and remakes that have captivated players and fans worldwide. So, if you’re new to the series or an aficionado looking to re-live the experience, where would you start?
RE1: The Origins and a Great Starting Point
The answer: Resident Evil, the 2002 survival horror game, also referred to as Biohazard in Japan or Resident Evil for GameCube in others. This game, re-released in 1996, is often confused with the original PlayStation Resident Evil (1996). Resident Evil is the standalone title that kickstarted it all, and Biohazard (Director’s Cut) on Disc 2 is where events unfold.
A Few Reasons Why You Should Begin with RE1
Reason 1: Iconic Storyline and Environment
Resident Evil’s story and premise are still unmatched today in the Survival Horror genre: a mysterious mansion with many secrets, a missing owner, and a small door that leads to unspeakable horrors. Experience iconic locations like the police stations, laboratories, and rural areas, which provide unique challenges and terrifying atmosphere while setting the stage for future adaptations.
Reason 2: Innovative Inventory System and Resource Management
One innovation that sets RE1 from other games is its intelligent inventory system. Combine powerful items, manage your backpack space, and ration wisely to overcome obstacles, giving you a sense of anticipation and accomplishment.
Reason 3: Original Feel and Atmosphere
The game’s unique "tank controls" give its characters a more lumbering, vulnerable feel. Moreover, the atmospheric sounds are still chilling today: screeching doors, heavy footsteps, and whispers set the tone for dread-tingling moments.
But, what about later re-releases and the likes of Resident Evil 2 or later games? Are they even worth playing?
Pros and Cons of the More Recent Games
While most games in the series receive praise, there’s only one game that will preserve the essence of Survival Horror, and that is.
Resident Evil – Remake (2002)
Pros:
-
- Improved graphics and textures still hold up today.
- Enhanced gameplay, animations, and sound design without sacrificing the original feeling
- Improved graphics and textures still hold up today.
Cons:
This remake is a step off from the original re1‘s challenge and atmosphere, leaning it towards a more refined approach.
RE7 Bioshock: More Guns, Less Survival
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard stands out as a separate thread in the series. Some might argue it lost faith with the Survival Horror conventions, focusing more on aggressive combat and gunplay,
RE7 is, however, an experience everyone should have
Even taking the series’ darker stance, RE7 showcases cutting-edge visuals, with vibrant environments and an eerifying atmosphere. Tellingly, it features:
- A terrifying, cat-and-mouse chase with the primary threat, Jack Baker, ensuring an intense, on your toes experience.
- A more realistic sense-of-being-there: this game’s environments evoke sensations of unease due
to the unsettling textures
Table: Respecing the Original Timeline/Story
| RE | Story Connection |
| — | ——————–
| RE1 (1996)] | Original 4-5 hours; Set the stage for events |
| RE1(2002)} | Improved and detailed, but same premise.
| RE2 |- | Direct Sequela to RE1.
If you’re looking to return to the series after previously playing later games or considering a new start,
If you’re a Survival Horrors fan, try them in this order:
For a more modern Survival Horde experience, RE7 for its unique approach
Finally, if you haven ‘t played the Games yet, please allow yourself to be enveloped by the eerie environments