Summary
- HUNK is beloved due to his mysterious aura and badass persona as an Umbrella soldier.
- Rebecca Chambers gained a massive fan base after playing a leading role, with her relatable and witty personality.
- Albert Wesker is remembered fondly as a master tactician and iconic villain who orchestrated many conflicts in the series.
Resident Evil has become one of the most beloved video game franchises ever made, and a big reason why is because of its memorable cast of characters. These games have produced some of the gaming industry's biggest icons who all stand out for their own personal reasons, whether that be their fun and engaging personality, or their skills in combat when it comes to wiping out gigantic hordes of zombies and B.O.Ws.
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Either way, fans will always get to see at least a few familiar faces with every Resident Evil game, but when matching up all the main heroes and villains, who is considered the most beloved of the bunch? It's time to take a closer look at the vibrant cast of Resident Evil to analyze their connection with the fans, and more specifically, how much love each of them has earned over the course of the series, and for what reasons.
8 HUNK
The Mysterious Umbrella Agent Has Become A Fan-Favorite
Resident Evil 2
- Released
- January 21, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, PC, PS1
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- First Appearance: Resident Evil 2 (1998)
HUNK is a rather strange character in the series. Though he's definitely not considered a main protagonist, he's still pretty important to the overall lore, being the one who intercepted Birkin during the Raccoon City incident and lived to tell the tale. The reason HUNK has become such a fan-favorite, though, is the mysterious aura surrounding his character.
Known by his comrades as the "Grim Reaper", HUNK is an agent who has been sent on several suicide missions, only to come out of all of them, including the Raccoon City fiasco, in one piece. His badass persona and mysterious reputation make it hard not to love the mask-wearing Umbrella soldier.
7 Rebecca Chambers
An Unlikely Hero Who Proved Everyone Wrong
Resident Evil
- Released
- March 22, 1996
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Sega Saturn, Nintendo DS, PC
- First Appearance: Resident Evil (1996)
Shinji Mikami, the lead director of the first few games, has gone on record to admit he's not a big fan of the S.T.A.R.S medic, Rebecca Chambers. Considering Rebecca plays a fairly minor role in the first game, many saw her as little more than a side character, though one who was still very fun to interact with because of her bubbly personality.
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However, it was when she played the leading role in Resident Evil 0 that Rebecca started to amass the massive fanbase that she has today. Many people like that Rebecca is a little on the weaker side compared to the likes of Leon and Chris, as it makes her more relatable, but her witty jokes and dry sarcasm are also highlights of her character.
6 Albert Wesker
Wesker Has Become An Iconic Villain Within Gaming, Who Many Fans Have Fond Memories Of
- First Appearance: Resident Evil (1996)
Wesker is a character who has become so popular, even people who don't play Resident Evil will have heard his name at some point, and that's a testament to just how great of a villain he is. From his dark and menacing appearance to his superhuman abilities, Wesker is one of the most frightening villains in the entire series, who has had a hand in orchestrating many of the franchise's worst outbreaks and conflicts.
While many of the enemies players come up against are mindless brutes and Tyrants, Wesker stands out because he's a master tactician who can easily outsmart the protagonists. Needless to say, there's a lot to love about Wesker, and despite meeting his end in Resident Evil 5, he's still fondly talked about and remembered by many fans of the series.
5 Ada Wong
Anytime Ada Enters A Scene, Fans' Eyes Are Glued To The Screen
- First Appearance: Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Barely anything is known about the shifty and devious Ada Wong. First debuting in Resident Evil 2, Leon soon realizes that Ada is secretly a spy who has been working undercover for quite some time, though over the course of that game, it becomes clear that Ada still has a lot of emotion and is far from a mindless servant to her masters.
She would make a triumphant return in Resident Evil 4, where she once again plays the role of anti-hero, helping Leon out when he most needs it, but also making things harder for him to ensure she never comes off as too friendly. Ada has kept fans guessing since she first appeared back in 1998, making her one of the most intriguing and beloved characters in the entire series who always steals the show whenever she's on-screen.
4 Claire Redfield
Claire Is A Protagonist Who Fans Always Love To See Show Up For A Game
- First Appearance: Resident Evil 2 (1998)
At the beginning of Resident Evil 2, Claire starts off as a scared and timid college student who only really cares about saving her brother, Chris, from danger. As the game goes on, though, players get to see a different, more sympathetic side to Claire as she supports and cares for a young girl named Sherry as the two try to escape.
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While Claire hasn't made quite as many appearances in the games as the other protagonists, she has still become someone that many fans enjoy playing as and watching in action. Claire would get another chance to shine in not only Revelations 2, but also Code Veronica, which many see as her most exciting adventure yet.
3 Chris Redfield
One Of The Faces Of The Franchise Has Come A Very Long Way Since His Debut
- First Appearance: Resident Evil (1996)
Often seen as one of the primary protagonists of the entire series, Chris Redfield first debuted in the very first game, where he came across as a young and naive S.T.A.R.S. Agent who had no idea what he was getting himself into when stepping into the Spencer Mansion. After surviving the nightmarish ordeal, Chris has embarked on one hell of a personal adventure, which has drawn many fans to his side.
Whether he's risking his life to save Claire from the Ashford Twins in Code Veronica or trying to find and rescue his old partner Jill in Resident Evil 5, this guy is always giving his all to save those he cares about. However, Chris also has a lot of flaws, such as how his emotions can easily take him over when in the middle of a mission, making him feel more human and relatable, which is why many people have developed such a strong connection with the legendary Redfield.
2 Jill Valentine
Jill's Character Re-Vamp Boosted Her Popularity Even More
- First Appearance: Resident Evil (1996)
Jill Valentine, put plainly, is a gaming icon. The brave and passionate S.T.A.R.S. Member already made a big impression on many players in the first game, but her desperate escape from Raccoon City in Resident Evil 3 is where she really starts to come into her own as a character. Seeing Jill be so willing to put herself in danger just to expose Umbrella's scheme resulted in many people viewing her as a true hero who, despite all odds, is always willing to do the right thing.
However, it seems as though Capcom has really been pushing Jill to become the mascot of the series since her re-design in Resident Evil 3 Remak e. With a stylish modern appearance and an even wittier personality, Jill has somehow become even more popular and beloved since the remake of her classic adventure.
1 Leon S. Kennedy
Leon Has Grown Into The Role Of Being Resident Evil's Poster Boy
- First Appearance: Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Despite only arriving in the series with the second game, Leon would eventually become accepted among many fans as being the face of the series. Many people already enjoyed playing as the rookie cop in Resident Evil 2, but it was in the fourth game that his popularity really began to skyrocket. After being recruited as a government agent, Leon becomes a kind of supercop who is constantly belittling and mocking his freakish foes before taking them down with a roundhouse kick to the face.
With that being said, though, Leon is far from a one-note character. Resident Evil 6 and 4 Remake, for example, dig deeper into Leon's psyche, highlighting how much of a toll the constant fighting is really taking on him. The CG movies also place a heavy focus on Leon and his personal journey. This isn't even mentioning his classic design, which has become the inspiration for more than a few cosplays.
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