Summary
Resident Evilis a series with a load of characters, both major and minor. As a result, there are a ton of options for what characters to appear in a game, be it either as a playable character, or a different role.
Companions are one such role that has been explored in the series multiple times. WhileResident Evilisn’t a franchise best known for companions, and some characters have suited the role better than others. Not everyone is a fan of a companion system either, with many players holding criticisms against companions due to their character, and/or removing horror tension. However, companions can bring forth helpful gameplay, be it either with individual abilities or helping the player with combat, proving their usefulness to progression.
Resident Evilhas dabbled in rescuing children from unspeakable nightmares before. A core part ofResident Evil 2was Sherry’s story, with Claire helping her escape from Raccoon City.Nataliashares a similar role, being a companion in Barry’s portions ofResident Evil: Revelations 2.
Some players were frustrated with Natalia, disliking how she would frequently point out things. However, she also brought a cute side toResident Evilrare for the series. Additionally, her unique abilities allowed her to be useful in gameplay instead of just being a follower, such as being able to see enemies through walls. Although, it still remains to be seen if she will reappear if there isa thirdRevelationsgame.
Without background information,Krauseris a character inResident Evil 4clearly from Leon’s past.The Darkside Chroniclesshines some light on their past relationship, with the two fighting alongside each other during Operation Javier.
He’s able to shoot enemies, although not as effectively as the player. He follows alongside the player as they make their way through the story, with a minor part of the narrative revealing what caused the man to go down the road he did beforeending up inResident Evil 4.
Sherrywas first introduced inResident Evil 2as a child, with Claire’s campaign mainly focusing on her. She then became a companion and/or playable character inResident Evil 6, asa decade had passed and she was now an adult.
She was the companion in Jake Muller’s campaign, trying to escort him to achieve a vaccine for the C-Virus while being pursued by the B.O.W Ustanak. The gameplay wasn’t anything too crazy, as Sherry would attack enemies in the vicinity and help Jake with sections that required teamwork from the two.
5Piers Nivans
Resident Evil 6
AsResident Evilhas been around for decades at this point, the old-schoolResident Evilcharacters are all middle-aged. There have been attempts at a successor, such as withPiers, the companion in Chris' campaign ofResident Evil 6.
He managed to pull Chris back into the BSAA and this is a reason whyChris is present even in recent titles. During gameplay, he wasn’t anything too memorable, as he would kill enemies, follow Chris, and be needed for any mechanics requiring both characters. However, his sacrifice to save Chris left its impact, both in-game and on fans.
Resident Evil 5wasn’t the first to introduce companions, but it was the first to introduce companions that fight alongside the player for the entirety of the game.Shevacan be a playable character, but Chris is generally seen as the protagonist ofResident Evil 5.
The game isn’t as fast-paced asResident Evil 6, so Sheva can save the player out of some sticky situations if they get too overwhelmed. Certain parts require both characters to progress, such as certain doors or puzzles. However, some players aren’t too fond of Sheva, something that couldpotentially be fixed in a remakeof the game.
Resident Evil 0is a divisiveResident Evilgame, but one that technically features both characters as companions.Rebecca Chambersis initially the only character players can control, but Billy Coen soon enters the picture. Players can choose who they want to play whenever they want.
Rebecca is the physically weaker of the two, taking more damage as a result. She also has less proficiency with weapons, with Billy being more suited for combat. However, out of the two, she is able to combine health items, a must inResident Evil, making her invaluable.
2Billy Coen
Resident Evil 0
AsResident Evil 0’sgameplay revolves around the player being able to control both main characters,they can both be companions.Billyis better suited for combat, making him a better choice when primarily playing the game.
However, due to his proficiency at handling guns, he can be a reliable companion, able to help Rebecca if they are stuck fighting enemies. He also has more health, so controlling Rebecca to ensure she specifically doesn’t get hit, and leaving Billy as the companion where he can tank some damage, can be the smarter move.
Ashleyis arguably the most well-known companion inResident Evil.In the originalResident Evil 4, many fans disliked her due to her personality,but the remake rectified this.
She now has an improved personality, no longer being annoying or ungrateful, with many new great dialogue moments with Leon. Her gameplay isn’t much different, as players should hide her when a fight breaks out. However, she has particular moments where she interacts with fights, such as when she controls the wrecking ball.
