Who Died First in Resident Evil?

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Summary

  • Playable characters in Resident Evil games face tragic deaths, with some sacrificing themselves for the greater good.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics in Resident Evil Outbreak and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City add complexity.
  • Resident Evil’s playable deaths contribute to the narrative depth of the franchise.

In contrast to many other franchises, a significant number of the primary characters from Resident Evil have managed to survive numerous traumatic incidents since their debut in 1996 at the Spencer Mansion. Characters like Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine set the stage, with Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield following suit as notable recurring figures who have gained a substantial fanbase within Capcom’s game universe.

Speaking of the main characters in the Resident Evil series, let’s delve into those unfortunate souls who didn’t make it past their respective campaigns. In this analysis, we’ll be focusing specifically on playable characters to keep things engaging, while still acknowledging the significant roles of other prominent heroes and their separate storylines.

Spoilers Ahead for the Resident Evil series

6. Raccoon City Survivors (Resident Evil Outbreak)

A Co-Op Game Ahead Of Its Time

The game titled “Resident Evil Outbreak” was initially launched for the PlayStation 2. It stood out among many games due to its unique feature of utilizing the network adapter for the PlayStation 2. This allowed players to either join forces with others online or offline, choosing their characters and navigating through various scenarios together. The gameplay was quite similar to other “Resident Evil” series, but each character in this game had a unique skill. This characteristic persisted in the sequel, which is known as “Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2“.

As a dedicated fan, I’d put it this way: In traditional gaming, once characters perished offline, that was the end of the road: Game Over. But in the thrilling world of Resident Evil Outbreak, characters could transform into terrifying zombies online, haunting their friends and leading to various conclusions based on who lived or died. Essentially, this game had the power to extinguish the lives of our beloved cast members like Kevin Ryman, a tenacious police officer, and Alyssa Ashcroft, a courageous reporter.

5. U.S.S. Forces (Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City)

Save The Heroes

Operation Raccoon City was not just a console game, but rather one that emerged during the initial high-definition era on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. In this game, Umbrella Corporation dispatched their elite forces, known as U.S.S or Umbrella Security Service, to eliminate any traces of the citywide outbreak in Raccoon City and conceal it from public scrutiny. Players were given the option to select one out of six characters to control, such as Vector, Lupo, Beltway, Spectre, Bertha, or Four Eyes.

Under the U.S.S. campaign, there were two possible outcomes for the players. Choosing the unfavorable ending led to the U.S.S. team eliminating characters like Leon, Claire, and Sherry. This action would disrupt the primary timeline of the Resident Evil series. Alternatively, if players defied orders, it caused a rift among the characters, and the survival of the character allied with the player was guaranteed while others met their demise. In essence, similar to the Resident Evil Outbreak games, who lived and who perished could vary from one playthrough to another.

4. Moira Burton (Resident Evil: Revelations 2)

Bad Choices Can Be Made

Initially, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 was launched in episodes, but later came out as a complete retail package. The game presented two cooperative campaigns; the first followed Claire Redfield and Moira Burton, while the second focused on Barry Burton and Natalia Korda. Each episode offered a playable segment of each campaign that seamlessly connected.

In the final act, there’s a grim scenario where Moira perishes. If this happens, Natalia gets overtaken by a malevolent spirit and manages to break free from Claire and Barry’s control. Although this isn’t the standard outcome, it’s important to note that there’s a possibility for Moira to meet her end.

3. Piers Nivans (Resident Evil 6)

Going Down With The Ship

In Resident Evil 6, the game offers three distinct main storylines that occasionally overlap. Characters Leon S. Kennedy and Helena Harper, Jake Muller and Sherry Birkin, and Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans can be chosen by players to play as. Out of these stories, one character’s ending is considered canonical because there are no alternate endings hidden within the game to change it.

In the climactic showdown against Chris and Piers, Piers took a daring step by injecting himself with a virus to amplify his strength. Had he not done so, both of them would have perished regardless. So, for the greater good, he braved the consequences and ultimately paid the ultimate price. This selfless act might be the reason Chris evolved into a more callous character post-this game’s events, notably in Resident Evil Village.

2. Steve Burnside (Resident Evil CODE: Veronica)

I Love You, Claire!

In the game titled “Resident Evil CODE: Veronica,” the primary character is Claire Redfield. She finds herself trapped in a zombie-infested prison colony. Throughout her adventure, she encounters Steve Burnside, who lends assistance. Later, Steve is infected with a virus, resulting in him becoming a sort of mini-boss that players must evade. Despite his monstrous form, Steve still assists Claire after revealing his affection for her. Chris Redfield, Claire’s brother, eventually becomes playable, but Steve does not become playable in the main storyline.

Despite the fact that there was an additional gameplay option called Battle Mode where Steve became playable, it doesn’t quite compare to being part of the main campaign. In the PlayStation 2 version known as Resident Evil Survivor 2 – Code: Veronica, Steve could be played in a co-op mode within the storyline. Similarly, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles for the Wii covered events from Resident Evil 2 and CODE: Veronica, allowing Steve to be playable again during cooperative gameplay. In essence, regardless of how you look at it, Steve is a character who can be controlled in the game, but his presence should still be lamented.

1. Ethan Winters (Resident Evil Village)

A Father’s Love

In the game “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard,” Ethan Winters emerged as a playable character, driven by his quest to find his missing wife, Mia. His journey was fraught with hardship, resulting in him losing an arm during the ordeal. Remarkably, this loss was compensated as his arm regenerated into a fungus-like entity. He managed to survive and escape from that game alongside Mia, settling in a secluded part of an unspecified European nation. Notably, they welcomed a child named Rosemary.

In the context of the most recent mainline game, Resident Evil Village, let’s fast-forward a bit. Chris Redfield unexpectedly invades Ethan’s home, resulting in the deaths of Mia and the abduction of Rosemary. Tragically, Rosemary falls into the hands of an ominous group who dismember her. In a ritual that continues to perplex players, Ethan miraculously reassembles Rosemary. Despite the enigma surrounding the process, Ethan willingly gave up his life to save hers, and it appears that she now possesses psychic powers and has the ability to age at an accelerated rate.

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2025-04-18 12:36