[edit] Related media
In addition to video games, the plot of Resident Evil has also been adapted into officially licensed materials such as films, comic books, and novels.
[edit] Films
A Resident Evil film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson was released in 2002. It was followed by two sequels Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007). In 2009, Milla Jovovich confirmed that she will be joining the cast of the fourth film Resident Evil: Afterlife.
Resident Evil the movie has nothing to do with the iconic game "resident evil". The Resident Evil film series were mostly panned by critics,[12] but reaction from fans was mixed. Some praised the first Resident Evil film for bringing the series to a mainstream audience.[13]
Capcom has also made two unrelated computer animated films, Biohazard 4D Executer (2000) and Resident Evil: Degeneration (200 cool .
[edit] Novels
The earliest Resident Evil novel was a novella titled Biohazard: The Beginning by Hiroyuki Ariga. It was published in 1997 as a portion of the book The True Story of Biohazard, which was given away as a pre-order bonus with the Saturn version of Biohazard. The story serves as a prelude to the events of the original Resident Evil, in which Chris investigates the disappearance of his missing friend, Billy Rabbitson.
S.D. Perry has written novelizations of the first five games, as well as two original novels taking place between games. Her seven titles are:
The Umbrella Conspiracy, a novelization of the first game.
Caliban Cove, an original novel set after the first game.
City of the Dead, a novelization of Resident Evil 2.
Underworld, another original novel set after Resident Evil 2
Nemesis, a novelization of the third installement of the franchise.
Code: Veronica, a novelization of the homonymous game.
Zero Hour, a novelization of the prequel game.
The novels often took liberties with the plot of the games by exploring events occurring outside and beyond the games. This often meant that the games would later contradict the novels by taking the story to a different direction.[14] One notable addition from the novels is the original character Trent, who often served as a mysterious behind-the-scenes string-puller who aided the main characters. Perry's novels were translated and released in Japan with new cover arts by Wolfina.[15] Perry's novels, particularly The Umbrella Conspiracy, also alluded to events in Biohazard: The Beginning, such as the disappearance of Billy Rabbitson and Brian Irons' bid to run for Mayor.
There was also a trilogy of original Biohazard novels in Japan. Hokkai no Yōjū (北海の妖獣?, lit. "The Beast of the Northern Seas" wink was published in 1998 and was written by Kyū Asakura and the staff of Flagship. Two additional novels were published in 2002, To the Liberty by Suien Kimura and Rose Blank by Tadashi Aizawa. While no official English translation of these novels has been published yet, the last two books were translated into German and published in 2006.
Novelizations of the three films, titled Genesis, Apocalypse, and Extinction were written by Keith R.A. DeCandido. Extinction, the novel, was released in late July 2007, several months before the film's release. There was also a Japanese novelization of the first film, unrelated to DeCandido's version, written by Osamu Makino.
[edit] Comics
In April 1996, Marvel comics released Resident Evil #1, a free comic, through a Capcom giveaway when the first game was released. It was based on Capcom's game, with art from Bill Sienkiewicz on the cover.
In 1998 Wildstorm began producing a monthly comic book series based on the first two games titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Magazine, which lasted five issues. The first four issues were published by Image, while the fifth and final issue was published by Wildstorm themselves. Each issue was a compilation of short stories that were both adaptations of events from the games, as well as related side-stories. Like the Perry novels, the comics also explored events occurring beyond Resident Evil 2 (the latest game during the series' publication) and thus were contradicted by later games.
Wildstorm also published a four-issue miniseries titled Resident Evil: Fire & Ice, which depicted the ordeal of Charlie Team, a third STARS team created specifically for the comic. In 2009, Wildstorm announced they'll reprint Fire & Ice in a graphic novel collection.[16]
In Hong Kong, there has been officially licensed Biohazard manhua adaptations of Biohazard 3 and Code: Veronica by Lee Chung Hing. The latter was translated into English and published by Wildstorm as a series of four graphic novel collections.
In 2009, Wildstorm began publishing a comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5, simply titled Resident Evil, which centers around two original members of the BSAA named Mina Gere and Holiday Sugarman. Written by Ricardo Sanchez and illustrated by Kevin Sharpe and Jim Clark, the first issue was published on March 11, 2009. As of May 20, 2009, two issues of the scheduled six issues have been published.[17]
[edit] Merchandise
Over the years, various toy companies have acquired the Resident Evil license and each producing their own unique line of Resident Evil action figures or models. These include, but not limited to, Toy Biz, Palisade Toys and Moby d**k (in Japan only). NECA and Hot Toys currently holds a license. Originally the company was only producing figures based on Resident Evil 4, but extended the line to include characters from previous installments. Tokyo Marui also produced replicas of the guns used in the Resident Evil series in the form of gas blow-back airsoft guns. Some models included the STARS Beretta featured in Resident Evil 3, and the Desert Eagle in a limited edition that came with other memorabilia in a wooden case, along with the Gold Lugers from Code: Veronica and the "Samurai Edge" pistol from the Resident Evil remake. Other merchandise includes an energy drink called "T-Virus Antidote". The most recently released merchandise is a set of three action figures, comprised of Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar, the two protagonists of the game Resident Evil 5, and the Executioner Majini, a mini-boss featured early on in the game.
[edit] Sourcebooks
Resident Evil Archives is a reference guide of the Resident Evil series written by staff members of Capcom. It was translated into English and published by BradyGuides. The guide describes and summarizes all of the key events that occur in Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, and Resident Evil Code: Veronica. Along with the main plot analysis, it also contains character relationship charts, artwork, item descriptions and file transcripts for all five games. While one of the few video game-based reference guides that was translated into English, the translation was criticized by fans for inconsistencies with the original Japanese version[citation needed], as well as inconsistencies in the official translations provided by the games themselves[citation needed].
[edit] Reception
Utilizing heavy horror elements, puzzle solving, and a lot of action, most of the games in the main Resident Evil series have been released to positive reviews. Many of the games, most notably Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4, have been bestowed with multiple Game of the Year honors[18] and frequently placed on lists of the best games ever made.[19] A common criticism of the series is its odd placement of puzzles. When speaking of Code: Veronica, one critic wrote that the game is "still largely a puzzle-driven (as opposed to plot driven) experience."[20] Capcom has been commended, however, for making an attempt to phase out and better integrate the puzzles, with IGN writing that the puzzles of Resident Evil 4 are "not so obscure that they can't be figured out, and indeed many of them are downright clever."[21]
The success of the Resident Evil series has resulted in Guinness World Records awarding the series eight world records in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008. These records include Most Live-Action Movie Sequels, Action-Adventure Game with the Most Novelizations, and the dubious honor of Worst Game Dialogue Ever for the line "Here's a lockpick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you". The 2009 Gamer's Edition noted the series alongside other long running franchises for its impact and legacy.
Title Console IGN (Out of 10) Gamespot (Out of 10) Metacritic (Out of 100) Gamerankings (Out of 100%)
Resident Evil 0 GameCube 8.2[22] 8.0[23] 83[24] 83.99%[25]
Resident Evil PlayStation 8.7[26] 8.2[27] 91[28] 89.95% [29]
Resident Evil: Director's Cut PlayStation 8.9[30] 6.9[31] N/A 74.29%[32]
Resident Evil GameCube 9.0[33] 8.9[34] 91[35] 89.82%[36]
Resident Evil 2 PlayStation 9.3[37] 8.9[38] 89[39] 92.43%[40]
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis PlayStation 9.4[41] 8.8[42] N/A 88.32%[43]
Resident Evil Code: Veronica DreamCast 9.2[44] 9.5[45] N/A 93.61%[46]
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X PlayStation 2 6.5[47] 9.0[48] 84[49] 82.12%[50]
Resident Evil 4 GameCube 9.8[51] 9.6[52] 96[53] 95.67%[54]
Resident Evil 4 PlayStation 2 9.5[55] 9.3[56] 96[57] 95.67%[58]
Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition Wii 9.0[59] 9.1[60] 91[61] 91.24%[62]
Resident Evil 5 PlayStation 3 8.7[63] 8.5[64] 86[65] 86.92%[66]
Resident Evil 5 Xbox 360 8.7[67] 8.5[68] 85[69] 85.92%[70]
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles Wii 8.0[71] 7.0[72] 75[73] 75.39%[74]
Resident Evil: Outbreak PlayStation 2 7.6[75] 7.2[76] 71[77] 70.78%[78]
Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2 PlayStation 2 6.5[79] 6.6[80] 58[81] 62.41%[82]
[edit] Sales
Sales per single title as of March 31, 2009.[83]
Title Year Platform Sales (in millions)
Resident Evil 5 2009 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 , PC 5[84]
Resident Evil 2 1998 PlayStation 4.96
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis 1999 PlayStation 3.5
Resident Evil 1997 PlayStation 2.75
Resident Evil 4 2005 PlayStation 2 2.1
Resident Evil 4 2005 GameCube 1.6
Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition 2007 Wii 1.5
Resident Evil: Outbreak 2003 PlayStation 2 1.45
Resident Evil Code Veronica X 2001 PlayStation 2 1.4
Resident Evil 2002 GameCube 1.35
Resident Evil Zero 2002 GameCube 1.25
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles 2007 Wii 1.2
Resident Evil DC Dual Shock 1998 PlayStation 1.2
Resident Evil Code: Veronica 2000 Dreamcast 1.14
Resident Evil Director's Cut 1997 PlayStation 1.13
Total title sales as of July, 2009.[83]
Title Sales (in millions)
Resident Evil 6.43
Resident Evil 4 5.2
Resident Evil 5 5[84]
Resident Evil 2 4.96
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis 3.5
Resident Evil Code: Veronica 3
Resident Evil: Outbreak 1.45
Resident Evil Zero 1.25
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles 1.2
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