One of the most iconic and influential video game series of all time, Resident Evil, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Resident Evil put the survival horror genre on the map, and the franchise is still going strong today with the highly anticipated release of Resident Evil Village coming this May, as well as a television show and a brand new movie on the way.
Fans of the Capcom series will be looking to celebrate the franchise's rich history, and now is the perfect time to look back on Resident Evil as a whole. These games pride themselves on delivering scares, ridiculous puzzles and zombies to blast, so it's only fitting to celebrate Resident Evil by looking back at some of the weaponry that players have wielded over the years. Resident Evil heroes have utilized dozens of weapons over the years, and here are five of the best Resident Evil weapons ever.
Included as one of Resident Evil 4's unlockables, this infinite ammo drum-magazine Prohibition-era Thompson submachine gun is an overpowered beast, capable of downing zombies in a couple of shots and absolutely shredding groups and bosses. The Typewriter is an absolute blast to use, and it's the perfect Resident Evil unlockable; while it breaks the game's difficulty, it can only be obtained after a legitimate playthrough. This requirement -- and willingness to bring a silly tone to subsequent playthroughs, with protagonist Leon able to don a gangster-style suit to match the weapon -- is a staple of the Resident Evil series.
Another awesome (but much less game-breaking) weapon from Resident Evil 4 is the Red9, many player's go-to choice of pistol for any playthrough. Obtained from the game's mysterious weapon merchant, the Red9 is the most powerful handgun that Leon can wield, and the Mauser-shaped pistol can even be fitted with an optional stock to increase its accuracy for added benefit. Powerful and with a decidedly unique design, this pistol is a fan-favorite for its versatility and damage-dealing properties.
Wielded initially by series favorite and comedic relief character Barry Burton, this absolute unit of a pistol is based on the real-life Colt Anaconda, a massive .44 magnum revolver. The Silver Serpent replaces Barry's original Colt Python magnum with an even more powerful model in the Resident Evil remake, and players can obtain this incredibly powerful gun towards the end of the campaign. Able to blow zombies' heads clean off and even down the final boss Tyrant in a couple of shots, this amazing hand-cannon is one of the best weapons in the series as a whole.
This weapon may take many forms throughout the series, but the rocket launcher is another reliable Resident Evil weapon. Although it's almost always gated from players until the final battle, the rocket launcher more than makes up for this with its incredibly damaging blasts that often destroy bosses with one shot. Whether the launcher takes the form of an anti-tank rocket, a Soviet-developed RPG or a completely original Capcom design, the rocket launcher is a vital weapon for the Resident Evil heroes to use in dispatching all manner of hideous biologically engineered monsters.
Like the Chicago Typewriter, the rocket launcher is often a secret unlockable reward for players who accomplish certain tasks when beating the game. For instance, beating the Resident Evil remake in under three hours will unlock an infinite ammo launcher that players can use to breeze through subsequent playthroughs.
The knife is a weapon that the Resident Evil community knows and accepts as the series' one true weapon. Appearing in just about every Resident Evil game, the knife is a trusty tool for the heroes when all else fails. Although it never does much damage to the undead foes, the knife has become a strategic tool for skilled players.
Long before the days of trophies and achievements, Resident Evil fans challenged themselves by attempting "knife only" runs. Much like the ingenious Dark Souls players today who beat the challenging game using joke weapons, these Resident Evil players have been wielding the knife for 25 years successfully, taking down game after game with only the bladed weapon to rely on.
Sometimes, the knife even becomes a vital part of regular strategic gameplay, as is the case in Resident Evil 4. Many players' preferred ammunition-conserving strategy is a pistol shot to the enemy leg that causes a stumble, followed up by a melee attack, then a vigorous slashing from the knife when the enemy hits the ground to finish them off. This tried and true method is an excellent example of the organic strategies players develop around this simple weapon.
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