Prepare for one thing even wackier than Paul W.S. Anderson

Did you come throughout a preview for the upcoming Resident Evil: Dying Island that received you all hyped? Properly, we’ve got nice information, then. It seems Capcom has already made many different Resident Evil animated motion pictures previously…

…And most of them are so past bonkers that even followers of the video games wouldn’t consider it.

Biohazard 4D-Executer (2000)

The primary try at a Resident Evil animated undertaking is Biohazard 4D-Executer, a reputation solely an exec fully drunk on that candy ’00s juice would decide. You’ll be able to inform Capcom doesn’t care a lot for it as a result of you could find it on many Youtube channels in its entirety. The CGI 20-minute brief feels extra like an experiment than a full-blown try. It doesn’t actually prime for its animation and you may say it barely rivals the cutscenes from Resident Evil 3. It did, nonetheless, mark the start of a bizarre period.

Robust factors: Traditionally necessary. That is the affected person zero of Resident Evil motion pictures. That is the one we’ve got to return in time to stop from occurring if we don’t wish to see Milla Jovovich working on partitions to roundhouse-kick zombie canine. Additionally, it’s a comparatively unique story on the planet of Resident Evil that gained’t hassle anybody for too lengthy.

Biohazard 4: Incubate (2006)

Incubate nonetheless isn’t Capcom’s first Resident Evil animated function movie, but it surely’s one more fascinating experiment. Following up on the huge success of Resident Evil 4, Capcom launched this straight-to-DVD compilation of RE4 cutscenes that includes added explainers of what occurred in that village previous to the arrival of Leon S. Kennedy.

Robust factors: The animation rivals that of its up to date RE sport, however solely as a result of it’s straight-up a bunch of RE4 cutscenes.

Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)

The 2008 launch Resident Evil: Degeneration marks the beginning of Capcom’s try at taking up the crowded CGI Zombie film market. It takes place between RE4 and RE5 and, although followers may not acknowledge it as canon, it’s the one which explains the place Tricell (Resident Evil 5’s Nu-Umbrella) got here from.

Robust factors: Degeneration represents the most effective and worst in the case of animated Resident Evil. On the one hand, it’s probably the most sober method to the style. On the opposite, it doesn’t function wonderful animation and, extra importantly, it’s not foolish sufficient. Extra on that later.

Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)

What lies on the core of the success of the Resident Evil video games? We’d wager on the surprisingly cerebral gameplay that lies hiding beneath a supremely dense layer of camp. This in all probability gained’t come as a shock, however the motion pictures don’t function any type of gameplay. Capcom seemingly determined to make up for that by tripling the quantity of camp.
Damnation got here out in 2012 and bridges the occasions between RE 5 and RE 6. It’s a step up from Damnation as a result of it options a lot better animation and likewise as a result of that is when issues start to get ridiculous.

Overlook the times of survival horror. The Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated the world in 2012, so it’s time you noticed Chris Redfield main a military of Lickers towards the Tyrant in broad daylight. No, actually:

Robust factors: They tried one thing new.

Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)

You would base a complete psychological well being verify solely on somebody’s response to 2017’s Resident Evil: Vendetta. Detest it and also you’re wholesome, Adore it and also you’re superior.*

This one takes place between RE 6 and  RE 7, however as a substitute of making the anticipated bridge to the seventh installment, it takes a detour to Rabid Racoon Metropolis. Keep in mind all these instances when Resident Evil 6 was simply an excessive amount of? Properly, Vendetta looks like Resident Evil 6 2.
Whereas Damnation tried to emulate the MCU, Vendetta wanted desperately to be John Wick on steroids — all the way down to the variety of canine killed within the course of.

Individuals who complained that the collection veered an excessive amount of into motion territory after Resident Evil 4 shouldn’t watch this one for their very own sake. Every set piece is greater and dumber than the earlier one.

Robust factors: An expertise so bafflingly particular you’ll suppose nobody will consider you should you attempt to put it into phrases. That’s why we largely used movies.

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021)

Infinite Darkness got here out between 7 and Village however no one cares as a result of this continues Leon’s story.
Netflix’s 2021 RE: Infinite Darkness is the entire antithesis to 4-D Executer, Capcom’s first animated RE factor. It options top-notch rendering and animation however holy crap, does it overstay its welcome. Whereas viewers can simply undergo by means of the whole thing of 4-D Executer in 20 minutes, Infinite Darkness is a four-part television collection.

Dividing what ought to be a 90-minute movie into 4 elements feels reductive. Additionally, even at its finest, Infinite Darkness by no means even comes near the leisure worth of Vendetta. Sure, it does present a way more sober expertise than Vendetta, however we now not wish to flip that prepare round.

Robust Factors: Appears good and offers another Netflix present to speak crap about.

*Don’t use the Resident Evil collection as a strategy to investigate cross-check somebody’s psychological well being.

Tiago Manuel

Tiago is a freelancer who used to write down about video video games, cults, and online game cults. He now writes for Destructoid in an try to search out himself on the successful facet when the robotic rebellion comes.

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