Few games have had as big an impact on the industry asResident Evil, and even fewer have the legacy of a long-running series of games that have continued to innovate. Resident Evil wasn’t created in a vacuum, though, so what inspired it so that it could inspire others?
It’s time to pay tribute to the things that helped make Resident Evil what it is, so read below to find a list of the things that had the biggest influence on the creation of Resident Evil and the properties that have continued to influence it as the series has gone on.
Where It All Began
If you know your Resident Evil history, then it should be no shock to read that Resident Evil was originally intended to be a spiritual successor toSweet Home on the NES. As a horror roleplaying game, you can clearly see its DNA in the original Resident Evil.
With an emphasis on solving puzzles, managing your inventory, and navigating an unsettling mansion, there can be no denying that Sweet Home was at the core of the developer’s first efforts.
Changing Perspective
Resident Evil was originally intended to be in a first-person perspective, which would have ended up with the game feeling dramatically different. Once the creator of Resident Evil, Shinji Mikami, saw 1992’s Alone In The Dark, however, he was inspired to make a change.
Admiring that game’s use of pre-rendered backgrounds, he made the switch to use a fixed perspective. Mikami claims that while it resulted in many people finding the game scarier, for him it was simply convenient due to how expensive making the game in first-person would have been.
6Dawn Of The Dead
A Classic Inspires A Classic
Resident Evil was initially going to focus on spirits as the threat you would face in the mansion. It was only after watching George A. Romero’s outstanding Dawn Of The Dead that he felt motivated to shift gears towards a different kind of undead, zombies.
It’s almost impossible to imagine Resident Evil without zombies. Although the series has spent time focusing on bioweapons, people infected with mold, and very tall ladies, most people still think of zombies first when they think of Resident Evil.
5The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
More Western Horror Influence
It would be easy to assume that the primary reference points Mikami used for Resident Evil were Japanese, but he’s always been a fan of Western horror movies. A prime example being The Texas Chainsaw Massacre from 1974.
A scene of the infamous Leatherface killing someone and dragging their body across the floor is what inspired Mikami to include the Hunter in Resident Evil, something some of you may be less than thankful for, depending on your experience with them.
4Dagon
It’s Almost Too Obvious
Imagine a story about cultists chasing you through an unsettling Spanish village. Throw in some serious body horror to the mix, and you’re probably thinking about Resident Evil 4. Well, you’re not wrong, but that also perfectly describes the movie Dagon.
The parallels are so clear that the movie even contains a background character who looks exactly like the Resident Evil 4 weapons merchant. Which came first, you ask? Dagon was released in 2001, while Resident Evil 4 came out in 2005, making it clear which one inspired the other.
3The Shining
Don’t Overlook It
Give The Shining a watch and then treat yourself to a follow-up playthrough of Resident Evil 7. You’ll see stark similarities between Jack Baker and Jack Torrance, since Mr. Baker was modelled after Jack Nicholson in his role in the movie. That’s a lot of Jacks.
Both are abusive fathers who stalk their victims through a building while shouting abuse and smashing their way through obstacles. It’s a great tribute to one of the all-time best horror performances.
Jack Baker was partly based off of Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson. But there is another Jack involved to complete this jacked-up roster. Mr Baker’s English voice actor is Jack Brand, making this Jacks all the way down.
2Gothic Horror
It Never Fails
The mansion of the original game certainly took some gothic horror inspiration, but no game in the series has leaned as heavily on that genre as Resident Evil Village. From the setting to the classic vampires and werewolves, it’s a love letter to the European tradition of gothic horror.
Yes, they aren’t vampires and werewolves in the classic sense, but they’re close enough to count. It wouldn’t truly be Resident Evil without a pseudo-scientific explanation for these sorts of creatures.
1You
Yes, You
It might seem a little corny to say it, but it’s true. Nothing has had a greater impact on the Resident Evil series than you, the gamer. With a series as long-lasting as Resident Evil, the developers are constantly looking to see what players like, don’t like, expect, or want.
Sometimes that means you get more of what you said you liked, while at others it means the developers work hard to offer players something they weren’t expecting. Either way, Resident Evil and itsexcellent horror sequelswouldn’t be what they are without you. Help yourself toa Green Herbas a reward, you deserve it.
