Video Game Analysis: A Retrospective Guide To All things ‘Resident Evil’

With the remake for Resident Evil 3 being released soon, let’s take a look at the history of the Resident Evil story so far. If you need a refresher course before Resident Evil 3 or just confused on where certain games fall into the timeline, this should help you.

Please note, this will only be covering the video games and not the live action or animated movies.

Resident Evil 0

While this game was released much later, this is a prequel to Resident Evil and covers the events in the Arklay Mountains with Raccoon City’s Special Tactics and Rescue Services, aka STARS. The story follows officer Rebecca Chambers and convicted criminal Billy Coen as they explore the abandoned training facility for the pharmaceutical company, The Umbrella Corporation.

Resident Evil 0 was originally released on Gamecube in 2002.
The Umbrella Chronicles

The Umbrella Chronicles was released in 2007 and this game shows you Umbrella’s meddling throughout the events of the Resident Evil series through narration by Albert Wesker. The game was composed of five scenarios that recapitulate the events of the Resident Evil series as well as some new material that goes deeper into Umbrella’s downfall.

The Umbrella Chronicles: Beginnings takes place at the same time as Resident Evil 0

Resident Evil (Remake)

The original Resident Evil was released in 1996 but the remake was released in 2002 for the GameCube.

The story takes place in 1998 near Raccoon City where mysterious murders have been taking place and it’s up to our main characters of STARS agents, Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield to figure out what it is going on
Resident Evil 2 (Remake)

While originally released in 1998, Resident Evil 2 was given the remaster treatment in 2019.

The story takes place in the middle of Raccoon City as rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield (sister of Chris Redfield) as they attempt to escape Raccoon City during the outbreak

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was originally released in 1999 and follows Jill Valentine returning to the franchise, and mercenary Carlos Oliveira as they attempt to survive a zombie apocalypse while hunted by the intelligent bio-weapon Nemesis

The timeline starts to get a little tricky to follow at this point. The first half of Resident Evil 3 takes place 24 hours before the events of Resident Evil 2 and the second half of Resident Evil 3 takes place two days AFTER Resident Evil 2. I know, it can get a little confusing.

There a lot of stuff that happens during the same time as Resident Evil 2. Here is a quick list of those all taking place concurrently with that:
Resident Evil: Outbreak
Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2
Umbrella Chronicles: The 4th Survivor
Umbrella Chronicles: Death’s Door

Resident Evil: Survivor

Resident Evil: Survivor was released in 2000 and acted as a spin off and takes place after the missile explosion that wiped out containment in Raccoon City. It tells the story of a pilot of a helicopter crash who wakes up on Sheena Island with no memory of who he is or why he is there.

Resident Evil: CODE Veronica

Resident Evil: CODE Veronica was released in 2000 and picks up three months after the storyline from Resident Evil 2, we are following Claire Redfield and her brother Chris Redfield and the concurrent destruction in Resident Evil 3. Claire and Chris are trying to survive the outbreak at both a remote prison island in the South Ocean and a research facility in Antarctica.

These next few titles would take too long to get into with details but they go in chronological order as followed:
The Darkside Chronicles: Operation Javier
Resident Evil: Dead Aim
The Umbrella Chronicles: Dead End
The Umbrella Chronicles: Umbrella’s End
The Umbrella Chronicles: Dark Legacy

Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005. The storyline follows Leon S. Kennedy who is on a mission to rescue the President’s daughter, Ashley Graham who has been kidnapped by a cult. In a rural part of Europe, Leon must fight villagers infected by a mind controlling parasite and he also reunites with an old friend, Ada Wong.

Resident Evil: Revelations

Resident Evil: Revelations was released in 2012 and takes place in between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 and tells the story of Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield who are trying to stop a bio-terrorist organization who are trying to infect Earth’s oceans with a virus.

Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 was released in 2009 and The plot involves an investigation of a terrorist threat by Bio Terrorism Security Assessment Alliance agents Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar in Kijuju, a fictional region of Africa. Chris learns that he must confront his past in the form of an old enemy, Albert Wesker, and his former partner, Jill Valentine.

Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Resident Evil: Revelations 2 was released in 2017 and was a follow-up to Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil 5 and follows Claire Redfield and Barry Burton. The story takes Claire to a party where her and her co-worker are attacked and taken to a deserted island

Resident Evil 6

Resident Evil 6 was released in 2012 and follows Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and several newcomers including Jake Mueller as they confront the force of a worldwide bio-terrorist attack.
There are three separate story campaigns and each campaign features a unique style in both tone and game play.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil: Biohazard was released in 2017 and follows Ethan Winters who searches for his wife in a plantation occupied by a cannibal family. This also was compatible with PS VR.

So how you feeling after reading all of that? I know it’s a lot, but trust me when I tell you I left a lot of details out.

Growing up, I fell in love with this franchise. I personally am not too much of gamer but Resident Evil was always one that stuck with me and is my favorite video game franchise. Sure, sometimes certain parts while playing can be a major pain but I really find the story lines and characters interesting. I even got an Umbrella Corporation tattoo to represent.

Are you guys ready for the release of the Resident Evil 3 remake?