Resident Evil Games That Don't Have Safe Rooms

Summary

Some Resident Evil games sometimes omit safe rooms to maintain an intense, action-filled gameplay experience.
Resident Evil 5 replaced safe rooms with a safe ‘menu’ after the completion of chapters.
Some titles like Umbrella Corps and Gaiden omit safe rooms to keep players immersed in the action at all times.

Since the debut of the original Resident Evil in 1998, I’ve always appreciated the consistent elements that have been woven throughout the series, such as typewriters for saving progress, item boxes, humorous dialogue, and the reassuring presence of safe rooms. Yet, it’s important to note that this franchise has evolved and transformed over the years, and while many classic features continue to be a part of the games, the safe rooms have occasionally been omitted from the gameplay for one reason or another.

As a passionate gamer, I find myself drawn to delve into the unique aspects of games like Resident Evil, where the absence of a tranquil sanctuary during harrowing gameplay adds an extra layer of tension. In a sea of countless numbered games and spin-offs, it’s intriguing to focus on the Resident Evil series that opted to eliminate safe rooms as a design choice. This decision sheds light on how its omission alters the player’s overall experience.

8. Resident Evil 5

The Fifth Mainline Game Replaces Safe Rooms With A Safe ‘Menu’

In Resident Evil 5, although the fundamental third-person gameplay is reminiscent of its predecessor, there’s a slight change: instead of traditional safe rooms, the game offers an alternative. After finishing each chapter in Resident Evil 5, players encounter a menu displaying their items and treasures, as well as a merchant from whom they can purchase weapons.

In “Resident Evil 4”, the Merchant used to appear personally in safe areas to offer Leon new weapons. However, Capcom opted for a more efficient approach by incorporating them into a sort of inventory or menu. Although this pause offers players a brief respite during their adventure through Kijuju, these aren’t true relaxation spots like Chris and Sheva might find in a real safe room before continuing their journey; instead, they function more as short interludes.

7. Resident Evil 6

To Keep Players Immersed In The Action At All Times, Resident Evil 6 Ditches Safe Rooms Entirely

In essence, Resident Evil 6 represents a significant shift from the survival horror foundation of the primary series, discarding many traditional elements such as merchants, typewriters, and safe rooms. These aspects are less compatible with the high-octane gameplay style that the game aims to deliver.

Although Leon’s campaign, among the four options, is slightly slower and has a horror emphasis with more action, it still contains a lot of intense combat sequences. Given that incorporating safe rooms in one campaign might necessitate their inclusion across all, Capcom determined it was unnecessary to include them in any.

6. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Players Never Get A Chance To Take A Break While Venturing Through The Zombie-Ridden Raccoon City

Although Leon and Claire could find moments of respite in secure rooms scattered throughout Raccoon City, members of Umbrella Security Service and US Special Ops don’t have such luxury. As players advance through swarms of zombies, including various Bio-Organic Weapons like Lickers and the Nemesis, they must continue to press on without a chance for rest during the mission.

One reason for omitting safe rooms from this contentious series installment could be to give players a sense of immersion, as if they’ve truly been plunged into the midst of a gruesome outbreak, with zombies able to attack them no matter where they attempt to hide. Furthermore, it might have been challenging to design safe rooms for four players concurrently, considering that everyone would likely be contending for the item box and typewriter simultaneously.

5. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Players Are Too Focused On Keeping Up Their Combos To Be Taking A Load Off In A Safe Room

In the Mercenaries game mode, which has returned since the third mainline game, safe rooms are not included. This trend seems to carry over to the standalone titles of Mercenaries released for the 3DS. As the aim of playing Mercenaries is to create a combo by killing as many enemies as you can, taking time out to save or rest could disrupt this fast-paced gameplay experience.

In other words, just like item boxes and typewriters, these elements are absent here too, which makes sense considering this is just a side game in the series, not a full-blown new installment that typically maintains many of the series’ historical conventions.

4. Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps

Umbrella Corps’ Mission-Based Campaign Leaves Safe Rooms Out So That Players Can Focus On Racking Up Their Kill Count

In contrast to other Resident Evil games that feature a traditional campaign structure involving a lengthy journey through various environments, Umbrella Corps offers standalone missions set in familiar arenas from the series. These missions primarily focus on eradicating hordes of zombies and Ganado.

In a game where missions are brief and the focus is heavily on action, it seems impractical to include safe rooms as players are usually engaged in seeking out new opponents instead.

3. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

The On-Rails Gameplay Format Of Darkside Chronicles Means Safe Rooms Don’t Fit

In terms of gameplay mechanics, The Umbrella Chronicles is similar because it too relies on on-rail shooting, where players can only aim their gun while the character’s movement is handled automatically. This specific style of play eliminates the need for safe rooms in Darkside Chronicles, as unlike other entries, the player doesn’t have the option to pause and save the game at will when things get tough.

As I dive into this captivating game world, it feels like the game itself is guiding my every move and leading me through a series of action-packed landscapes. This constant immersion in the heat of the gameplay really ramps up the excitement level. And to top it off, the game frequently auto-saves, which means I don’t have to worry about missing out on those tranquil rooms that offer a much-needed break from the high-stakes action.

2. Resident Evil Revelations

Despite Harkening Back To The Roots Of The Series, Revelations Doesn’t Bring Back The Classic Safe Rooms

In “Resident Evil Revelations,” fans were excitedly anticipating a comeback to the survival horror genre that the series had seemingly abandoned due to its continuous action-packed sequences. While it effectively recaptured the tense and suspenseful ambiance of the originals, “Revelations” removed the concept of safe rooms entirely. Instead, the game disperses item boxes across the Queen Zenobia ship in more spacious locations, leaving Jill vulnerable to attacks by enemies if she fails to clear the area beforehand.

This significantly increases the tension in the gameplay, as many rooms are likely teeming with terrifying Ooze creatures lurking about the ship. While Capcom aimed to evoke the feel of the original games, they hadn’t fully committed to reintroducing safe rooms quite yet.

1. Resident Evil Gaiden

This ‘What If?’ Scenario Plays Like A Traditional Resident Evil, But With No Safe Rooms In Sight

Resident Evil Gaiden is an unusual side story game featuring Leon and Barry, who are trying to flee a zombie-filled ocean liner while assisting some survivors. Despite its seemingly unbelievable plot, it’s non-canonical, meaning Capcom could experiment with the narrative and gameplay mechanics, but regrettably, safe rooms were left out in this peculiar installment.

Throughout their journey on the ship in Resident Evil Gaiden, save points appear sporadically and not always in clearly secure areas free from enemies. Consequently, players seldom get moments of respite during gameplay, creating an unrelenting sense of dread and tension that appeals to dedicated horror enthusiasts who thrive on such experiences.

2025-01-14 10:34

Resident Evil Games That Don’t Have Safe Rooms