Summary
TheResident Evilfranchise has produced some of the most iconic and well-known characters in the entire video game industry. Sure, this immensely popular horror series can get a little outlandish at times, but it always tries to remain at least somewhat grounded in reality, meaning many of the heroes and villains can feel eerily real, and sometimes, evenrelatableto a certain extent.
Whether it’s their willingness to keep pushing on ahead despite the odds, or even simply their fun and curious personality, there are plenty of ways a character can feel easy to connect with. Throughout the long-runningResident Evilfranchise, there have been more than a few characters who fit this description, with these key figures below being among the most relatable of the bunch for their own unique sets of reasons.
Compared to the likes of Chris and Leon,Rebeccafeels like a protagonist who is severely under-prepared for the nightmarish situations she finds herself in. After stepping into the zombie-infested train inResident Evil 0, Rebecca struggles to hold her own against a few zombies, and while this does make her the weaker member of the game’s main duo, it also ends up making her easier to relate to, since she feels more like an everyday citizen.
With that being said, Rebecca is still a trained paramedic who manages to fend off some pretty horrific monsters on her adventures. However, a major reason why Rebecca has become such a fan-favorite, despitemaking so few appearances, is because of how grounded and realistic she feels.
When someone in theResident Eviluniverse is connected to Umbrella, it usually means they’re bad news, butCarlosis a little different. As someone who genuinely wants to just help people in their time of need, Carlos must wrestle with the revelation that Umbrella, the company he answers to, is the one who has been pulling the strings behind the outbreak all along.
Rather than agreeing to be just another lowly servant of his evil masters, Carlos decides to break free from their control to do what’s right. His selflessness as a soldier and his determination to act as a good person when the world suddenly goes to hell are just a few reasons why many have related to the iconic former Umbrella operative.
ThoughSteveoften receives a lot of flak for whining and moaning, many people aren’t willing to admit that they would act exactly the same way if they were in his shoes. Steve is always making mistakes, and rather than feeling hopeful and motivated, he often questions his situation and his chances of making it out.
That being said, Steve is also known for being incredibly goofy. He always tells awkward jokes and uses quips to try and lighten the mood whenever he and Claire succeed in taking down a nightmarish mutant or monster. Thequirky side characterofCODE: Veronicais a lot more relatable than some may want to admit.
As the son ofAlbert Wesker,Jakeis inherently very strong, though this doesn’t mean he’s lost all his emotion as a human being. When Sherry runs into Jake at the beginning ofResident Evil 6, the young mercenary is moping around looking for any spare work he can take on to support himself and his single mother, whom Wesker abandoned long ago.
Rather than being proud of his parentage, Jake seems rather ashamed of it, and it’s clearly taken a big toll on his self-confidence. Ironically, despite being born to a literal superhuman, Jake feels like a relatable cast member, which is a testament to how well he’s written.
Moira, the daughter of thelegendary Barry Burton, makes her debut inRevelations 2as an unlikely ally of Claire’s. With no combat experience to her name, Moira is a fish out of water once she finds herself taking on swarms of mutants, though she isn’t exactly capable of taking these freaks down single-handedly.
Due to a traumatic childhood event, Moira had promised herself never to use a firearm. Therefore, Moira can’t just let sparks fly whenever zombies surround her, and her vulnerability as a character makes it much easier to relate to her compared to most of the gun-nuts that players control throughout the series.
ThoughResident Evil 5primarily revolves around Chris and the end of his saga with Wesker,Shevais alsothere to help him along the way. After their mission goes haywire and Chris decides to go on a personal escapade to find Jill, Sheva could have easily left him high and dry, but instead decided to stick by his side to the very end.
It’s hard to find many characters in theResident Eviluniverse who aren’t looking to stick a knife in someone’s back the moment they get the chance. Sheva, on the other hand, is willing to form a close bond with Chris, and her openness and generosity are traits that many fans can relate to.
In the firstResident Evilgame, unbeknownst to the player,Barryhas been blackmailed by Wesker,, who has threatened to kill his entire family if he doesn’t participate in his sick and twisted experiment in theSpencer Mansion. Players soon realize just how deeply Barry cares for his loved ones, with the family man becoming a character who feels a lot more human than many of his comrades.
Even after the Spencer Mansion fiasco, Barry continued fighting on his family’s behalf inRevelations 2, where he was forced to confront his rocky relationship with Moira. The powerhouse of S.T.A.R.S. is secretly a big softie, but only those who are close to him will know that about Barry.
After many fans expressed their concerns that theResident Evilseries was steering too heavily into the action genre withResident Evil 6, Capcom decided to bring the franchise back to its roots with the seventh mainline game. They achieved this by featuring a protagonist who essentially acted as a stand-in for the player. This took the form ofEthan Winters, a protective father and husband who gets caught up in more than his fair share of horrific scenarios.
While his first adventure would take him through the dark and dreary Baker Estate, he would then stumble into Mother Miranda’s village inResident Evil Village, which is plagued byflesh-hungry Lycans. Ethan can barely fire off a shotgun without nearly blowing his arms off, but he’s also got a heart of gold and an undying love for his family.
