‘Resident Evil’ Week: The Original RE ’96 Classic Helps Deathly Define An Era
By Joey Click
‘Resident Evil’ Week comes to a close as 1428 Elm takes a look at the greatest RE game in the long-running survival horror franchise. Welcome back Evil Residents.
In the ’90s, the gaming industry belongs to two different companies — Nintendo and Sega. With its many great games, Nintendo owns a fair share of the market with its SNES console. On the other end of the spectrum, Sega is killing it with the Genesis console. Then, after a few years of only competing with each other, Sony comes to the table. And with it, the electronics company brings us a little game called Resident Evil.
Telling a horrific tale of abandoned mansions and undead maniacs, 1996’s Resident Evil in unlike any game in gaming up to that time. With its adult experience, the original RE still stands today as one of the most important games in the history of gaming. Sure, some titles on the Sega Genesis have blood ( Mortal Kombat is an example), but nothing quite compares.
For starters, the original RE’s biggest strength is its focus on narrative. Unlike games before it, RE is telling a story with its bullets and blood. While previous games were basing its livelihood on gameplay, RE is tasking the player with aiding in their own storytelling experience. This, of course, brings me to my next point.
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Along with its story – two S.T.A.R.S members searching for their team in an abandon mansion-the original RE is thick with horrific atmosphere. The original game in the survival-horror gaming crazy, RE is insanely scary. I’m sure most of you can remember turning off the lights and pressing that play button.
I mean, I can hear it now. I’m sitting there, with the controller in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other. Using the light of the television to securely place the pizza in my mouth, I press play and then I hear it… RESIDENT EVIL!!!!. I was only 10 at the time, but I’ll never forget that feeling of going back to that mansion. I was no longer in my bedroom; Raccoon City was now my home…and don’t get me started on those little vital ink ribbons.
Moreover, it’s what Resident Evil eventually does for the industry that makes the game more than just a game. Before then, games weren’t immersive experiences. At least, not to the level of RE did. Not only that, but the original RE showed the industry that games could be playable movies.
Ultimately, RE showed the industry that video games are no longer just for kids. Games can be for adults. They can be for mature consumers. RE showed that games can be for the horror lovers in us all. This is, of course, the reason why I still love the series today.
Next: Is RE 4 One Of The Greatest Creations Of Mankind?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Resident Evil: Biohazard to play.