Summary
Resident Evilhas tons of games and characters. Each entry usually introduces new protagonists for the player to play as, and even then, whenever there is a returning character, their design is most likely different.
A lot of modernResident Evilgames tend to have some of the best designs in the franchise, due to improved and updated quality, as well as an understanding of how to create such designs that fit a character. However, that’s not to say the designs in older titles are bad either; in fact, some of these creations are iconic.
The originalResident Evil 3is considered among the best entries in Capcom’s series, and along with just being one of the greatest horror games ever. The 2020 remake was controversial, cutting portions of content from the original and featuring a shorter completion time. However, some things were improved, including Carlos receiving a complete redesign. The remake changed his hair as well as his outfit, while still maintaining clothing similar to his original incarnation.
The redesign fits Carlos' current situation inRaccoon City, and he is more convincing as an Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service member. He also has a more mature appearance, as would be expected of an Umbrella mercenary, despite being quite young. Overall, Carlos looks like someone who can deal with the bioweapons in Raccoon, able to deal with intense life-or-death situations, something he does throughout the game.
9Nemesis
Resident Evil 3 Remake
Continuing with theResident Evil 3remake, some players enjoyed its more action-focused gameplay, while others criticized the removal of content from the original and the changes made to encounters with Nemesis. Despite the criticism against Nemesis' gameplay, his design went through a positive change.
The enemy’s coat was extended, and his face was made more threatening, making him look even more terrifying during cutscenes, even if the gameplay didn’t always do the same. Just from how he looks, players can understand that this is a being beyond anything in previous games, a huge force of nature that will be nigh improbable to defeat, and something to run from as he will ruthlessly kill anyone.
Chris is one of the main characters of theResident Evilseries, havingappeared in multiple games. His design has gone through different iterations, as he appeared as a young and more inexperienced character in the first game.
Resident Evil 5portrayed Chris as an extremely physically active and experienced soldier. He is far more built as well, able to take on bioweapons more adequately compared to his previous iterations, something he experienced to his detriment when Wesker beat him severely inCode Veronica.Chris became a physical powerhouse, reflected in his design, as seen consistently throughoutResident Evil 5.
7Albert Wesker
Resident Evil 5
Wesker is arguably the main antagonist of the franchise, a reputation developed acrossquite a few appearances.Resident Evil 5gave closure to his storyline, along with granting him a design that quickly became character-defining.
Of course, Wesker kept wearing his signature sunglasses along with a long black coat that made him look like he was fromThe Matrix. Just at a glance, Wesker looks like someone who shouldn’t be trusted, something obvious, given his past. His design instantly shows how cold he is, able to kill without any care. His ever-present sunglasses only add to his lack of empathy, giving him an inhuman presence. He is also clad entirely in black, further demonstrating his deeply unsettling and threatening aura.
6Jill Valentine
Resident Evil 5 Lost In Nightmares
Jill Valentine is one of the most recognizable faces of theResident Evilseries,present in multiple gamesfrom the very beginning of the franchise. The Lost in Nightmares DLC gave her a different look, appearing as a more confident character compared to the first game.
Wearing more casual clothes, she strikes the player as someone now comfortable fighting bioweapons, as opposed to her inexperience in the firstResident Evil. It follows the natural progression of someone in her shoes, with a design that would allow her to deftly maneuver around zombies while still looking like something a cop would wear.
Before the remakes, Nemesis was the most iconic tyrant. However, the huge success of 2019’sResident Evil 2established T-00, nicknamed Mr. X, as many players' favorite stalker enemy. His design didn’t change too drastically from the original game, still wearing a large black coat but now with a new hat. The latter helps conceal his face, making him appear as something unnatural, hunting players with a mechanical coldness akin to the Terminator. Mr. X’s color scheme of black and gray echoes his personality, killing anything that gets in his way.
Mr. X’s face is also different, with numerous wrinkles and skin disfigurements that would be expected of an unnatural entity. Additionally, the improved graphics greatly enhanced the Tyrant’s appeal, ashis terrifying presenceis now shown in realistic detail. Overall, his design isn’t complicated, but it does its job extremely well. Just from the first interaction, his mysterious yet threatening presence, size, and color scheme immediately let players know they need to run.
Resident Evil 7broughtResident Evilback to its roots with a more grounded horror-focused game. Chris appeared briefly at the end and was featured as a playable character in the subsequent DLC. However, theversion of Chrislooked nothing like he previously did.Resident Evil Villageremedied that, by creating a Chris that resembles his previous looks, but additionally making him older and gruff. His role was that of the experienced monster killer in opposition to Ethan’s relative inexperience, with his face clearly showing his weariness of fighting for the past decades.
Chris' experience also shows in his actions, as he can easily kill monsters due to facing them for numerous years. His design kept his physical stature, still looking very well-built regardless of his age. He also seems to have taken inspiration from Mr. X, with a black coat that makes him threatening, especially when directed at monsters, giving them a taste of the ruthlessness he has been on the receiving end of. Even his combat uniform resembles that of a final boss, showing just how tough he is for any monster to take down. Chris now looks like someone who doesn’t take second chances with bioweapons, swiftly and confidently antagonizing them as they have been doing to him his whole life.
TheResident Evil 4remake had a lot riding on its shoulders due to the fourth game being often cited as the best in the series. While the original holds up very well, Ashley could have used a significant revamp, with many fans disliking her in the original.
Theremake made Ashley less annoying as a presence while also granting her a design change. Her new look matched her upper-class status, as would be natural for the daughter of the US President; comparatively, Ashley’s original design made her look like a regular person. It’s easy to immediately see that she is important in the remake, while still making her look like someone who is way out of her depth. Her new face model also helps to show this, further making her look like a person who was kidnapped and not accustomed to violence.
2Leon S. Kennedy
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Appearing inplenty ofResident Evilgames, Leon might be the first person to come to mind in a discussion of the franchise’s main protagonist. He is arguably the face ofResident Evil, and his look changes a lot throughout the series.
TheResident Evil 4remake updated his original design from the 2005 game. His clothing isn’t all too different, but his model is, with a new face that would make anyone swoon at a glance. In theResident Evil 2remake, he is a rookie cop, confident in himself but still clearly new to dealing with bioweapons. InResident Evil 4, he seems tired as a result of what he’s been through, both in the main games and in events that happen outside of those scenarios. He is weary but also extremely confident, breezing through the combatants ofResident Evil 4,yet never having lost that Leon charm in his eyes. He may not look as innocent as he once did, but he does look more badass, living up to the original game.
Resident Evil 2was thegame to first introduce Leon, but it was the fourth entry that put him on the map. It set the standard for what Leon would look like for future installments. No longer a rookie dressed in fairly conventional cop gear, Leon’sRE4design is cool and iconic. He initially shows up with a jacket, but he loses that eventually, allowing him to show off his more combat-aligned clothing.
RE4Leon is much more prepared compared to the second game, with his clothing showing his militaristic background. Various parts of his outfit would help him in combat as well, such as the utility packs. His design shows his conviction and confidence as opposed toResident Evil 2. Leon is the one in charge now.
