Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Games & Tech

Resident Evil

Resident Evil is a 1996 survival horror video game developed and published by Capcom for the PlayStation.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Resident Evil is a 1996 survival horror game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation. It is the first main entry in the series, following S.T.A.R.S. members investigating a mansion and a viral outbreak.

What it is

Resident Evil is the first main installment in Capcom's survival horror series. Players choose between Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as the protagonist. The game focuses on exploration, resource management, puzzle-solving, and combat in a mansion setting.

Key details

The story follows S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team investigating the Spencer Mansion after Bravo Team goes missing. The team uncovers zombies, mutants, and a conspiracy tied to the Umbrella Corporation. The original game released in 1996 for PlayStation, with later ports to Sega Saturn, PC, and Nintendo DS.

Why it matters

Resident Evil established core themes and characters that became central to the series. Its success helped define the modern survival horror genre and led to sequels, ports, and a 2002 GameCube remake. The game remains influential among Canadian players and worldwide.

In short

  • First main Resident Evil game.
  • Players choose Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine.
  • Set in the Spencer Mansion in the Arklay Mountains.
  • Originally released in 1996 for PlayStation.
Canadian angle

Resident Evil is widely known in Canada through its long-running game series, later ports, and the broader popularity of survival horror games among Canadian players.

Quick questions

Who is the main character in Resident Evil 1?
The game has two playable protagonists: **Chris Redfield** and **Jill Valentine**. There is no single main character in the original release.
What is the plot of Resident Evil 1?
S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team investigates disappearances in the Arklay Mountains and becomes trapped in the Spencer Mansion, where they uncover zombies, mutants, and an Umbrella-linked outbreak.
When was Resident Evil 1 released?
It first released on **March 22, 1996** for the PlayStation.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_Evil_(1996_video_game)
    Supports: Original release date, protagonists, setting, and basic plot.
  2. Resident Evil Wiki — https://residentevil.fandom.com/wiki/Resident_Evil_(1996_game)
    Supports: Platforms, original release, and 2002 GameCube remake.
  3. TV Tropes — https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/ResidentEvil1
    Supports: Premise and plot summary elements involving S.T.A.R.S., the mansion, and the outbreak.