Summary
From the Hammer Horror inspired Gothic monsters ofResident Evil VillagetoResident Evil 7’s Grindhouse inspired Baker family, recentResident Evilgames have seen their fair share of scares. Despite this, there’s one classicResident Evilenemy that stands above them all, causing fans of 2002’sResident Evil Remaketo still tremble with fear two decades later.
TheResident Evilfranchise has long been known for its monsters. From Lickers and Regeneradors to Nemesis, Mr. X, andthe Tyrant-class mutants, there’s no shortage of disturbing and deadly enemies acrossResident Evil’s 8 mainline games and 14 spinoffs. Still, despite the franchise’s many terrifying BOWs,Resident Evil Remake’s Crimson Heads still manage to stand out as particularly scary.
Resident Evil Remake’s Crimson heads are the result of an airborne variant of theT-virus’s E-strain. The E-strain was originally developed as part of the Tyrant Project.
Resident Evil Remake’s Zombies Live, Then Die, Then Live Again
Much like in the original game, the bulk of enemies in2002’sResident Evil remakeare the shambling undead the franchise was once known for. Unlike the original game,Resident Evil Remake’s zombies don’t stay dead. Unless the corpse is burned or the zombie’s head destroyed, killing a zombie inRE:Makestarts a timer. When that timer runs out, the zombie will once again become active as a louder, faster, far more dangerous ‘Crimson Head.’
Resident Evil Remake’s Crimson Head mechanic came as a shock to many players back in 2002. With many longtime fans using the remake to revisitthe originalResident Evil, old corpses suddenly jumping up and attacking the player while backtracking was the ultimate jump-scare. The Crimson Heads' strange running animation, loud ragged breathing, and extremely high HP only heightened the terror.
But, far more than just a jump-scare, the Crimson Head mechanic also added new depth toResident Evil’s survival-horror gameplay. While burned corpses (or zombies whose heads exploded during combat) were unable to return as Crimson Heads, getting headshots was difficult andResident Evil Remakeonly gave players a limited amount of gasoline with which to burn the bodies of fallen undead. Because of this, players had to be strategic, picking which zombies to burn and which to let reanimate as powerful Crimson Heads—often locking off certain alternate routes through the mansion.
A Future Resident Evil Game Could Reprise the Crimson Head
The Crimson Head is one ofResident Evil’s most unsettling enemies. Both disturbing to look at, and mechanically frightening, many players of more modernResident Evilgames have never encountered anything like the Spencer Mansion’s deadly red zombies.
WithResident Evil 9’s rumorssuggesting that futureResident Evilgames will see the return of the original trilogy’s classic slow-moving zombie, the Crimson Head mechanic could be the perfect way to surprise day-one players with an enemy far deadlier and more terrifying than anything they were expecting. By keeping the mechanic out of the marketing, the carelessly dispatched undead suddenly rising to attack a backtracking player could stand out as a truly memorable moment.
Even still, 22 years later,theResident Evilfanbaseremains split onResident Evil Remake’s decision to introduce Crimson Heads. While many fans believe the variants add depth to the gameplay, the terrifying red zombies have long been criticized for being too dangerous and simply too scary.
Whatever side players take, theResident EvilRemake’s iconic red zombie has earned its place in history as one of gaming’s scariest enemies. If Capcom is looking to bring back the franchise’s classic shambling undead, the Crimson Head could be the perfect way to makea zombie-centricResident Evilgametruly scary, while also making it stand out from the crowd.
Resident Evil Village
WHERE TO PLAY
Ethan Winters finds himself in an entirely new nightmare in Capcom’s latest installment of the acclaimed Resident Evil franchise. Whether you’re defending against Lycans in the grim dwellings of the village or exploring the lavish Castle Dimitrescu, the meticulously designed environments immerse you in this eerie world, powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Run from, hide or face off against a diverse cast of terrifying village inhabitants in dream-like - no, nightmarish - situations and fight your instincts to push through classic horror-based sequences. Also, be sure to check out “The Mercenaries” that unlocks once you’ve finished the campaign, a fast-paced and arcade-like game mode which challenges players to blast away enemies against the clock.
