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How many times have we found ourselves pondering over ‘which Resident Evil is the best’?’ Most probably all of us. As it is in any fandom, including that of fan themselves, I can say, who is also the member of the fan club, discussions also prevail this issue. Thank you very much for the next koma for it is almost mantra-like familiar to anyone who has put in hours doing battle with untold zombies and seeking the conspiracy of Umbrella Corporation.
Nevertheless let’s be clear here, judging the “best” Resident Evil is not such an easy task as one would have thought especially if one factors in that the series has been running for how many decades now, reinvented horror genre several times over and endured its share of highs and lows. Now, put on your seat belts because we are going deep into this conversation which is going to provide us with some vital information!
Introduction: It’s the Debate That Never Ends – Which Resident Evil Is the Best?
There is little question that this debate has something of a romantic air, does it?. With more than a dozen primary installments (forget the many spin offs for the moment), it’s easy to see how such a question can prove very hard. Some of us love the retro but low resolution designs while others say that the recent versions have been and are doing more justice to Resident Evil than the first versions ever did. Perhaps this is the time to lay to rest once and for all which Resident Evil is the best game of all the franchise.
Where It All Began: Nostalgia and the Original Resident Evil
Ah, Resident Evil 1. This was the other notch. This is nearly impossible to comprehend how much this game shocked the players when it was released for the first time in 1996.
For a lot of us, it was the first time we experienced a survival horror game. Pop quiz, what was the most terrifying moment? Remember the dogs crashing through the window? Yeah, I still get chills thinking about it.
The advent original game may not have preserved itself over the years (those tank controls—yikes!), there is no denying its impact. It brought forward the likes of Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine and turned the Umbrella Corporation into a nightmare. Sure, for the modern generation they would be mediocre at best and the voice over acting would be the most comically pathetic acting one would wish never to ever witness, but that is what makes a work of art beautiful is it not? For the purists, the original is the best for one reason only, it is where it all started.
Remakes vs. Originals – Whose Times Have Better Served?
The Resident Evil franchise is like a virus, it has been changing and adapting over time. The tension between the remakes and the originals is still potent as well. The so-called purists to this debate usually remain to the originals because of their historical attachments, newer generation players or those who seeking for improved version go for remakes instead. But which side is right?
Resident Evil 4 – Game-Changer or Hype?
Let us come to the main issue, that all traces are within the cultural importance, the Resident Evil 4. This is the game which was the turning point in all the installments of the series. The ‘die hard’ shooting sequence stays and the camera switching the over-the shoulder 3D view appears. Its simply could not be imagined back then, and it became one of the best rated games in the series.
In Favor of Resident Evil 4 Being the Best Of Them All
Resident Evil 4 was, undoubtedly, a revolution. It overshadowed the whole franchise when most of the fans were fed up with the monotonous gameplay. When Leon S. Kennedy is back again and more so the Las Plagas are introduced, it was a whole new action packed survival horror. For a lot of people, this game is for many the best in the series of Resident Evil as it combines both action and tension in just the right quantity.
Reasons Behind Some Fan Breakdown
However, let us not deceiving ourselves: Resident Evil 4 has its fair share of negative reviews as well. Some fans felt this was where the series made its first major masquerade in switching from horror to too much action oriented gameplay. Now, it is a great game, no debate about that, but is it the essence of what Resident Evil is? For some, it was the beginning of the fall for the central aspect of the series; the horror which was the reason why it was so impressive in the first place.
Resident Evil 2 Remake – a work of art or just a hash of the previous title to milk the fans?
The reception of Resident Evil 2 Remake was basing it’s desenvolvement on appreciation of original supporters, however, it was returning to the graphics with the subtitles modernity. Graphics engine, atmospherics, and gameplay were all redone in the game and it measures up to be the best of the series. But was it only appealing to structural nostalgia?
Reasons why Resident Evil 2 Remake impresses the most
First of all, I would like to discuss the beauty of the very game. Capcom did not simply create a new version of Resident Evil 2, they almost completely constructed it new. The stress, the ambiance, even Mr. X was back with a vengeance. It was the ideal combination of both the old and the new.
Criticism and Shortcomings
However, not everyone was convinced. Some critics say that as much as it was a great remake, it did very little for the progression of the series. It was risk free, servicing those who were already on board but did not exactly push boundaries in the same way that Resident Evil 4 did.
Resident Evil 7 and Village: A Bold New Direction or a Departure from the Core?
When Resident Evil 7 came out it was very different from what we had known. The change to a first-person view was unnatural but it helped recreate the atmosphere of fear that had been absent in the later action-centric games.
Understanding the First-Person Change: A Dangerous Move or a Necessary Change?
I’ll confess that the first time I heard that Resident Evil 7 would be first-person I was cautious. But man, was I wrong! There was no need to twist so many actions as if there was in a reel from a movie camera, this made the horror feel so much more up close. You don’t just see the horror, you feel it, you live it. And then there is Resident Evil Village, which took the same idea but explodes everything a bit more giving a fresh take on gothic horror survival.
Evolution of Narration
The storytelling has also done a 180 degree turn. Sigh no more we are dealing only with Umbrella and zombies; now we have mold, lycans, and a vampire lady who has become a fan splash in the internet. Yet for some fans this seems to take a huge divergence from the very reason why bResident Evil was the most revered in the past.
Conclusion: Which Resident Evil Is the Best?
So, which one is the best out of Resident Evil? Well, that depends what exactly you are trying to find. If you want unique and gutsy gameplay that changes the course of action, there could hardly be any better game than Resident Evil 4. If you’re the type of person who enjoys oldies but goodies remade, Resident Evil 2 Remake might be your choice. And if you are more about setting trends and breaking boundaries, there is no denying that Resident Evil 7 as well as Village surely took the series into extreme new territories. But then again, the strongest Resident Evil is the one that will strike the right chord within you most.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is Resident Evil 4 so different from the rest?
Reside Evil 4’s breakout was because It delivered a 3rd person perspective and evened out action with terror. It set the standard for the franchise and many other games that flooded the market thereafter.
2. Some of the fans are not liking the recent Resident evil titles. Why?
Regarding the more recent games some fans think that the Resident Evil Village has changed essence too much and instead of being a survival horror game it focuses more on the action aspect.
3. The Resident Evil 2 Remake. Is it better than the original?
Then let me say it depends on how you like it! The remake has a modernization of gameplay and still beautiful images but the originality still has the old-fashioned effect.
4. Which is the most frightening Resident Evil game?
I think all fans agree with me that Resident Evil 7 is the most terrifying episode because of the first person and a lot of things happening around.
5. Where does Resident Evil Village rank in the series?
As such Resident evil village offers a twist on mixing horror and action that makes the game category different from the previous ones while still having that Resident evil touch.
