Despite how dark and dire the world ofResident Evilis, the beloved protagonists always seem to have time to crack a joke or two.REcharacters (protagonists in particular) are known for their witty one-liners or clever quips they cook up, even in the face of danger. Aside from the beloved cast of characters, there are also some goofier mechanics in the games that perhaps don’t make a ton of sense in a real-world context that fans roll with regardless.
Capcom isn’t the type to shy away from letting the otherwise serious world ofREhave its sillier moments; frequently calling back to classicfan-favorite jokes or memeable momentsthroughout the series to keep fans happy and the atmosphere light. Here are some of the best running gags throughout theREseries.
For whatever reason, theexistence of magical herbshas been a staple in theREuniverse. Whether it be Jill suffering from a small cut or Leon dragging his almost lifeless body to a save room after being treated like a zombie chew toy, a mixture of red and green herbs will do the trick and have them up and on their feet, energetic and spry once again.
While herbs appear in almost everyREgame (with the introduction of some new colors like the yellow and blue herbs),RE2Rwas the one that poked fun at the ridiculousness of the longtime mechanic by featuring an ad for herb ice cream at the gas station Leon/Claire first arrives at. Apparently, herb healing properties aren’t just plot armor for the protagonists, as the ice cream’s slogan reads, “Herbs heal you”!
During Ethan Winters’s short stay as aREprotagonist (starring in only two games), poor Ethan’s hands have gotten cut, bitten, stabbed, pierced, hooked, and sliced right off. Fans now know that all of Ethan’s suffering was vital to show off his mold powers that were revealed at the end ofRE8, but since the game is entirely in first-person, the developers had no choice but toalways go for Ethan’s hands, as they were the only part of him that was on-screen for players to see. Fans have even made entire lists and lengthy compilations of every time poor Ethan’s hands were harmed throughout his time in the series!
Perhaps Leon’s famous line about Ramon Salazar’s right hand “coming off” was foreshadowing Ethan’s role as a protagonist all along.
The idea behind the typewriters in the originalREwas that the S.T.A.R.S. members were jotting down the events at the Spencer mansion, in hopes that any survivors would find their notes and uncover what happened that night in the Arklay Mountains. While it makes sense thematically, the idea of Chris or Claire taking their time in the middle of a zombie apocalypse to sit down and type out a little diary entry or Ethan taking a breather to talk about his findings at the Baker house is a hilarious image.
Thesafe room mechanicis often abused by players; letting them taunt enemies like vicious lickers or even the terrifying Mr. X, just to run to the closest typewriter room, forcing their enemies to turn back around and roam mindlessly once again as they know they cannot enter a safe room! It’s so kind of Mr. X and Nemesis to patiently wait outside as Leon and Jill write down a log of their day for a quick checkpoint.
RE4/RE4RandRE8are the only games in the mainline series that offer players amerchant to buy and sellitems from. While it makes sense practically, thematically, it seems a bit strange and awfully convenient. Although the Merchant fromRE4/RE4Ris simply another Ganado, he doesn’t see Leon as a threat and only concerns himself about money, appearing any place Leon may need to empty his inventory. Meanwhile, Ethan’s merchant, the Duke, is also seemingly just another villager, but acts friendly towards Ethan and even offers him help on a few occasions.
Surprisingly, Ethan (being the witty protagonist he is) never directly questions Duke about his ability to conveniently be wherever needed, but does point out that the Duke does indeed look suspicious.
The Spencer mansion inRE1had a ton of intricate architecture and overly complicated ways of unlocking doors/passageways, making for somegreat puzzles for players to solve. These puzzles then became a staple of the series down the road but never got the same contextual explanation that the Spencer mansion ofRE1did. Perhaps theRE2police department did have an underground area for when it was an art museum, but why would that mean the building had secret passageways that were unlocked with special medallions?
Jill pokes a bit of fun at this running gag when inspecting the railway monument puzzle at the beginning area of the game, stating that she could the thing working, “whatever this thing is”. However, the best line about the absurdity ofREarchitecture puzzles comes from Ethan after solving the “sky hunter” puzzle and wondering out loud “Who builds this ****?”
The originalREhad rather campy writing that the internet loved memeing on. Jill being referred to as the “master of unlocking” was one of the internet’s favorite memes. Capcom didn’t shy away from it, including it as a trophy/achievement in many following games; usually rewarded for unlocking every interactable lock.
On top of referencing the iconic scene with achievements, Capcom decided to pay the amazing line tribute once again in theRE4remake, giving Ashley her own “master of unlocking” lineafter unbarring a locked door for Leonby climbing over to the other side. Jill would be proud!
While many fans foundRE5a bit too heavy on the action for a survival horror game, no one can deny thatChris’s notorious boulder-punching sceneat the end of his boss battle with longtime antagonist Wesker made the game worthwhile. The idea of a grown man attempting to punch a boulder out of the way (instead of simply trying to push it as any other reasonable human would do) is not only hilarious but also an irrefutable testament to Chris Redfield’s raw strength.
This iconic scene was then referenced inRE8during Ethan’s boss battle with Heisenberg as he calls Ethan’s buddy a “boulder punching-*******”! The only question that remains is who told Heisenberg about the events that happened inRE5?
The “Jill Sandwich” line is one ofRE’s oldest (and most treasured) jokes, and it’s a shame that theRE1remake decided to rephrase the iconic line, having Barry state that Jill “would have fit nicely into a sandwich” instead. However, after seeing the audience’s reaction, Capcom decided to bring the classic line back inRE:R2, this time with longtime protagonist Claire stating that she was one second away from being a “Claire sandwich”.
Fast-forward to 2023, and Leon Kennedy gets his turn to reference the gag, putting his own twist on it. After evading El Gigante’s collapsing body, he states that he was “almost a pancake”.REfans loved Jill as a sandwich, so there’s no doubt fans would stilllove Leon as a pancake too.
