Could Resident Evil Dominate 2012?
With three video games and two blockbuster movies on the way in 2012, does the Resident Evil franchise have all it needs to dominate entertainment this year?
Capcom survival horror franchise Resident Evil is making a huge comeback this year with three new titles (Revelations, Operation Raccoon City and Resident Evil 6), a second CG film (Damnation) and a fifth live-action film (Retribution). Though it isn’t uncommon for such a popular franchise to have so many releases throughout a single year, 2012 could be the year that the franchise is most successful given what it has to offer. Let’s take a closer look at each of these titles to understand why 2012 could be the year of Resident Evil…
THE GAMES
Name: Resident Evil: Revelations
Platform: 3DS
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: January – February 2012
Resident Evil Revelations should be viewed as the sole reason to buy Nintendo’s current handheld the 3DS this year. The highly anticipated prequel is set between the events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident 5, and focuses on franchise favorites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield during one of the pair’s early missions with the BSAA to stop a terrorist group from spreading the “T-Abyss virus,” a marine virus derived from the zombie making T-virus.
One of the reasons why Revelations seems like a must-have is that it brings the franchise back to its core gameplay with the return of survival horror elements after they were all dropped for more action oriented gameplay in RE5. Another reason is that the title marks the first time an RE game allowed players to move while aiming on a handheld experience and in or out of a first-person view.
Name: Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: Slant Six
Release Date: January – February 2012
Ever wondered what Umbrella, the evil corporation behind the zombie making T-virus, were really up to during the outbreak that destroyed Raccoon City in between Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3? Well, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City serves to answer that question with a back story like no other in the franchise. You finally get to play from the villains’ point of view during the fateful events that turned the lively Raccoon City into the land of the dead. Whereas, up to four players can take on the role of members of the Umbrella Security Service who are sent in during the outbreak to destroy the evidence and kill all witnesses for the sake of Umbrella.
ORC is no ordinary RE game due to the fact that it is a hybrid made from the union of a tactical shooter and a survival horror game. That’s because the game is being developed by Slant Six, the ones behind Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six franchise. As such, the gameplay allows for cover based shooting, character leveling, unique classes, the use of meat shields, online multiplayer and more. But what makes the game feel unique is its patented tree corner combat; firefights between the USS and Delta Squad in the middle of a zombie outbreak. That and the in-game options that allows players to alter the events of the outbreak like eliminating Leon Kennedy. Hence, ORC is shaping up to be one of the most unique and hectic entries in the RE franchise.
Name: Resident Evil 6
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: November 2012
If you were hoping to play as Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy in the same game, you’ll be happy to know that its finally happening in the recently announced Resident Evil 6. The game takes place ten years after the events of Raccoon City and starts off with quite a bang. After serving his close friend the US President for some time, Leon is forced to put an end to the partnership with a bullet after a bio-terror attack turns him and thousands of other people into his worst nightmare; zombies. Meanwhile, Chris and the rest of the BSAA are having their own undead troubles in China thanks to a series of similar outbreaks that could endanger the entire world.
Like ORC, the game plays like a tactical shooter. Whereas, it features cover based shooting, sprinting and melee system. It also features new tricks like prone shooting. However, the game retains the traditional stationary aiming that some have come to hate about the series. Regardless, it looks like it will be the best RE game yet.
THE FILMS
Name: Resident Evil: Retribution
Studio: Constantin Film, Davis Films, Impact Pictures
Release Date: September 14, 2012
Say what you will about Paul W.S. Anderson’s RE films, but they gross over $600 million for Capcom since the first film – which is quite ironic given the lack of RE canon material in those films. Yes, Anderson’s popcorn flick mockery of the RE live-action franchise is back with a fifth installment coming later this year called Resident Evil Retribution. Like its predecessors before it, the fifth film stars Milla Jovovich as the film series’ original protagonist Alice, and has almost nothing to do with the RE game canon except the iconic monsters and the villainous corporation behind them. This time around, Alice is trying to solve more mysteries about Umbrella and herself in a world overrun with undead abominations produced from their patented T-virus.
Retribution is by far the most ridiculous installment to date due to its horrendously awkward story. This time around, Alice is joined by some of the film’s previously deceased heroes, including Michell Rodriguez’s character Rain from the first film and Oded Fehr’s character Carlos from Apocalypse and Extinction (also featured in the game Resident Evil 3). Also, the Las Plagas from the Resident Evil 4 game makes its appearance as a hybrid made with the undead, allowing them to drive vehicles, fire weapons and more. Oh, and did I forget to mention that RE staple character Ada Wong finally makes her appearance in the film franchise.
As I mentioned before, despite how much more horrible these movies get after each sequel, they have managed to churn up a lot of dough for Capcom as popcorn flicks. So its a safe bet that Retribution will continue the tradition despite the growing disgust of the RE fan base.
Name: Resident Evil: Damnation
Studio: Capcom, SPEJ, Digital Frontier
Release Date: 2012
Little to nothing is known about the upcoming second CG film Resident Evil: Damnation. All we know is the film will be created by the same team behind the first CG film Degeneration as a sequel. The plot focuses on a around bio-organic weapons used in the European warzone, and will see the return of Leon Kennedy as the protagonist.
Though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it is theorized that the weapon will unleash zombies for Leon to dispense with. And since it is being produced by the last film’s crew, it Damnation could serve as another traditional prequel to the RE canon much like its predecessor did as opposed to the re-imaginative live-action films. Let’s hope this is the case.
CONCLUSION
With so much to offer this year, the Resident Evil franchise could win Capcom the most awards it has ever been given within a year. That is if the games and the film do a great job at entertaining the fan base.
Do you agree that 2012 is the year of Resident Evil? Please comment on this.
Filed under: Movies, PS3, Speculation, Video, Windows PC, Xbox 360 Tagged: 2012, film, movie, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil: Damnation, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Resident Evil: Retribution, Resident Evil: Revelations, video game 
Source:
