Resident Evil
Japanese title: BioHazard
Platforms: PlayStation, Saturn, DOS/Windows, Game Boy Color (Canceled)
Original North American release: March 30, 1996
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	Pursued by dogs.

Background
It all began in 1996 when Resident Evil hit the new PlayStation console. At the time of the title's release, it was lauded as the best 3D adventure game ever. Impressively rendered backgrounds, unprecedented cinematic quality in graphics and sound, and the rare ability to provide very real tension and genuine scares far outweighed the game's flaws. Borrowing stock horror-movie elements such as flesh-hungry zombies and mutated creatures and featuring a story that changed depending on how the game was played, the game quickly became a favorite of players and lead to the creation of a new genre: survival-horror. Resident Evil became a best seller and is now part of the PlayStation's Greatest Hits series, and every new installment of the game has been met with high anticipation, platinum sales, and no small amount of praise.

	The birds.

But was Resident Evil the true originator of the survival-horror genre? It's widely accepted that the PC game Alone in the Dark was a source of inspiration, but it's also possible that a Famicom (NES in the US) game called Sweet Home marked the beginning of the genre.

Story
In a typical Midwestern US town called Raccoon City, strange reports come in from locals about missing people and unusual sightings of doglike monsters. After the remains of a mangled woman, bearing wounds that seem to have been inflicted by a wolf or grizzly bear, are fished out of the river, local police barricade the entrance to the mountain road, and Raccoon City's own STARS (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad) is informed of the situation.

	Don't worry, this one won't bite.

STARS unit Bravo Team is sent to investigate the situation, but a helicopter engine failure leads to all contact being lost with the group. Alpha Team is sent in to investigate the forest area, locate and rescue Bravo Team members, and bring the situation under control. However, when the team lands, it is suddenly attacked by a pack of grotesque dogs. Abandoned by their terrified helicopter pilot, the remaining members of Alpha Team are chased to a nearby mansion where the real nightmare begins.

	Not your normal spider.

Choosing one of two characters, you will go on to discover the secret of the Umbrella Corporation and the T-Virus. Strange puzzles, terrifying monsters, and a twisted plot await....

Main Characters
Chris Redfield
Jill Valentine
Albert Wesker
Barry Burton
Rebecca Chambers

	Jill prepares to tickle the ivories.

Weapons
Combat Knife
Beretta 9mm
Shotgun
Colt Python
Bazooka (Grenade Launcher)
Rocket Launcher
Flamethrower

Biggest Secret
Only the best survivors, those who are able to beat the game in less than three hours, and GameShark users will find themselves with unlimited use of the rocket launcher, a weapon that will kill any enemy in the game with a single shot. Every Resident Evil since has had some variation of this secret.

Note: Resident Evil for the Game Boy Color was originally delayed because Capcom felt more work needed to be done on the title. Then Capcom decided to pull the plug on the project entirely because Capcom of Japan felt that the portable platform can't do justice to the game. UK developer HotGen was working on Resident Evil for the Game Boy Color before it was canceled.