The Resident Evil series is one of the most iconic in gaming history. From zombies to puzzles, it brought a new kind of horror experience. But Resident Evil didn’t just come out of nowhere. It was inspired by several other games, movies, and creative ideas that helped shape its world. Let’s explore what influenced Resident Evil and how those inspirations live on in the series today.
Sweet Home: The Original Source of Horror
How an NES RPG planted the seed for Resident Evil
Before Resident Evil, there was Sweet Home. This 1989 NES horror RPG had everything from spooky mansions to inventory management and puzzle-solving. The developers of Resident Evil used Sweet Home as their blueprint, designing their own creepy mansion game with updated graphics and more intense gameplay. You can clearly see how many ideas from Sweet Home made it into the first Resident Evil.
Alone in the Dark: A New Way to See Horror
How a camera angle changed everything
At first, Resident Evil was supposed to be played in first-person. But that changed when director Shinji Mikami saw Alone in the Dark, a 1992 horror game that used fixed camera angles and pre-rendered backgrounds. Inspired by its visual style, Mikami decided to change Resident Evil to a third-person view with static camera angles. Not only did it make the game cheaper to develop, but it also made it feel more intense and terrifying.
Dawn of the Dead: The Rise of Zombies
How a horror movie turned ghosts into zombies
Originally, Resident Evil was going to feature ghosts and spirits. But after watching Dawn of the Dead, the famous zombie movie by George A. Romero, the creators decided to switch gears. Instead of ghosts, the game focused on zombies and other infected creatures. This shift gave Resident Evil its identity, and to this day, most people think of zombies when they think of the series—even though later games introduced other enemies like bioweapons and infected mutants.
The Lasting Impact of Resident Evil’s Inspirations
Why old ideas still shape new games in the series
Even now, the core of Resident Evil still reflects its original influences. Puzzle-solving, tight inventory spaces, eerie locations, and tension-filled camera angles all trace back to Sweet Home and Alone in the Dark. And the undead enemies? That credit goes to Dawn of the Dead. These inspirations helped Resident Evil become a legend in the gaming world and continue to guide its evolution today.
