Resident Evil (1996 video game)

Resident Evil
English version cover art
Developer(s)	Capcom PS/NDS Capcom Saturn Nextech Windows Westwood Studios
Publisher(s)	Capcom PlayStation JP/NA: Capcom PAL: Virgin Interactive Windows JP: Capcom NA/PAL: Virgin Interactive Sega Saturn Capcom Nintendo DS JP/NA/EU: Capcom AU: Nintendo Australia
Director(s)	Shinji Mikami
Producer(s)	Tokuro Fujiwara Masayuki Akahori
Designer(s)	Takahiro Arimitsu Isao Ōishi
Programmer(s)	Yasuhiro Anpo
Writer(s)	Kenichi Iwao Yasuyuki Saga
Composer(s)	Makoto Tomozawa Koichi Hiroki Masami Ueda
Series	Resident Evil
Platform(s)	PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn, Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	March 22, 1996 PlayStation JP: March 22, 1996 NA: March 30, 1996 PAL: August 1, 1996 Director's Cut JP: September 25, 1997 NA: September 30, 1997 PAL: December 10, 1997 Director's Cut Dual Shock Ver. JP: August 6, 1998 NA: September 14, 1998 Microsoft Windows JP: December 6, 1996 PAL: September 17, 1997 NA: September 30, 1997 Sega Saturn JP: July 25, 1997 NA: August 31, 1997 PAL: October 1, 1997 Nintendo DS JP: January 19, 2006 NA: February 7, 2006 PAL: March 30, 2006
Genre(s)	Survival horror
Mode(s)	Single-player

Review scores
Publication	Score
	DS	PC	PS	Saturn
1UP.com	B
AllGame
CVG
EGM			35.5/40	32/40
Famitsu	32/40		38/40	32/40
GameFan			294/300	262/300
Game Informer			9.25/10	9/10
GamePro			5/5	5/5
Game Revolution		A-	A
GamesMaster				92%
GameSpot	7.9/10	7.2/10	8.2/10	7.3/10
GameSpy
IGN	7.0/10		8.7/10
Entertainment Weekly			A
Maximum
Next Generation
Aggregate scores
GameRankings	72%	80%	87%	77%
Metacritic	71/100		91/100
MobyRank		77%	90%	89%

Resident Evil, known in Japan as Bio Hazard, is a survival horror video game developed and released by Capcom originally for the PlayStation in 1996, and is the first game in the Resident Evil series. The game's plot follows Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, members of an elite task force known as S.T.A.R.S., as they investigate the outskirts of Raccoon City following the disappearance of their team members. They soon become trapped in a mansion infested with zombies and other monsters. The player, having selected to play as Chris or Jill at the start of the game, must explore the mansion to uncover its secrets.

Conceived by producer Tokuro Fujiwara as a remake of his earlier horror game Sweet Home (1989), the development of Resident Evil was led by Shinji Mikami. Gameplay consists largely of third-person action with added emphasis on inventory management, exploration, and puzzle solving. Resident Evil establishes many conventions seen later in the series, including the control scheme, inventory system, save system, and use of 3D models superimposed over pre-rendered backgrounds.

Resident Evil was very well received critically and commercially, and is often credited for defining the survival horror genre. Its success has spawned a multimedia franchise including video games, films, comics, novels, and other merchandise. The game has received dedicated ports to the Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo DS. In 2002, a remake of the same name was released for the GameCube featuring updated graphics, sound, and changes to the gameplay and story. A high-definition remaster of the GameCube game was released in 2015 for modern platforms. A direct sequel titled Resident Evil 2 was released in 1998, and a prequel, Resident Evil Zero, was released in 2002.