As should be expected from a predominantly M-Rated horror series centered around zombies and other bio-organic monstrosities, the Resident Evil franchise tackles some pretty dark themes, and it features more than its fair share of violence and gore. But despite its subject matter, Resident Evil's tone is rarely overly self-serious.
The original 1996 Resident Evil was truly terrifying for the time, but its corny dialogue and even cornier line delivery gave the game a sense of camp akin to a horror B-movie. That tone has been carried throughout most of the series, with it being commonplace to hear protagonists like Leon Kennedy making light of an otherwise grim situation. The Resident Evil franchise has also been home to plenty of absurd, almost anime-like moments, one of which should make a sort of return in Resident Evil 9.
Resident Evil Has a Brutal Mountain to Hike
The Resident Evil series is currently on top of the world, but if it wants to keep it that way it may need to make a big decision about its gameplay.
Resident Evil 9's Rumored Open-World Should Embrace Absurdity With One Meme
Chris Redfield's Boulder Punch Continues to Live in Infamy
Released in 2009, Resident Evil 5 marked a definitive shift for the franchise, both in terms of gameplay and tone. Building on Resident Evil 4's groundwork, RE5 put action front and center of its gameplay experience, and let its survival horror roots fade into the background somewhat. Along with extended gameplay sequences of gunning down infected and blowing things up, Resident Evil 5 features one of the most infamously absurd moments in the franchise's long history.
At the very end of Resident Evil 5, Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar find themselves battling the maniacal Albert Wesker in the heart of a volcano. As Chris walks atop the solidified lava, he encounters a gigantic spherical boulder blocking his path. After his attempts to simply push the boulder out of the way don't work out, Chris decides to give the huge piece of rock a fierce right hook, and he continues pummeling the boulder with his fists until it rolls into the lava. What makes this moment all the more hilarious is that the player is controlling the action, with the entire sequence being a quick-time event.
Chris Redfield's boulder punch quickly became one of Resident Evil 5's most iconic moments, and it's been the subject of memes for over 15 years. Even Capcom's gotten in on the joke, with Resident Evil Village's Karl Heisenberg calling Chris a "boulder-punching asshole" during his boss fight.
Resident Evil 9 Should Feature Its Own Series of Boulder Punches
Though nothing about Resident Evil's next entry has been officially confirmed – aside from the fact it's in development – it's been rumored that Resident Evil 9 could feature an open-world structure. If that ends up being the case, then it would pave the way for Resident Evil 9 to embrace the Chris Redfield boulder punch meme in an all-new way.
Resident Evil 9's rumored open-world could feature an environmental puzzle where the solution is to simply smash a nearby boulder. Or alternatively, Resident Evil 9 could feature a handful of secret areas, all hidden behind inconspicuous objects and pieces of scenery. One of these objects could be a boulder, and the only way to get past it is by attacking it with the player-character's fists. It should be a relatively subtle nod, but one that long-time fans of the franchise will appreciate.
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WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
