Survival Horror as a genre has grown so much over the years and evolved into long-standing series that many gamers have come to know and love. The genre as a whole has seen franchises such as Silent Hill, Fatal Frame, and most recently, F.E.A.R. prosper in a cutthroat market and become staples in the gaming industry.

Though many different series can be credited with establishing the genre, very few have been able to withstand the test of time like Resident Evil. The long-standing and successful series is about to see another chapter introduced into the madness that has defined the Survival Horror genre.

Resident Evil 5’s release is upon us and many fans are clamoring to get their hands on the next iteration into the series. Many will spend countless hours and sleepless nights attempting to get through one of 2009’s biggest titles (and yes you can add much of the TGR staff into that category). Big is putting it mildly; store fronts were loaded at midnight for launch night parties to commemorate one Friday the 13th that couldn’t come fast enough.

How did we get to this point, though? What has made Resident Evil one of the best-selling and most sought after franchises in video games? Can you remember the series and all the games that have made Resident Evil what it is today? Can you remember all of those characters and what made the Umbrella Corporation one of the biggest fictional companies ever to be introduced? We know that remembering every game that made Resident Evil what it is today is difficult, but TGR is here to help. Let’s explore the titles, the memorable characters, and the storylines that have shaped this remarkable series. Let us explore the history of Resident Evil…