The Most Divisive Resident Evil Games

While the Resident Evil franchise has become one of the most popular and beloved in the entire industry, not every game in this long-running survival horror series has been universally loved by fans. Now and again, Capcom will decide to get a little experimental with a new Resident Evil game, introducing new mechanics, characters, and even an entirely different gameplay style from what came before, which has ultimately led to people having differing opinions about them.

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Sure, the likes of the original trilogy may be looked back on fondly by the majority of fans, but this certainly doesn’t apply to every game, especially those that are a little more ambitious. It’s time to take a look at those Resident Evil games that ended up splitting the fanbase, but do keep in mind that none of these games mentioned are bad, it’s just that they are usually seen as somewhat of a refined taste.

7

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

The Fast-Paced Action Fest Received A Mixed Reception Among Fans Due To Its Unrecognizable Gameplay

Released

March 20, 2012

ESRB

m

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City was released at a time when the Resident Evil series was becoming increasingly seen as an action franchise. Not many fans were happy with this direction of the series, though Operation Raccoon City was one game during this period that many came to appreciate due to its 4-player co-op campaign and the unique ‘what if?’ scenario that shows the Raccoon City incident from a different perspective.

However, the game ditches pretty much everything from the classics, making it more of a run-and-run experience that resembles Gears of War more than it does Resident Evil. How much players will enjoy this game depends on whether they are fans of fast-paced action games or not, since this is ultimately what Operation Raccoon City is at its core.

6

Resident Evil Gaiden

A Non-Canon Story Which Has Sparked Different Opinions Because Of Its Unique Gameplay And Story

Systems

Released

June 4, 2002

ESRB

t // Blood, Violence

After the original trilogy had wrapped up, many fans were eager to see where on earth the series could go next, but before Resident Evil 0 and 4 were released, fans would be gifted with Resident Evil Gaiden. Because this game is non-canon, it allowed the developers to create a frankly absurd story that has been met with mixed feelings among fans. In this game, Leon and Barry, who have never met in the mainline story, work together to escape a zombie-infested ship, along with any survivors they find along the way.

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Not everyone likes that this was the game where these two legends meet for the first time, considering how bizarre and silly it is, but when not taking it too seriously, this niche entry is still a lot of fun. The FPS view was also a divisive mechanic, sparking fears that this would be the direction Capcom would be going into with the next mainline game, while others simply saw it as a fun gimmick.

5

Resident Evil: Revelations

While The Gameplay Is Great, Revelations’ Long And Complex Story Has Garnered Mixed Feelings Among Fans

Released

January 26, 2012

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

Resident Evil: Revelations, a spin-off game originally released for the Nintendo 3DS, is very ambitious when it comes to story. With a massive batch of new characters and plenty of new factions being introduced, the story takes all kinds of unexpected twists and turns to keep players guessing throughout a playthrough.

For those who simply want a streamlined and easy-to-follow story, Revelations can be just a tad too random, but anyone who likes these sorts of long and dramatic narratives will find a lot to love here. While the story is divisive, Revelations’ gameplay, which harkens back to the slower pace of the classic entries, is a part of the game that the majority of fans agree is top-notch.

4

Resident Evil: Code Veronica

Code Veronica Leans Heavily Into The Silly Side Of Resident Evil And Is Also One Of The Longest Games In The Series

Released

February 29, 2000

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence

The Resident Evil games have always been known for being a little campy and tongue-in-cheek, but Code Veronica takes this to a whole different level. The over-the-top voice acting, bizarre characters, and unpredictable story mean players will need to fully embrace the silly side of the series to enjoy the game to its fullest, especially considering that this is also one of the longest games in the entire series.

Both of these have made this somewhat of a controversial title. For some, Code Veronica’s weirdness helps it differentiate itself from the classics that came before it, while also making the characters, like Steve and Alfred, all the more memorable. There have also been many players, however, who just can’t get past the cheesiness, which is completely understandable, but this game is still definitely worth playing due to its importance to the overall lore of Resident Evil.

3

Resident Evil 0

This Experimental Prequel Made Quite A Few Changes To The Traditional Gameplay Loop

Released

November 12, 2002

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood and Gore

Though Resident Evil 0 does borrow a lot from the original trilogy, including the fixed camera angles which help to ramp up the tension, there have also been several big changes that were met with mixed reception from fans. One example is the omission of item boxes, meaning players need to drop items on the floor if they want to come back for them, which does feel more realistic, but also makes it hard to organize an inventory on the fly.

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Resident Evil 0 is also the first game that allows players to control two characters at once. In all honestly, moving two protagonists on-screen with a single controller is still a fun mechanic that many players enjoy using due to how creative it is, but for others, it simply slows the game down too much, especially since there are also now two inventories to keep in mind. The slightly more outlandish story, which kicks off with a Leech Queen singing opera at the top of a mountain, is also one of the more divisive plots in the series.

2

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 Took The Series In A Drastically Different Direction Which Many Loved; Others, Not So Much

Released

January 11, 2005

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

While the original Resident Evil 4 is highly rated in terms of critical reception, and among many of those who are fairly new to the series, some longtime fans struggled to come around to it. When looking at it within the wider context of the series, Resident Evil 4 was a pretty jarring entry, switching the fixed cameras to a third-person angle, completely removing Umbrella from the story after hyping them up and packing in a staggering number of enemies to make the game feel like a shooting gallery.

Needless to say, anyone who enjoyed the slow and methodical gameplay of the originals wasn’t initially all too happy with the direction Shinji Mikami and the Capcom team decided to go with this game, even today. On the other side of the coin, many players feel that Resident Evil 4 was a refreshing entry that essentially revived the series. Outside of the Resident Evil community, the fourth mainline game is a critical darling, but within the fanbase itself, everyone has a different opinion on this highly influential title.

1

Resident Evil 3 Remake

Resident Evil 3 Remake Is More Divisive Than The Remake Of The Second Game

Systems

Released

April 3, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

When remaking Resident Evil 2, while there were a few changes here and there to suit the modern gameplay, it still stayed largely faithful to the classic game. In contrast, Capcom took a few extra creative liberties with the remake of 3, which has ended up splitting opinions on the game. One example of this is how the game showcases the Nemesis. In the original, he’s a relentless stalker who can show up at literally any moment. Nemesis in the remake, however, is a lot more ‘cinematic’, looking far more detailed than before, but also being reserved for mostly QTEs and brief chase sequences.

There are also parts of the game that have been cut out, such as the clock tower, which ends up making the game one of the shortest in the series. This has been another topic of division since some players have expressed that they enjoy the short and breezy nature of the game, while longtime fans would rather see everything from the original remain intact. A great remake overall, but one that still remains controversial among fans.

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