Resident Evil has been around for quite a while and Capcom being who they are, it should come as no surprise that the franchise has seen more than its fair share of ports. You could pick any given game in the series and thumb your finger down a list of ports. Some more than others, of course, but those older games in parti🗹cular have seen some very interesting rereleases.
While most Resident Evil ports (especially these days) are completely uniform across the board, the industry was📖 fairly different back in the day. If someone was going to rebuy the same game, they needed new content. This often meant Capcom adding obscure, exclusive content to 🥂their Resident Evil ports.
10 Resident Evil 2 (Nintendo 64)
Had Resident Evil 2 sold better on the Nintendo 64, the next en𒉰try 🧔would likely be about Resident Evil 3: Nemesis on the N64. Unfortuna🐽tely, the port♊ did not meet Capcom’s sales expectations (along with the port of Mega Man Legends) and that was that. Not to say this version is by any means bad, however.༺
The N64 version is home to a ton of great exclusive content. There’s no Battle Mode, unfo♍rtunately, but there’s an excellent randomizer, blood options♊, and new references to the then-in development Resident Evil 0. It’s ꧑a time capsule of a very specific period♕ in Resident Evil history.
9 Revelations (Nintendo Wii U)
The Wii U deserved so much better than it got,♛ as did Resident Evil Revelations. Originally released for the Nintendo 3DS, Revelations is one of the m♛ost impressive looking games on the handheld. It truly blows most 3DS games out of the water in terms of visuals and presentation. L🎉ooking to recapture some of the game’s success, it was naturally ported over to the Wii U.
It’s a good port of a good game that was ignored because the Wii U was a console very few people had. Those who did likely already had a 3DS and likely already played throug🍌h Resident Evil Revelations. Still, if you own a Wii U, like Resident Evil, and somehow haven’t played Revelations, now’s the time.
8 Code Veronica X (PlayStation 4)
Looking to play Code Veronica but only 𝓰have a PS4? Fret not, a PS2 port of the game is actually available for digital download. It’s more expensive than it perhaps should be, but it’s a serviceable way of getting through the game. Bafflingly, however, it’s not bas𝐆ed on the HD version whi🐻ch was released for the PS3 before it.
The PS3 v♔ersion generally looks much bette𝔉r, but it doesn’t utilize the game’s actual lighting,ꦉ giving the PS4 a huge poin🎉t in its favor. Unfortunately, anyone looking to purchase Code Veronica with an EU account best look elsewhere. The PAL version runs at 💞a choppy 25 FPS 𒈔and makes the game a worse experience overall.
7 Resident Evil (Nintendo Wii)
Resident Evil’s GameCube remake is still considered one of the greatest remakes of ൲all time, a𝔉nd for good reason. It improves on everything, removes nothing substantial, and keeps the spirit of the original game intact. Naturally, a port for the Wii only made sense and Resident Evil was brought over almost exactly as is.
The key difference being resolution (480i to 480🧜p) and controller options, now allowing the Wiimote and the classic controller. Considering the HD Edition didn’t exist at this point, the Wii port was the only way fans had to play the remake on then-current gen consoles. Though the Wiiﷺ is backwards compatible, so.
6 Resident Evil 0 (Nintendo Wii)
Like the Nintendo Wii port of the Resident Evil remake, Resident Evil 0’s port doe🎃sn’t change anything substantial or superficial beyond the resolution and controller options. It’s the exact same game as it was on the GameCube, expect now on one disc. Which is fine, honestly. Resident Evil 1 and Resident Evil 0 were still𒈔 consider🦂ed “exclusive” at the time so this was a smart way to get them on then-current gen consoles.
Still, those who played Resident Evil 4’s stell⛦ar Wii port likely found themselves disappointed when Resident Evil 1 and especially Resident Evil 0 were considerably different games.
5 Chronicles HD Collection (PlayStation 3)
Originally released excꦫlusi♐vely for the Nintendo Wii, both Umbrella Chronicles and Darkside Chronicles were rail shooters that made ඣheavy use of the Wii’s motion controls while also condensing down the series’ main canon into something incredibly digestible and entertaining. Playing these games back to back is one of the best ways to experience the series’ lore.
Interestingly, a PS3 port was developed with the PlayStation Move in mind. It plays and looks betꩲter, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who actually owns a PlayStation Move. Thankfully, the PS3 release can be playꦿed with traditional controls. That said, you’ll probably want the Move.
4 Resident Evil 2 (Game.com)
Anyone who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s likely had at least one Tiger Electronics game lying around their house. They were never fun to play, but everyon⭕e had at least one of them. At the same time, we all understood in very clear terms that Tiger Electronics games wer🌌e not real video games. Until they tried to be.
The Game.com was Tiger’s attempt at 🅰pushing for deeper games. Unfortunately, they’re all designed as if theꦫy were for the garbage toys Tiger was already peddling. Resident Evil 2 got a port tha🐓t solely covered Leon’s A scenario and it is an utter disaster. It’s not even worth playin♏g from a historical context, just ignore it.
3 Biohazard (Sega Saturn)
The original Resident Evil’s Saturn port is very interesting. It’s essentially a worse looking version of the original game, but it tries to make up foღr that with a good bit of extra content. There are new costumes, new enemy variants, ༒a second Tyﷺrꦅant to fight, and the series’ first Battle Mode.
Other than that, though, it’s not worth playing beyond ♊the🐼 novelty of it all. Battle Mode is fun, but it’s distinctly unpolished when compared to later variations on the concept. Both Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis would find much better ways to utilize their Battle Modes. Still, it’s 𒅌an interesting way of revisiting the first game.
2 Deadly Silence (Nintendo DS)
Aside from the 2002 remake, Deadly Silence is probably the single best version of the origi🌱nal Resident Evil there is. Not only does it incl🃏ude an Arranged mode that uses the DS’ touch controls, it features the original game as is with a bunch of quality of life features. Players can skip door animations, quick turn, and the map is displayed on the second screen.
Deadly Silence is such a good game, it’s a shock Capco🌸m didn’t try porting over Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Having the map up at all times alo😼ne is reason enough to play Deadly Silence over any other version of the original Resident Evil.
1 The Resident Evil GameCube Collection
Nintendo’s brief partnership with Capcom during the GameCube’s heyday really helped the console gain some legs durin🐷g its early days. While Capcom would eventually betray Nintendo by porting their games, they did release the entire main Resident Evil catalogue at the time on the Nintendo GameCube, save for the first game which was re🔯placed by the remake.
Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, and Resident Evil: Code Veronica X were all given ports. Notably, Code Veronica X is one of the rarest games on the GameCube. Though, that said, they all kin💙d of ar🐎e. These games are pricey, so be ready to spend some money if you’re looking to play Resi on the Cube.