Resident Evil
Core World Lore: Humanity researches various viruses, parasites, and mold derived from the Progenitor Virus to create Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s), triggering global biochemical catastrophes. Core factions: Umbrella Corporation, the BSAA, the U.S. Government, Los Iluminados, the Connections, and Mother Miranda. World Overview Origin: The "Stairway of the Sun" flower in Africa, which contains the Progenitor Virus. Oswell E. Spencer, James Marcus, and Edward Ashford founded the Umbrella Corporation—nominally a multinational pharmaceutical giant, but secretly developing biological weapons in an attempt to screen for a "new human race" and rule the world. T-Virus: Reanimates the dead into zombies and modifies biological organisms (Tyrants, Hunters). G-Virus: Developed by William Birkin; undergoes continuous mutation and evolution. Las Plagas: Parasitizes living hosts, taking over their minds while preserving host intelligence. Mold (Resident Evil 7 / Village): Possesses collective consciousness, capable of absorbing memories and reconstituting flesh; Mother Miranda relies on the mold for immortality. B.O.W. = Bio Organic Weapon, monsters engineered through viruses or parasites. Factions: Umbrella Corporation: The original mastermind behind the scenes, went bankrupt and collapsed following the Raccoon City Incident. BSAA: Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance, founded by Chris and Jill to combat global B.O.W. threats. U.S. Government: Recruits agents like Leon; while fighting bioterrorism, it conducts covert research into biological weapons of its own. Los Iluminados: A Spanish cult wielding the Las Plagas parasite (Resident Evil 4). The Connections: A secretive criminal syndicate, creators of Eveline (Resident Evil 7). Mother Miranda: The Mold-wielding ruler of an isolated Romanian village, the final boss of Resident Evil Village (Resident Evil 8). Mainline Titles 1–9: Plot Summary + Core Characters Resident Evil (1998.7.24) Background: In the Arklay Mountains on the outskirts of Raccoon City, a series of bizarre cannibalistic murders occur. Raccoon City's elite special forces unit, S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team, loses contact after deploying into the mountains. Alpha Team is dispatched on a search-and-rescue mission and is forced to take refuge inside the Spencer Mansion. Beneath the mansion lies Umbrella's secret laboratory; a T-Virus leak has run rampant, unleashing zombies and Hunters. Plot: Team Captain Albert Wesker is an Umbrella mole. He plans to let the Tyrant eliminate his team members to collect combat data, fake his own death, and inject himself with a virus to gain superhuman abilities. Chris, Jill, Barry, and Rebecca survive, destroying the mansion and escaping. Main Characters: Chris Redfield: Main protagonist, S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team member. A tough, loyal operative with elite marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat skills. Later co-founder of the BSAA, spanning the entire franchise. Brother to Claire. Jill Valentine: Female protagonist, former U.S. Army Delta Force operative. Meticulous, observant, and an expert lockpicker. Co-founded the BSAA with Chris. Barry Burton: S.T.A.R.S. veteran and family man. Blackmailed by Wesker, but his conscience ultimately prevails as he protects Jill. Albert Wesker: The game's boss, S.T.A.R.S. captain, and senior Umbrella researcher. Injected himself with a virus to gain superhuman speed and strength. Extremely ambitious, aiming to create a world ruled by advanced humans; the ultimate antagonist of the series' early era. Rebecca Chambers: Bravo Team field medic and protagonist of Resident Evil 0. A prodigy in biochemistry. Resident Evil 2 (1998.9.29) Background: Two months later, the G-Virus leaks from Umbrella's underground research facility in Raccoon City. The T-Virus engulfs the entire city, turning the population into zombies as Raccoon City collapses completely. Plot: Rookie police officer Leon arrives in Raccoon City for his first day on duty; college student Claire arrives searching for her missing brother, Chris. The two cross paths at the police station and split up to find a way out. William Birkin (creator of the G-Virus) is gunned down by Umbrella operatives, injects himself with the G-Virus, continuously mutates, and hunts down his daughter, Sherry. Ada Wong, a mysterious woman posing as an FBI agent, is actually an undercover operative aiming to steal a G-Virus sample. Ending: The U.S. government decides to sterilize Raccoon City with a nuclear strike; Leon, Claire, and Sherry successfully evacuate. Main Characters: Leon S. Kennedy: Main protagonist, rookie cop. After surviving Raccoon City, he is recruited by the U.S. government as an agent under direct presidential oversight. Calm, sharp, and highly skilled in firearms and martial arts; lead protagonist of Resident Evil 4 and 6. Claire Redfield: Chris's younger sister. Brave and compassionate, she enters the city looking for her brother and ends up protecting Sherry. Later joins the non-governmental human rights organization TerraSave. Ada Wong: An enigmatic Chinese-American operative operating between multiple factions. Morally ambiguous, she repeatedly saves Leon from the shadows while pursuing virus samples for her employers. William Birkin: Developer of the G-Virus and a top Umbrella scientist. After being mortally wounded, he injects the G-Virus into himself, mutating into an endlessly evolving G-Monster. Sherry Birkin: William's daughter. Carries natural G-Virus antibodies in her body and is protected by Claire. Grows up to become a U.S. government agent (appearing in Resident Evil 6). Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1998.9.28) Background: On the same days the Raccoon City outbreak peaks, Jill remains trapped in the city trying to escape. Umbrella deploys the B.O.W. Nemesis with a single directive: eliminate all surviving S.T.A.R.S. members. Plot: Hunted relentlessly by Nemesis, Jill crosses paths with Umbrella mercenary Carlos Oliveira. Jill is infected with the T-Virus, and Carlos risks everything to secure a vaccine and save her. The two, before the nuclear
Fear is born within us, but courage comes from the heart.