25 years of Biohazard

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of CAPCOM's hit survival horror franchise Biohazard (Resident Evil) and with the rest of the world await the next chapter of terror, it's time for a quick history lesson on one of the most terrifying video game franchises in ages. Get yourselves warmed up because it's going to be one helluva ride.

Biohazard (1996) - The first Biohazard game was launched in the Sony PlayStation on the 22nd of March, 1996 and it invented the survival horror genre by storm. In the first game, players can either play as Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, each with their own abilities and storyline, and emerge to the darkness as they will investigate the mystery inside a mysterious mansion that hides a deadly secret that caused world chaos as we knew it. A year later, there was a Director's Cut version featuring stuff that never put in the original game.

Biohazard 2 (1998) - Two years after the first game, Capcom launched the sequel on the PSX in 1998, on Dreamcast as part of the Value Pack in 1999, Nintendo 64 in 2000, and on GameCube in 2003. In this sequel, players can play as a young female Claire Redfield or a rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy as they will survive the nightmare that surrounds the zombie-plagued Raccoon City. There are bonuses in the end of the game such as an EX Mode, a new scenario featuring Umbrella agent HUNK, and a bonus one featuring...Tofu?

Biohazard 3: Last Escape (1999) - The third installment of the Biohazard franchise titled Biohazard 3: Last Escape (Resident Evil 3: NEMESIS) was launched on the PSX and Dreamcast (part of the Value Pack) in 1999, and on GameCube in 2003. Set during the events of the second game, former STARS member Jill Valentine must escape the inescapable zombie labyrinth of Raccoon City by all means necessary. The endgame bonuses include the first-ever "The Mercenaries" mini-game as well as additional costumes for Jill via the Boutique Key at the start of another game.

Biohazard: Gun Survivor (2000) - This is basically a loose spin-off that has no direct relation to the Biohazard/Resident Evil series and this is the first game which is set as a first-person shooter game. Launched on the PSX in 2000, Biohazard Gun Survivor (Resident Evil Survivor) pits players as a male protagonist who lost his memory after an accident and he must fight back against monsters surrounding a mysterious town while regaining his memory and find out who he really is.

Biohazard -Code: Veronica- (2000) - The tale of two Redfield siblings; Claire and Chris, are told in this installment of the Biohazard/Resident Evil franchise that was launched on the Dreamcast in 2000. Claire Redfield, who continues to search for her brother Chris, was imprisoned in Rockfort Island and she must fight her way out while uncovering the secrets of the Ashford lineage. Later on, players will be able to play as Chris in the second half of the game. The Complete Version (known as Resident Evil -Code: Veronica- X), launched on the PS2 on 2001, features additional scenes never before seen in the Dreamcast version. It was part of the Biohazard Revival Selection for the PS3 in 2011 with HD remastering and trophy support.

Gun Survivor 2: Biohazard -Code: Veronica- (2001) - The second Gun Survivor game is based on last year's Code: Veronica and it was launched in the arcades in 2001 with the PS2 version launched a year later with GunCon2 compatibility. This game has some Time Crisis feel to the Code: Veronica story we are familiar with.

Biohazard GAIDEN (2002) - Biohazard's gone portable with a Game Boy Color spinoff game called Biohazard/Resident Evil Gaiden. Launched in 2002, players pit as Barry Burton as he's on the mission to investigate a zombie-infested cruise-liner, rescue Leon and a young survivor, and avert a Bio-Organic Weapon threat hidden in this ship.

Resident Evil (2002) - The first film was loosely inspired from the first Biohazard/Resident Evil game. In here, a group of soldiers infiltrated a mysterious mansion, only to find out that it hides a secret facility only a woman named Alice knows what.

Biohazard (2002) - The very first Biohazard/Resident Evil game gave a much needed reboot for the 21st century on the GameCube in 2002 and while this essentially an all-new game, the terrifying story of the first Biohazard/Resident Evil game remains the same as players can either play as Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine while discovering the hidden world of the mansion they're on. A Wii version (I believe) was launched in 2008 while an HD remaster was launched for PS3/PS4 and XBOX 360/XBOX One in 2014. This game was part of the Origins Collection recently launched for the PS4 and XBOX One last January.

Biohazard 0 (2002) - In late 2002, the prequel of the Biohazard/Resident Evil saga was launched in the Gamecube and here in Biohazard 0/Resident Evil 0, players can play as both STARS newcomer Rebecca Chambers and escaped convict Billy Coen, taking advantage of their abilities, while solving the mysteries behind the murders, fend off horde of zombies, and discover the root cause. In fact, this is the first Biohazard/Resident Evil game that can be played cooperatively with two players. A Wii version was launched in 2008 while an HD remaster was launched for PS3/PS4 and XBOX 360/XBOX One in 2016. This game was part of the Origins Collection recently launched for the PS4 and XBOX One last January.

Gun Survivor 4: Biohazard HEROES NEVER DIE (2003) - In early 2003, the fourth installment of the Gun Survivor series called Biohazard HEROES NEVER DIE (Resident Evil Dead Aim) features an original storyline where anti-Umbrella agent Bruce MacGavin takes on a sea-jacked cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean while taking against Umbrella's suspicious activities. Being a first-person shooter game, HEROES NEVER DIE on the PS2 is GunCon2 compatible for an arcade-feel shoot-em-up 

Biohazard Outbreak (2003) - The loose spin-off of the Biohazard/Resident Evil franchise is the first game to be played cooperatively with PS2's online connectivity. In Outbreak, players choose as one of the Raccoon City survivors, each with their own kinds of abilities and work together as a team to survive through the inescapable death trap as well as different choices players will make.

Biohazard Outbreak File #2 (2004) - Like the first Outbreak game, File #2 is a co-op game where players work together to escape Raccoon City by any means necessary. In File #2, fans will discover the root cause of the T-Virus outbreak by surviving through different locations such as zoo, the subway, and the police station.

Resident Evil Apocalypse (2004) - Drawing inspiration from RE2 and RE3, this second film sees Alice escaped from the laboratory and fights her way to escape the zombie-infested town we know as Raccoon City. Elements from the game are featured in this film such as the BOW Nemesis, Jill Valentine, and the UBCS units, including RE3's Carlos Oliveira.

Biohazard 4 (2005) - Launched on the Gamecube and PS2 in 2005, Biohazard 4/Resident Evil 4 features an evolved gameplay in the form of a third-person shooter game as well as intense close-combat. Set six years after the Raccoon City incident, former police officer Leon S. Kennedy is now a government agent and he's assigned on a mysterious place in Europe for a search and rescue operation to save Ashley Graham, the president's daughter, from a mysterious cult known as Los Illuminados.  Biohazard 4 features a currency system where players can purchase items, weapons, and upgrades from a roaming merchant. By finishing the game, players will gain access to additional scenarios featuring the fan-favorite femme fatale, Ada Wong, as well as The Mercenaries minigame. There was a Wii version of the game launched in 2007 and that's not all, it was part of the Biohazard Revival Selection for the PS3 in 2011 with HD remastering and trophy support.

Biohazard Deadly Silence (2006) - The mansion incident that began the nightmare as we know it is retold on the Nintendo DS handheld as Deadly Silence was launched in 2006. There are two ways to play Deadly Silence such as the original and the more extreme Rebirth mode with new puzzles, monster placements, and touch screen-specific minigames. Apart from that, it can be played ad-hoc for multiplayer competitiveness.

Biohazard: Umbrella Chronicles (2007) - Launched for the Wii in late 2007, the Umbrella Chronicles is a brand new shooter game in the Biohazard/Resident Evil franchise where players have to shoot different monsters and objects while reliving tales of Biohazard 0, Biohazard, and Biohazard 3: Last Escape, as well as discovering untold stories such as how did Wesker revived and escaped the mansion without a scratch, how did Ada escaped Raccoon City, and Umbrella's top secret facility hidden in Siberia with the ending players truly discover who put the end of Umbrella as we knew it. A PS3 version with PlayStation Move compatibility was released in 2012 alongside the Darkside Chronicles.

Resident Evil Extinction (2007) - In Extinction, years has passed since the Raccoon City incident, the T-Virus outbreak decimated all of mankind and the organization behind the terror that is Umbrella, set up underground facilities conducting research on bioweapons. Alice, who survived another laboratory capture from the last film, ventures in the Nevada wastelands to find survivors. RE characters such as the infamous Albert Wesker and Claire Redfield made appearances in this film.

Biohazard Degeneration (2008) - As a proper, no holds barred, anime movie inspired from the world of the Biohazard/Resident Evil games, Degeneration sees former cop turned US agent Leon S. Kennedy as he takes on a terrorist attack at the Harvardville Airport.

Biohazard 5 (2009) - Launched on the PS3 and XBOX 360 in the spring of 2009, Biohazard 5/Resident Evil 5 brings more action to the survival horror franchise as players are engaging in the never-ending war on terror as Chris Redfield, who is now part of the counterterrorism force BSAA, as he is searching for his longtime partner Jill Valentine through the African battlefield swarmed by Majinis. Fighting alongside Chris is BSAA's African agent Sheva Alomar, and together, they can take on numerous foes side-by-side thanks to its brand new co-op system where players can share items or revive when they're on a dying state, allowing for a much needed strategy players can think of. Best of all, it can be played by twos online or by split-screen. There was an Alternative Edition (Gold Edition) launched exclusively for the PS3 a year later featuring two Jill-centric episodes such as Lost in Nightmares and Desperate Escape, additional costumes for Chris and Sheva, The Mercenaries Reunion, and bonus extras.

Biohazard: The Darkside Chronicles (2010) - Capcom started the year 2010 with the bang with The Darkside Chronicles on the Wii. In The Darkside Chronicles, the tales of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield are retold with a shooter twist as players have to shoot enemies and objects in a more cinematic manner. Although this shooter retells the tales of Biohazard 2 and Code: Veronica, The Darkside Chronicles features a brand new storyline about Leon, joining alongside Jack Krauser, on a South American village for a manhunt on the suspect behind the missing girls. A PS3 version with PlayStation Move compatibility was released in 2012 alongside the Umbrella Chronicles.

Resident Evil Afterlife (2010) - In the fourth film, Alice lost her superhuman abilities during her encounter with Albert Wesker in Tokyo. Months later, Alice is venturing the Pacific to reunite with Claire and the others as she searches for a place known as Arcadia. After a sudden reunion with Claire, who ended up under a pawn of Umbrella's hands, the two met up with the other survivors at a prison in Los Angeles. In this film, not only the Majinis from RE5 showed up in the film but also the movie appearance of Chris Redfield.

Biohazard: The Mercenaries 3D (2011) - The fan-favorite Mercenaries game on the Biohazard/Resident Evil franchise has landed on the 3DS with The Mercenaries 3D. In this game, players can choose as their favorite Biohazard heroes and villains and set off on a killing spree to set the best personal high score as well as unlocking goodies in-game.

Biohazard Revelations (2012) - Launched on the 3DS at the start of 2012, Biohazard Revelations/Resident Evil Revelations ventures on the tale of Jill Valentine, who is new to the BSAA, as she ventures into the secrets of the cruise liner Queen Zenobia as well as the secrets behind the Terragrigia Panic a year ago. Featuring a eclectic cast of characters, episodic storyline, an arsenal of weapons and gadgets (including the Genesis scanner), a new Raid Mode for some killing spree, and a new breed of action horror gameplay, Biohazard Revelations sets the standards for 3DS action games. There was an Unveiled Edition available in most home consoles (PS3, XBOX 360, and Wii U) and PCs a year later with HD revision.

Biohazard: Operation Raccoon City (2012) - The perks of becoming one of the Umbrella soldiers are crawling through the fans with a spinoff game Operation Raccoon City. Launched on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC in 2012, Operation Raccoon City is a team-based third person shooter game where players can play as one of the members of the Umbrella Security Service, each with their own distinct abilities, and work together to survive through different campaigns.

Biohazard Damnation (2012) - There are two films made to coincide with the launch of Biohazard 6/Resident Evil 6. This anime movie is one of them and in Damnation, followup to Degeneration, sees Leon S. Kennedy taking on the Eastern Slav Republic while ignoring orders to retreat. Leon's not alone though as an old friend of his, the female spy Ada Wong, is also on the case regarding this Eastern Slav rebellion.

Resident Evil Retribution (2012) - In this fifth installment, Alice is under the prying eyes of Jill Valentine at a secret underground facility hidden in the frozen Siberian waters. Upon making her escape, Alice receives a message from her old enemy, Albert Wesker, about escaping the facility full of simulated locations including Tokyo, New York, and Moscow. A team of soldiers, led by Leon S. Kennedy, will arrive at the rendezvous point and it's up to Alice to use by any means necessary to escape the facility before Jill gets to her way.

Biohazard 6 (2012) - The war on bioterrorism has reached a global scale as Biohazard 6/Resident Evil 6 launched on the PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles in late 2012 and it has proven to be one of the best Biohazard games ever played thanks to its dynamic gameplay, co-op, the biggest storyline to date, and more to expect in this installment. In the Leon scenario, Division of Security Operations Agent Leon S. Kennedy and Secret Service Agent Helena Harper must prove their innocence upon the death of thousands of people including the US President at Tall Oaks. In the Chris scenario, BSAA's Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans must avenge their fallen comrades while averting a global chaos. In the Jake scenario (obviously one of our favorites), mercenary Jake Muller, a descendant of the slain terrorist mastermind Albert Wesker, is mankind's last hope because of his antibodies for the C-virus and with US agent Sherry Birkin tagging along Jake, the duo must fend off against pursuers trying take advantage of Jake's antibodies. In the Ada scenario, female spy Ada Wong must clear her name from the merciless mess caused by her doppleganger. This game features a crossover system, where in some parts of the game, two sides will collide to complete a common objective. There's also an Agent Hunt mode where players make misery out of others as one of the BOWs.

Biohazard Revelations 2 (2015) - The long awaited return of franchise legends Claire Redfield and Barry Burton are chronicled in Biohazard Revelations 2/Resident Evil Revelations 2. This new installment is a four-part story and each part is downloadable for 741 Yen (780 on Xbox One). The full version was offered on Xbox One, Playstation 3, and Playstation 4 for 4,990 Yen (plus tax) with bonus extras. There's also a PSVita version offered as well. Claire, working for NGO TerraSave, was imprisoned in a desolate island alongside Barry's daughter Moira and they were under the prying eyes of the Overseer. Barry, meanwhile, sets off alone to save his daughter, with a little help of a mysterious little girl named Natalia Korda. True to their team-ups, this game can be played cooperatively online or split-screen. Raid Mode, as seen on the first one, returns with even more ways to play.

Biohazard Umbrella Corps (2016) - Launched on the PS4 and PC this May 2016, Umbrella Corps features action based missions that can be played online or solo. Players take on different areas set in the world of the Biohazard/Resident Evil series while mastering different classes in series of missions that will test their abilities.

Biohazard 7: resident evil (2017) - Launched in the PS4, Xbox One, and STEAM on January 2017, Biohazard 7 brings players to abandoned farmhouse in a fictional village somewhere in Louisiana. Upon receiving a message from a woman named Mia, Ethan Winters set off to this abandoned mansion to find her. Upon their reunion, things turned out to be bad during their escape until the unwelcome arrival of the Baker family dragged him down to this very hell he set foot. Now trapped under the grips of the Bakers, Ethan has to do whatever means necessary to escape from them and find out the truth.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) - The final installment of the live-action Resident Evil movie saga sees action starlet Milla Jovovich reprised her badass role as Alice, the woman who used to work for the Umbrella Corporation turned into a bio-organic weapon in her own right in her bid to eradicate Umbrella in the face of the earth. In this final installment, the battle between the final traces of humanity against Umbrella is on its last legs and Alice returns to where the nightmare began - The Hive in the now derelict Raccoon City. As Umbrella prepares its final strike against the last remaining survivors of the dreaded T-Virus outbreak, how will Alice end the nightmare, even if it means to end herself by any means necessary.

Biohazard Vendetta (2017) - The third 3D CGI Biohazard film set years after the events of Biohazard 6. In this film, Chris and Leon are teaming up against a sadistic terrorist mastermind hellbent for revenge by unleashing a bio attack across New York City.

Biohazard RE:2 (2019) - From its memorable characters, terrifying zombies and BOWs, and puzzle-solving scenarios, it's no wonder why the folks from CAPCOM decided to bring back BIOHAZARD 2 in a new and even more terrifying remake that what makes this survival horror masterpiece a global phenomenon. Like the original, players will venture the nightmarish Raccoon City as both Leon and Claire. The remake uses the tried and tested formula from 2017's Biohazard 7 -resident evil- but they made it even more fluid. Back at being a third-person perspective, players can really see how the characters interact by all means necessary.

Biohazard RE:3 (2020) - A year after RE:2 was launched, the long awaited remake of BIOHAZARD 3: LAST ESCAPE (Resident Evil 3: Nemesis) has arrived on the PS4 and Xbox One, completing the retelling of the Raccoon City saga while incorporating the same knowhow from last year's installment. Like the original BIOHAZARD 3 game, RE:3 is set prior to the events to the previous installment while incorporating new ways to play never applied to RE:2. It was September 28, 1998, months after the mansion incident, where all hell breaks loose in Raccoon City due to the T-Virus outbreak. S.T.A.R.S. member Jill Valentine is pursued by a deadly bioweapon codenamed Nemesis as she tries to survive through the zombie nightmare. She then teams up with U.B.C.S. member Carlos Oliveira and then work their way to escape the hellhole they set foot by all means. As RE:3 really is the much needed closure from last year's RE:2, there's more with this came from because when players bought the RE:3 game, they'll get access to the BIOHAZARD RESISTANCE multiplayer game. RESISTANCE is a 4 vs. 1 multiplayer game where four survivors work together to survive against hordes of monsters, with some unleashed by the mastermind. As a survivor, utilize on your signature abilities and then team up to survive all the way to the finish line. As a mastermind, meanwhile, it's up to you to make your opponents miserable by unleashing cards full of monsters, traps, and when necessary, a bioweapon. Each survivor has different abilities to master and each mastermind has a set of cards to make them more miserable.

...and that's 25 years of Biohazard all summed up and the terror continues with their newest installment coming to the PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and STEAM. It's titled Biohazard: Village and in this eighth major entry to the Biohazard saga (hence the Roman numeral VIII really sums up), the faceless protagonist Ethan sets off to a mysterious village in his mission to save his newborn child. Also, keep an eye out on Leon and Claire's latest struggle for survival on Biohazard: Infinite Darkness, coming soon to Netflix.

As Jack Baker said before punching Ethan in the face, welcome to the family, son.