Resident Evil

 PlayStation
  • Publisher: Capcom
  • Release Date: Mar 30, 1996
User Score
9.5

Universal acclaim- based on 1290 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,232 out of 1290
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 1290
  3. Negative: 18 out of 1290
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  1. JonnyB.
    Jan 5, 2008
    9
    Every room had its own detail.The music really suited the game, and it was unpredictible, you didnt now what was going to happen next. Its not that easy either, you have to use your brain alot. Its an excellent game to send a shiver up your spine.
  2. LukeI
    Jun 13, 2008
    9
    1996. The year I was born. Also the year the very first Metal Slug was released. Also the year when Capcom finally released a Survival/Horror game. The formula is one of the best ever. Unlike games like Max Payne, which is just shoot, slo-mo, shoot, slo-mo, this game has it's OWN genre. Ok, so Barry and Jill may sound like they're talking to 3-year olds, but you also get to 1996. The year I was born. Also the year the very first Metal Slug was released. Also the year when Capcom finally released a Survival/Horror game. The formula is one of the best ever. Unlike games like Max Payne, which is just shoot, slo-mo, shoot, slo-mo, this game has it's OWN genre. Ok, so Barry and Jill may sound like they're talking to 3-year olds, but you also get to experience realism. Like Jill, she isn't exactly the toughest person in the game, and she proves this at the start by getting Barry to shoot your first zombie. That's another thing in realism, you dont have fifty billion clips, and I'm sure zombie dogs do not drop them. You have to search in drawers, and even your teammates. KEYS. They are the annoying thing. You don't have infinite item slots, although I don't think it would be possible to fit a grenade launcher in your pocket... I love the run instead of shoot as well. Killing everything is a waste of time because soon enough, hunters will break loose and take the zombie's positions. Best of all, puzzles! Logical, physicall, and sometimes impossible puzzles! When you get the game guide of GameFAQs you'll say; 'Oh yeah, why didn't I think of that". And the sequels too. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis proved even more of a scare with the Nemesis on your tail. Roaring like and idiot. And I like how they introduced actually pushing zombies away, as Capcom seems to put another excellent feature in each game. Fantastic Work, the DS version is great too!… Expand
  3. AllenB.
    Nov 17, 2007
    10
    Heart-pumping classic, and the start of a huge series & franchise.
  4. Maximo
    Sep 12, 2011
    9
    At the time when this game came about, it was simply a ground-breaking game for survival horror genre. The way it makes you scared, almost 99% of the time is something remarkable. I remember how grateful I was everytime I found an ammo or new weapon, how frustrating it was sometimes to complete puzzles and defeat bosses, how I constantly run away into safe rooms to just relax for a moment,At the time when this game came about, it was simply a ground-breaking game for survival horror genre. The way it makes you scared, almost 99% of the time is something remarkable. I remember how grateful I was everytime I found an ammo or new weapon, how frustrating it was sometimes to complete puzzles and defeat bosses, how I constantly run away into safe rooms to just relax for a moment, how proud I was after I finnished the game. A game to remember for sure ..… Expand
  5. DBZ19
    Nov 28, 2011
    10
    This is where resident evil and capcom took off. Re1 was fantastic,by today's standards it would even score 30%
  6. SiAScORCH
    Oct 15, 2014
    10
    Where do we start off with such an amazing series. This is probably the scarier of the Resident Evils for PS, not including PS2. I can't wait until they release the remastered version to play this on PS3.

    This game series is highly addictive, but well worth the time invested.
  7. SoulBackUp
    May 11, 2015
    10
    And so it begins! Must say Im surprised that 9 kids gave this game negative reviews, but of course, retards have freedom of speech, yeah yeah, I know.
  8. JayD.
    Jul 11, 2006
    10
    One of the best Resident Evil game i had ever played on the playstation one.
  9. DerekJ.
    Jun 30, 2007
    10
    Great graphic back in 1996 and still one of the best psone video games ever created.
  10. mininova
    Jun 17, 2013
    9
    Great, definitely worth attention. Revelation in horror games, scary and fun. Full of puzzels and monsters, this game will suck you in for hours. This is what we shall expect with every Resident Evil release.
  11. NaturalILLusion
    Feb 5, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Enjoy the proper birth of Survival Horror Genre with this magnificent title from Capcom.
    Resident Evil is being considered as a classic from Playstation 1 and marks the beginning of R.E.
    franchise that soon will flood the film and gaming industry (with all the positives and negatives of that).

    Play as Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield as they wander around spencer's mansion, meeting cruel reality with their comrades.
    Get in first contact with Franchise's finest Albert Wesker, Barry Burton, Rebecca Chambers and of course zombies and BioOrganic Weapons.

    Great atmosphere that consists from great light effects and soundtracks (can't stop thinking of GameCube's Remake) with standard cameras and very good character controls.
    If you play as Jill things will be much easier with greater weapons and 2 more slots in your inventory.
    In the other hand Chris's campaign signifies the true experience of Survival Horror.

    Resident Evil : Remake (imo Best Game of Franchise) which released in 2002, is based in this version.

    Play this Game.

    It's a must Classic...    … Expand
  12. Joe
    Oct 6, 2005
    8
    Still got charm, even after resi4.
  13. JimW.
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    the classic that made your little silent hill possible no remake needed to be made but the one they made was alright i am a real resi fan it was one of the first ps games i ever played mitch is obiosuly somone who doesnt know his roots.
  14. JasherR.
    May 1, 2007
    10
    This game rules. One of the best games I have ever played.
  15. OleW
    Dec 2, 2009
    10
    Resident Evil is a masterpice ;) It's scary, hard to beat (the first time :P) and the story is good. It's noting like like resident evil 4 and 5. there it's just about killing zombies. There is no puzzles to solve and you get plenty ammo. But in resident evil 1 you need to think and solve pussles, not kill every zombie, and take time to explore the house. :) I don't Resident Evil is a masterpice ;) It's scary, hard to beat (the first time :P) and the story is good. It's noting like like resident evil 4 and 5. there it's just about killing zombies. There is no puzzles to solve and you get plenty ammo. But in resident evil 1 you need to think and solve pussles, not kill every zombie, and take time to explore the house. :) I don't say everything is perfect, but the game is very old. so what can you expect? they made a remake of the game to gamecube, but i never traid it. I just hope they start make games like this again.… Expand
  16. RobM.
    Feb 8, 2003
    9
    Im a Big fan of the series. This is a classic.
  17. PiranhaG.
    Sep 13, 2003
    10
    A reference on the videogames.
  18. RichieG.
    Jul 11, 2006
    10
    The remake may be one of the best games in the series but the original game is still the first survival horror.
  19. killer
    Dec 3, 2007
    10
    Graphics are quite old now a days, controls arequite... challenging. Otherwise, this is the game, that started the famous resident evil - series. I can only respect this game for creating something new to survival horror -genre.
  20. RECON-UK
    Jan 26, 2014
    10
    The game that started them all.
    And what a masterpiece it is!
    I re-lived the survival horror yesterday, finished the game in 7hrs, which is pretty speedy... All i wanted was the game i played as a kid, whilst not as nerve chilling now, it still thrills to this very day. For those disliking the controls, try to get the Director's Cut, a rare version which included RE2 demo on a    The game that started them all.
    And what a masterpiece it is!
    I re-lived the survival horror yesterday, finished the game in 7hrs, which is pretty speedy...
    All i wanted was the game i played as a kid, whilst not as nerve chilling now, it still thrills to this very day.

    For those disliking the controls, try to get the Director's Cut, a rare version which included RE2 demo on a separate disc, you also benefit from dualshock compatability which never was implemented into the original RE.    … Expand
  21. pookie
    Jun 28, 2012
    9
    One word; Classic. The atmosphere. The characters. The puzzles. The Mansion is the birthing place of survival horror. The game has been outdone by the superior Remake, but the original still holds its own with nostalgia and campy voice acting. Entering into the Mansion used to be scary back in the day, but is now charming.
  22. Patrick67
    Aug 12, 2012
    10
    This is the game that started it all. This game truly is one of the best classics in gaming history. The atmosphere and puzzles are still great and when playing the game you get the sense of nostalgia and it really is just great to relive a classic. People say the controls suck even when the game was released but i say that the games meant to be like that. I believe its supposed to beThis is the game that started it all. This game truly is one of the best classics in gaming history. The atmosphere and puzzles are still great and when playing the game you get the sense of nostalgia and it really is just great to relive a classic. People say the controls suck even when the game was released but i say that the games meant to be like that. I believe its supposed to be hard to evade the various monsters on the mansion grounds. The intro and voice acting, even how terrible they might be, will always remain as some of the most memorable things from this game. No matter what your genre is in gaming, no one can say that this game is not a classic and will be forever.… Expand
  23. Thebigdeal324
    Jul 6, 2013
    9
    Besides the controls, which I hate immensely I love this game. The fact that you have very little saving points and ammo makes this survival horror actually scary, because you never know when you will turn a corner and something kills you and you have to start all the way at your last save point.
  24. George-roots
    Aug 26, 2013
    8
    For a series that started off so well it truly saddens me to see how the recent "RE" titles seem to have forgotten what this series was (is) about.

    Being that "RE2" was the first one I played, the PS1 Trilogy is something truly special, birthing "survival horror", a huge conspiracy filled character driven story, raw fear for one of horrors most endearing icons and cementing Capcom's    For a series that started off so well it truly saddens me to see how the recent "RE" titles seem to have forgotten what this series was (is) about.

    Being that "RE2" was the first one I played, the PS1 Trilogy is something truly special, birthing "survival horror", a huge conspiracy filled character driven story, raw fear for one of horrors most endearing icons and cementing Capcom's status as a real "for the player" type company, Resident Evil is a shining example of what rival developers still fail to replicate.

    Simple story, An elite team from the local town police force goes missing in the mountains, forcing the other team to investigate, upon arrival they are chased by the bizarrely crazed heavily bloodied dogs forcing the surviving members to take shelter in the secluded Spencer Mansion, upon arrival they stumble across the horrifying truths of the previous occupants and you must help Chris/Jill find out what happened to their fellow colleagues in a plot filled with twists, mystery and deception.

    I mention this because the Introduction video to this game is fantastically cheesy and very self aware, however having it performed by real actors and not rendered in FMV help bring this B-Movie style some extreme level of quote on quote "realism" and bonding to the main cast making you want to help them see their way through safely, however you'll be put to the test through a wealth of challenging puzzles whilst having literally less than nothing in terms of items, ammo & health etc.

    Progressing through the game never stops having you on edge, what shines is how much the actual Mansion itself slowly begins to turn on you, no matter how much you manage to prevail or remove the undead threat, the narrow corridors and later areas constantly challenge and overwhelm to the point where you doubt whether you're going to get Chris/Jill through this and for 1996 these themes were beyond tricky to portray given the industry's lack of horror prior.

    When all is said and done, Resident Evil was a landmark upon arrival, even with the horrendous voice acting and dialogue that has enjoyed many a legacy as an internet phenomenon, to spoil anything would be a disservice and I look forward to playing the equally superb GameCube remake (Review Pending ;-)).

    Final Verdict: Where games like "Silent Hill" may render you to scared to play it, "Resident Evil" throws strategy in the mix to help conquer those fears and ultimately see it through to the end. Solid gaming entertainment.    … Expand
  25. kyriores
    Aug 30, 2013
    10
    Long long ago, when the Resident Evil series was an adventure/horror series and not an action/shooter series, Capcom actually knew how to make good games. The original Resident Evil is one of them. It's plot is simple, yet intriguing. The game is one of the most atmospheric games of this era and even though it's quite old, you can still tell that it is well designed. The gameplay isLong long ago, when the Resident Evil series was an adventure/horror series and not an action/shooter series, Capcom actually knew how to make good games. The original Resident Evil is one of them. It's plot is simple, yet intriguing. The game is one of the most atmospheric games of this era and even though it's quite old, you can still tell that it is well designed. The gameplay is excellent as well. Need I say more? This game is a classic.… Expand
  26. djb3301
    Nov 13, 2013
    10
    The graphics are awesome 4 ps1 (especially character models), with a PS controller it plays great, though it didnt scare me but not much else comes as close to doing so, Audio: Eerie and epic, EVERYTHING: how do you make an infinity sign on keyboard?
  27. Rollie
    Nov 29, 2014
    9
    My years of nightmares was worth it for this game!

    Years of nightmares because of this game, I am now 22 and I am perfectly fine *Checks over shoulder for zombie* -There is nothing wrong with me whatsoever! Moving on... This is one of my all time favourites to play when I was growing up, I have completed this about 3 times? It's a game where you can go back and play it and still    My years of nightmares was worth it for this game!

    Years of nightmares because of this game, I am now 22 and I am perfectly fine *Checks over shoulder for zombie* -There is nothing wrong with me whatsoever! Moving on...

    This is one of my all time favourites to play when I was growing up, I have completed this about 3 times? It's a game where you can go back and play it and still (sometimes) get stuck on what you have to do!

    The famous iconic moment in this game is when you go throw the dining room to find (possibly Chris's blood) on the floor, then you enter the door in front of you, turn left, then poke your head round the corner and what do you see? A zombie enjoy his MANwich (See what I did there huh?)... He slowly rises his head and turns to you, staring you directly in the eyes as if you're now his dessert!

    The camera angles, the cut scenes, the "omg I think I've just sh*t myself moments", totally worth it!

    A very eerie soundtrack to this game, along with the cut scenes too, it kept the whole "suspense" going, it's like you needed a bowl to sit on just in case... Y'know?

    The dialogue... Well, now that was laughable! Who could ever forget "You were almost a Jill sandwich" HA-HA BARRY! That was... That was just dreadful! (Nice try Capcom, nice try).

    My only upsets were, controls were very clunky, dialogue was... Garbage!

    Very good storyline! Shame the acting was terrible though!

    9/10.    … Expand
  28. br_1245
    May 11, 2016
    9
    Clássico jogo de terror , divertido até hoje. Mesmo com sua jogabilidade ultrapassada ainda vale a pena rejogar o clássico por tudo o que ele representa.
  29. tsakiym
    May 21, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  30. Lyserg1260
    Aug 23, 2015
    9
    True classic. One of the best horror games ever. Deep atmosphere and good gameplay. You move in giant residence filled with traps, secret rooms and zombies. Your task is to find missing team at first, but then you realize that your task is to escape this place alive.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PS1 Game of 1996
1
#1 Most Discussed PS1 Game of 1996
3
#3 Most Shared PS1 Game of 1996

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. TotalGames.net
    91
    Capcom has produced the perfect interactive movie. RE is horribly, horribly addictive -- it tests your reflexes, satiates your bloodlust, stretches your mind (and temper) and leaves you both thrilled and drained.
    Read full review
  2. Absolute Playstation
    91
    Stunning graphics. Amazing sounds. Gripping storyline. Frightening enemies. Callenging gameplay.
    Read full review
  3. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    89
    Fantastic game, but who can forget the terrible intro and dialogue? [Jan 2004, p.189]
See all critic reviews »