Skip to main content

Resident Evil franchise balloons with new games, HD remakes, movies

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Capcom has big plans for one of its most popular video game franchises : Resident Evil. The game publisher revealed that Resident Evil 6 is in development, and the first information on the new game will be revealed on September 15 at the Tokyo Game Show. At Comic-Con 2011, the focus was on new incarnations of classic Resident Evil games.

Recommended Videos

Old titles rising from the dead

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the survival horror franchise, which many consider the first true horror video game. Capcom is celebrating in a big way with three games heading home later this year. Two of those games are high-definition upgrades to existing Resident Evil titles — Resident Evil 4 HD will be available for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Games On Demand on September 20th, and Resident Evil: Code Veronica X HD will arrive on week later, on September 27th.

Mike Lunn, a product marketing manager at Capcom, said at Comic-Con 2011 that the game publisher has upgraded these titles for PS3 and Xbox 360.

Resident-Evil-Code-Veronica-X-HD
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“In Resident Evil: Code Veronica X HD, Claire Redfield, the star of Resident Evil 2, is captured by Umbrella and brought to Rockfort Island, where she experiences another viral outbreak of zombies, creatures and monsters,” said Lunn. “The game unlocks tons of Umbrella Corporation secrets. We’ve taken the game’s classic style and added a dynamic camera system that allows you to see around corners. There are also dual-wielding weapons to help take out the creatures Claire will face. And we’ve upgraded the lighting system to help you through dark corridors. This is one of my favorite Resident Evil titles. It’s a real rollercoaster ride with an excellent soundtrack and high production values.”

Lunn went on to explain that Resident Evil 4, at its time, was a step away from what Capcom had been doing with the franchise.

Resident Evil 4 focuses on action horror and the gameplay experience introduced precision aiming with pinpoint accuracy,” said Lunn. “Players can target any part of a zombie with their shots. You can also pull off headshots. This game, which also introduced the third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective to the franchise, has been attributed to making changes to the way we play games today.”

The game focuses on another Resident Evil 2 protagonist, Leon S. Kennedy, who’s on a mission to save the president’s daughter, Ashley Graham. The story involves the Los Illuminados cult, which turns villagers into zombies called Los Ganados. These enemies introduced new challenges to gamers, including the ability to wield melee and projectile weapons.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

But what Resident Evil fans will be most excited about are the brand new games in the franchise. Let’s start with Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. The game’s being developed by SOCOM: US Navy SEALs PSP developer Slant Six Games for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The new squad-based shooter is set during the events of the original Resident Evil game and introduces a new squad of characters. Vector, Beltway, Bertha and Spectre are members of the Umbrella Security Squad who have to deal with the T-virus outbreak in Raccoon City.

Rey Jimenez, producer of the third-person perspective game, explained that gameplay incorporates four-player teamwork and tactical decision-making into the mix. There are multiple classes to choose from at the outset, which will impact how each team member interacts in the action. Vector is an example of the recon class, who can assume other human shapes. Bertha is the medic class. Beltway is the hulking tank class of the game, and he has plenty of demolition equipment to blow things up. Spectre offers up tactical information through maps and special glasses to help navigate the chaotic world.

Resident-Evil-Operation-Raccoon-City-2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The game actually has a lot going on, which provides quite a backdrop for players to explore. In addition to the zombies and other bio-organic weapons created by Umbrella Corporation, there are US Special Forces soldiers on the ground trying to deal with the catastrophe, and there’s the Umbrella Security Service.

On top of that, Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy will be in the mix from time to time playing out their roles in the original game’s story line. HUNK will also have an important role in this new game. The game will have multiple branching paths and storylines, including some that won’t connect directly with future games. As an example, players will be able to kill Leon S. Kennedy at one point in the game.

Resident Evil: Revelations

There’s also a new Nintendo 3DS game coming out in 2012 from Capcom. Resident Evil: Revelations is set at sea on an abandoned cruise ship (at least to kick off the horror adventure). This game stars Jill Valentine, Parker Luciani, Chris Redfield and Jessica. Of course, there will be zombies. This isn’t the first time the undead have gone on a cruise. Resident Evil: Dead Aim back in 2003 was a first-person shooter set on a cruise ship.

Resident Evil: Revelations
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Resident Evil: Revelations will introduce segments that are underwater and others that are on a frozen tundra. These “environmental hazards” were developed for Resident Evil 5 but were scrapped at the last minute. At certain points in the game, players will be able to equip diving gear and swim in full 360 degrees. Special underwater weapons will also be available, and will be important when dealing with a new waterborne threat that Capcom has in store. Later in the game, players will also be outfitted with winter gear for exploring a mountain range. Frozen environments will also play a role in this action game.

Capcom used Comic-Con to confirm that players will be going after zombies in Revelations. For those keeping track, the last game to actually feature the undead was Code Veronica. This game is the first to get back to those basics. Capcom also promised there will be plenty of other creatures to kill in this new 3D game.

Check out our Resident Evil: Revelations hands-on preview.

Movies

On the Hollywood front, Sony Pictures is having a script written for a fifth Resident Evil movie. Following the success of the 3D movie, Resident Evil: Afterlife, a new movie release is slated for September 14, 2012. Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich are expected to be back in the mix on this latest theatrical installment.

Milla-Jovovich-resident-evil
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There’s also a new computer-generated movie coming out next year (at least in Japan). Resident Evil: Damnation is a sequel to 2008’s Resident Evil: Degeneration. This time around, the action will be in 3D. The new storyline will continue to focus on Leon S. Kennedy’s adventures. A U.S. version of this home entertainment release will be in the works at some point, so that should keep fans happy.

John Gaudiosi
Former Digital Trends Contributor
John Gaudiosi has been covering video games for over 25 years, dating back to his work for The Washington Post while in…
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. goes multiplatform with crossplay and more
Kage kicks Jeffry in Virtua Fighter 5: R.E.V.O.

Sunday's Virtua Fighter Spring Direct revealed a load of new information about upcoming games, including the as-yet-untitled Virtua Fighter 6 and Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. The biggest news? R.E.V.O. is coming to Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with full cross-play support and rollback netcode, although the team stayed quiet on exactly when it will release.

According to Siji Aoki, the lead for legacy Virtua Fighter projects, "I know we've kept you waiting, but our Steam release, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O., is finally coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2!" This is something fans have requested since the game first launched. "To make your gameplay experience even smoother, the rollback functionality used in the Steam version will be supported on all platforms."

Read more
NYT Crossword: answers for Monday, May 12
New York Times Crossword logo.

The New York Times has plenty of word games on its roster today — with Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword, there's something for everyone — but the newspaper's standard crossword puzzle still reigns supreme. The daily crossword is full of interesting trivia, helps improve mental flexibility and, of course, gives you some bragging rights if you manage to finish it every day.

While the NYT puzzle might feel like an impossible task some days, solving a crossword is a skill and it takes practice — don't get discouraged if you can't get every single word in a puzzle.

Read more
Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for May 13
Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on May 13, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.

This is just one of the great NYT games you can play daily, so let us help you solve Connections, Strands, Crossword, and the Mini Crossword too!
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "BICEP." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Read more