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RESIDENT EVIL - From best to worst

xrnzaaas

Gold Member
I'm probably in the minority, but I never liked RE4. I didn't like new types of enemies, fugly brownish environments and outdated controls for a tpp game.

RE2 is definitely my favorite - both the original and the remake.

RE5 and 6 are both among my least favorite entries. Too much focus on action (especially in RE6), not enough exploration/puzzle solving/horror and dumb AI teammate in RE5.
 
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Playing Res 7 at the moment and even though it is one of the scariest Res Evils I'm incredibly disappointed in the sludge monsters in the game. I'm not sure the correct name for them, but are they simply there to soak up all your ammo?
 

Roufianos

Member
Out of the ones I've played:

RE4 - Majestic
RE2 - Magesterial
RE7 - Amazing start but drops off
RE5 - RE4 minus any tension or atmosphere. Truly awful.
 
RE3 remake I don't even count as a game as it's not finished and inferior to the original in every way. How can a game from 1999 does a better job making raccoon city feel like a city and not just 3 "rooms"?
 

Amory

Member
I had never played an RE game before last year, but I've really fallen in love with the series. I haven't played all of them but for the ones I have here's my ranking:

1. RE2 Remake - game is perfect. it's one of my favorite all time gaming experiences. Mr. X was genuinely anxiety inducing and because I didn't know how to progress (since I had never played the game before) I probably got chased around the police station for 2-3 hours before I found out how to escape. I also loved that there were 2 totally different storylines for Leon and Claire. I'll probably replay this yearly.

2. REmake - loved the creepy atmosphere and the pure survival horror-ness. Every time I made a little bit of progress with the puzzles I felt super smart. Little touches like the breaking down of the doorknobs limiting your shortcuts always kept me on my toes.

3. RE7 - really enjoyed this one as well, particularly the starting house with the crazy old man, having to hide because you don't have any good weapons yet. I think the rest of the game loses something when compared to the start, but it's still a really solid game and a return to form for the series


(the RE games I've played fall into two totally separate tiers for me, and this is where the separation happens. I don't hate the following games, but they're not in the same league as the first 3)


4. Code Veronica - still that classic survival horror goodness, but this game is very flawed. I played this in 2020 and the tank controls are a significant burden that you can't get away from. There's far too much backtracking. And there are a couple of boss fights (particularly the last boss fight) that are just stupid difficult and require more luck than skill. Glad I played it, but it's far from perfect.

5. RE3 Remake - I had some fun with this one, but you can't help but compare it to RE2 and it's just not RE2. Nemesis sucks. He's a pain in the ass and he shows up so often and it's always so scripted that he quickly loses any scariness. The game is super short, the environments aren't interesting, etc etc. I paid $20 for RE3 and that's what it's worth.

6. RE4 - sorry folks. I can appreciate that this game was probably incredible to play when it came out, but I don't think it holds up very well nowadays. I found the cheesy dialogue & characters very annoying after a while, the graphics are brown, grey, and bland, I thought the game was a few hours too long, I don't like the escort segments, etc. Most of all, I just found it too jarring that basically all the puzzles and survival mechanics were thrown out and it was a pure action game. Just not for me. It has its moments though, I'll give it that. RIP Chopper Mike
 

Nickolaidas

Banned
I love them all, even the shitty spin-offs like Dead Aim.

But my favorite has to be the original on the PSX, because it was the first SH game I've ever played (Alone in the Dark 1-3 weren't REALLY scary, more like action thrillers).

Objectively, however, without nostalgia pissing in my face, RE3make and RE VII have to be the best RE games I've played. Tense, scary and full of excellent gameplay and resource management.
 

Zephir

Member
I played only the "action trilogy" and revelations, so my list would be really short, but it would be...

1 - the one against angry spanish people
2 - the one that tried to achieve Complete Global Saturation
3 - the one where shit happens because a guy was thirsty for Ada Wong
 
I'm probably in the minority, but I never liked RE4. I didn't like new types of enemies, fugly brownish environments and outdated controls for a tpp game.
6. RE4 - sorry folks. I can appreciate that this game was probably incredible to play when it came out, but I don't think it holds up very well nowadays. I found the cheesy dialogue & characters very annoying after a while, the graphics are brown, grey, and bland, I thought the game was a few hours too long, I don't like the escort segments, etc. Most of all, I just found it too jarring that basically all the puzzles and survival mechanics were thrown out and it was a pure action game. Just not for me. It has its moments though, I'll give it that. RIP Chopper Mike

I'm a hardcore fan of RE4 and for me, it's the greatest video game of all time. BUT -- these are very reasonable posts, mad respect to both of y'all for your opinions. And I can agree to an extent. It's certainly not a game for everybody.

But the biggest thing I respect is the reasonable, elaborated opinions, as opposed to the "RE4 is worse than the Black Plague and ruined the RE series and video games forever" hot takes that are common in RE4 conversations.
 
1 and 2 are the only real Resident Evil games for me. 3 was shit even when it came out. 1 and 2 remakes of course are awesome.

I haven't played every single RE game ever made (god bless my soul) but quite a few after the
first three.

4, never managed to finished it. I just didn't like it.

Code Veronica. A game very similar to the first three games, but in the end couldn't finishised it. So boring.

5, i played borrowed from a friend and was the first one that i couldn't stand even the first hour of the game.

6, i found it very entertaining, mostly 'couse i played the entire game in coop with a friend and we were laughing our asses off the entire playthrough. Like we even finished every campaign of the damn thing!

The game was just something else. Unbelievable.

That's it. 7 didn't have the chance to play it yet.
 
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Out of the ones I've played

1) Code Veronica

2) Resident Evil

3) Resident Evil 7

4) Resident Evil Zero

5) Resident Evil 2 - Remake

6) Resident Evil - Remake

7) Resident Evil 2

8) Resident Evil 4

9) Resident Evil 3 - Remake

10 Resident Evil 5

11) Resident Evil 6

12) Resident Evil 3
 
*OPINION WARNING* I love all the RE games...Well almost all of them. I hate 7 and love Remake, Zero, & RE 6. I was 18 when the original Resident Evil released, I've been there since day 1; for me the series has always been campy action games.... never have any of them been scary or difficult. The first time I finished the game I had a ton of ammo by the ending. the games are fun but in no way are they scary; so RE5 and 6 are a love letter to a fan like me.

favorites List
1. Resident Evil Rebirth
2. Resident Evil Zero
3. Resident Evil 6
4. Resident Evil 3 Remake
5. Resident Evil Revelations
 
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Soodanim

Member
Classic
2, 3, REmake, 1, CV, 0

Modern
4, 2R, 3R, Rev2, Rev1, 5, 6

Side Games
Outbreak File 2, Outbreak, Chronicles (both, I forget which is better), Dead Aim, Survivor.

Mixed Top 5
2, 3, 4, REmake, 2R

I find it very difficult to rank REmake/2/3/4, and they’ve all held the top spot for a time. I decided 2 is my favourite mix of everything that is RE. Music, gameplay, replayability, etc. 3 follows that, but REmake is of such a high quality that it could be anyone’s favourite. 4 is one of my favourite games of all time, but it doesn’t need to be RE. The complete tonal shift means it could stick any mask on and be fine, because that gameplay loop is so strong, and the controls are solid. Not sure about the placement of 1 above CV, seems insulting but it’s a stronger complete product. CV and 0 are better when you have learned to play around their strengths. They’re still better than 5, though.

Beer Baelly Beer Baelly you are correct, 2 has the best soundtrack in the series. Darkside Chronicles is nothing but an imitator and will never surpass the originals, Astral Dog Astral Dog
 
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Hallondricka

Neo Member
S-Tier
1. Resident Evil REmake
2. Resident Evil 2
3. Resident Evil 4
4. Resident Evil 7

A-Tier
5. Resident Evil 2 REmake
6. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
7. Resident Evil
8. Resident Evil: Revelations
9. Resident Evil: Revelations 2

B-Tier
10. Resident Evil 3 REmake
11. Resident Evil 0
12. Resident Evil 5
13. Resident Evil Outbreak File #2
14. Resident Evil Outbreak
15. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
16. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

C(rap)-Tier
17. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
18. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
19. Resident Evil Survivor
20. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
21. Resident Evil 6

...

Why-Did-This-Even-Get-Released?-Tier or also known as Can-I-Get-My-Money-Back?-Tier
98. Resident Evil: Resistance
99. Umbrella Corps
 

Madevil

Member
It just baffles me how Capcom ignores Code Veronica . Yeah I can remember it being pretty tough and I haven't played it since near the the PS2 release, but if they're going to go mostly the remake route: Why ignore it?
 

killatopak

Gold Member
Great

RE3
REmake
RE2=RE4
REmake 2
REmake 3
RE5

Mediocre

RE Outbreak File 1
RE7
RE Outbreak File 2
RE6

Disappointing

RECV
RE0
RE Darkside Chronicles
RE Umbrella Chronicles

I actually never finished the original Resident Evil and just have only gone so far to Neptune. Put it in the great category if you feel it’s about as good as REmake.
 
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Astral Dog

Member
It just baffles me how Capcom ignores Code Veronica . Yeah I can remember it being pretty tough and I haven't played it since near the the PS2 release, but if they're going to go mostly the remake route: Why ignore it?
I believe one reason, is in the current political climate the cross dressing villain simply won't pass, and Capcom are afraid of being seen as transphobic by SJW

I really wish i was kidding,but i wouldn't be shocked if that was the case,either way i hope some day they reconsider because a REmake would be fantastic and even improve the game. VILLAGE could reference CV as its dealing with Umbrella's founders as well
 
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Madevil

Member
I believe one reason, is in the current political climate the cross dressing villain simply won't pass, and Capcom are afraid of being seen as transphobic by SJW

I really wish i was kidding,but i wouldn't be shocked if that was the case,either way i hope some day they reconsider because a REmake would be fantastic and even improve the game. VILLAGE could reference CV as its dealing with Umbrella's founders as well
Yeah that villain didn't even register with me as anything other than another continuation of the next event. But you make a depressingly valid point.
 

Matt_Fox

Member
It just baffles me how Capcom ignores Code Veronica . Yeah I can remember it being pretty tough and I haven't played it since near the the PS2 release, but if they're going to go mostly the remake route: Why ignore it?
CV was a weak seller compared to the other mainline games in the franchise, and perhaps Capcom might also rationalise that it doesn't have the same 'brand awareness' as the numbered titles. RE4 and RE5 sold crazy numbers (with 5 being the series bestseller by a comfortable margin) so I'd suspect they will move on to those two next for the Remakes.
 
CV was a weak seller compared to the other mainline games in the franchise, and perhaps Capcom might also rationalise that it doesn't have the same 'brand awareness' as the numbered titles. RE4 and RE5 sold crazy numbers (with 5 being the series bestseller by a comfortable margin) so I'd suspect they will move on to those two next for the Remakes.
Can confirm.

According to a VG sales website (https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Resident_Evil), Code Veronica seems to be the lowest selling mainline title. Although interestingly, the website doesn't include Code Veronica's GameCube sales numbers; so either they're not available, or they're that negligible!? At 2.9 million, it seems to be the lowest selling, a good 600,000+ copies behind the next lowest selling entry (Resident Evil 3).

As a side note: It's very interesting to note how the drop off from Resident Evil 2 (classic) -> Resident Evil 3 (classic) is almost exactly mirrored in the transition from Resident Evil 2 (remake) -> Resident Evil 3 (remake).
 

Madevil

Member
CV was a weak seller compared to the other mainline games in the franchise, and perhaps Capcom might also rationalise that it doesn't have the same 'brand awareness' as the numbered titles. RE4 and RE5 sold crazy numbers (with 5 being the series bestseller by a comfortable margin) so I'd suspect they will move on to those two next for the Remakes.
Yeah I do understand the financial position at the time. Great point. I'm just arguing the case of the rad presentation and newer camera and controls at the time. I just think it's ripe for the picking haha.
 

Reizo Ryuu

Gold Member
I legit can’t tell if this is from best to worst or from worst to best.
ebhRKqf.jpg
 
R3make
RE5
RE2make
RE4
RERev2
RE6
REmake
RE7
RECV
RERev
RE0
RE2
RE1
RE3

I legit can’t tell if this is from best to worst or from worst to best.

Nah. I don't fully agree with Reizo Ryuu Reizo Ryuu 's rankings because of my own personal tastes, but they do make a lot of sense: His order seems to emphasize actual playability.

I know that classic RE fans are all about "exploration and atmosphere," but it can be (easily) argued that when measured up against the modern games, the OG games just don't play very well. Tank controls are not for everyone, and don't always seem intuitive. I absolutely love the OG games and they're some of my favorite games of all time (a couple of them are in my personal top 10). But -- they're definitely not for everybody. And one can almost objectively say that the modern (RE4+) games simply play... better. Hell, didn't one of the OG game's directors (maybe Shinji Mikami) come out and say that the reason why the OG games are designed as they are is expressly because of hardware limitations?

(Yes, found it: https://www.denofgeek.com/games/resident-evil-director-debate-classic-games/)
 

Astral Dog

Member
CV was a weak seller compared to the other mainline games in the franchise, and perhaps Capcom might also rationalise that it doesn't have the same 'brand awareness' as the numbered titles. RE4 and RE5 sold crazy numbers (with 5 being the series bestseller by a comfortable margin) so I'd suspect they will move on to those two next for the Remakes.
It may been a 'weak' seller, but it was released on the fucking Dreamcast lets give it a break for that alone, reviews were amazing for the time and the game achieved cult status.

The game has this awkward phase were it transitioned to full 3d graphics (not even RE1 or 0 did that) but the camera and controls are very old school, and the graphics while 3d look very crude.

Thats why i believe it would benefit most from a remake, and at least it deserves one as much as Resident Evil 3. The RE0 reached fantastic sales from the remaster so im still crossing fingers! 🤞

Anyways sales for CV are comparable to those of Revelations 2 and it did pretty well on the PS2 all things considered, so it isn't impossible Capcom gives another shot some day, i say the character of Alfred is the main reason they don't want to make it :(
 
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Azurro

Banned
I enjoyed Leon's and Ada's campaigns in RE6. Wesker Jr.'s wasn't that terrible either but it still was a really unfocused game.

About CV, I'd love a remake but let's be real, the media would kill Capcom for the cross dressing thing.
 
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kunonabi

Member
CV is the one game that truly needs a remake. Aside from some of the set pieces everything else about that game was a dumpster fire. Hell, having REmake Claire alone would improve the game by a gigantic amount. Overhauling the story, characters, and fixing the controls could make the game really good if they strip enough of the garbage away.
 
Too many games in this series, imo. it's gone on too long and I'm no longer interested in them. If they were each a self contained story like FF, then I could go back to being interested, but now it just feels like they are dragging it out way too long.
 
Nah. I don't fully agree with Reizo Ryuu Reizo Ryuu 's rankings because of my own personal tastes, but they do make a lot of sense: His order seems to emphasize actual playability.

I know that classic RE fans are all about "exploration and atmosphere," but it can be (easily) argued that when measured up against the modern games, the OG games just don't play very well. Tank controls are not for everyone, and don't always seem intuitive. I absolutely love the OG games and they're some of my favorite games of all time (a couple of them are in my personal top 10). But -- they're definitely not for everybody. And one can almost objectively say that the modern (RE4+) games simply play... better. Hell, didn't one of the OG game's directors (maybe Shinji Mikami) come out and say that the reason why the OG games are designed as they are is expressly because of hardware limitations?

(Yes, found it: https://www.denofgeek.com/games/resident-evil-director-debate-classic-games/)

I understand your point but I still respectfully disagree. Hardware limitations were a beautiful thing. Limitations are usually good for creativity. I understand why someone would prefer, say, Resident Evil 4 or 7 over the original ones, but to put turds like the Revelations games over 1,2 and 3 is just bizarre in my opinion. And I though it was extra funny to have RE3 Remake as the very best and original RE3 as the absolute worst. But I do think it's a strength for the series that people's lists are so different from each other.
 

killatopak

Gold Member
6th. Resident Evil 3 (1999). Rushed out just one year after Resident Evil 2, and perhaps a little samey, for me this is one of the weakest entries in the main series. Video games are fundamentally about empowerment and having to constantly evade and flee the Nemesis sits somewhat at odds with that.

I have no issue with your rankings but just your justification. RE3 is probably my favorite RE so I gotta fight for it 😤

You can fight and down Nemesis in every encounter so I find your reasoning odd. Although to a lesser extent, the same thing applies to Mr. X back in RE2 so it isn’t something new. Jill as a protagonist is also very empowering compared to RE1 and RE2 where the protagonists are either unaware of what they are dealing it with or are rookies and civilians. It’s also the most action focused game in any classic RE game.

I always hear people complain that RE3 looks samey as 2 but the police station is just like a 5-10 minute journey to pass through before going back to the meat of the game which is the city itself. Like 80% of the station is either boarded up or locked too so it’s not like you’ll get lost exploring it since you’re basically locked onto a single path into the STARS office and then back out.

Some could say that the value of having two story lines and then going back to a single one makes it worse but I feel like the Live Selection system makes up for that along with the Mercenaries mode. The random enemy and item placement also adds to the replay value as well.



Moving on and adding to the conversation about CV/CVX

I think the reason why it doesn’t appeal to me is because of the pacing is kinda bad. The game is simply too long. It really messes up with the resource management when a game is this long. The story drags out and the urgency is lost. RE4 even with how much I love it suffers from the same thing albeit not too much. The pacing would have been perfect if they had cut the island portion or at least made it a bit shorter.

There’s also a lot of mechanics that are not very conductive to the experience like the very famous Tyrant fight in the plane where you can lock yourself out as well as items being locked out to a character after a story event that forces you to switch characters. Weird item placement so you could access specific items/weapons.

I think it’s biggest downfall for me is the reintroduction of Wesker. Resident Evil has always been B-movie camp and it relishes in it but it is still somewhat realistic. Like you can still have a suspension of disbelief but Wesker‘s Matrix like maneuvers and resurrection is the start of RE being somewhat realistic to something that clearly doesn’t care about realism anymore.

For reasons said above, they would have to do some serious rehauling of the game if they ever plan to remake it. Not only do they have to worry about social issues, they also have to deal with how they‘ll come up with a way with making Wesker a little bit more believable. Not only that, they would have to think of the technical side like working with the pacing and making a modern RE game as long as CV.
 
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Soodanim

Member
This is a common misconception. You can just repeatedly hit him with the catapult until he dies. It's tough, but it can be done.
Although if you managed to not conserve ammo, you're probably not good enough to avoid the boss for long enough. Doesn't take away from the technically right aspect, but in real terms if a player goes there ill-equipped it's game over.
 

Neff

Member
Although if you managed to not conserve ammo, you're probably not good enough to avoid the boss for long enough. Doesn't take away from the technically right aspect, but in real terms if a player goes there ill-equipped it's game over.
True, but if at least the game gives you the option of doing it empty-handed, and even if you're short of ammo, you could probably weather the storm if you have a few heals. I can think of more than a few games I've saved myself into a seemingly unwinnable corner with, only to scrape by with the barest minimum of safety nets because the game is smartly designed.

Ironically, I actually did screw up a game of Code Veronica at the end boss only a couple of years ago, despite considering myself very proficient at the game. I only had one heal for the end boss and for the life of me I absolutely could not do it. I looked it up and was surprised to discover it can be done without damage.
 

Soodanim

Member
True, but if at least the game gives you the option of doing it empty-handed, and even if you're short of ammo, you could probably weather the storm if you have a few heals. I can think of more than a few games I've saved myself into a seemingly unwinnable corner with, only to scrape by with the barest minimum of safety nets because the game is smartly designed.

Ironically, I actually did screw up a game of Code Veronica at the end boss only a couple of years ago, despite considering myself very proficient at the game. I only had one heal for the end boss and for the life of me I absolutely could not do it. I looked it up and was surprised to discover it can be done without damage.
I remember in 3 needing to get past Gravedigger 1 to go into Y alley Nemesis, then get lucky dodging him and escape to get to the train. I have memories of trying to run past Nemesis in danger status, and I don’t imagine that went well. Ah, the joys of being 11.
 

sircaw

Banned
Played 4 and 5, they were good.

Six was awful.

And i played one on a big boat, it was ok, i think i got stuck alot.
 

emmerrei

Member
When i think about RE6 what come's in my mind is disgust, puke. No other game ever done me this effect. Pure disgust, maybe the worst waste of money dedicated to one game, ever made. It's unbelievable how that game come out, bland, zero carisma, and you can't wait until it ends, but guess what, it never ends, it's pure suffer. Barely ended the first campaign, just for the sake to give sense to the money spent on that (heavily) discounted piece of shit.

So to put them in order (only the one's i've playerd)

1* Resident Evil 4 - Great game, first position, yeah, but it was scary? I doubt that, maybe just 1-2 section where a little "suggestive", nothing more.
2* Resident Evil 2 - Played..(Watched playing) as a kid, it scared the shit out of me, and just the music in that fucking hall tell eveything. Replayed the remasted, great work, and even if it wasn't scary at this point, my fear of this game is still there, from my kid days.
3* Resident Evil 5 - Again, same as the 4, i will say more of the same. Really liked it at the time, platinated, but replaying it nowadays feels really outdated and aged very bad.
4* Resident Evil 7 - FPS, liked the atmosphere, great game.

RE6 doesn't exist.
 
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