Resident Evil Characters Who Change The Most Throughout The Games

The timeline of the Resident Evil game spans decades, introducing new characters in subsequent titles and, sometimes, checking back on legacy characters to see what they have been up to since their last starring role. Time has a way of changing everyone, but when traumatizing life-and-death situations are thrown into the mix, it usually results in some drastic transformations.

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Legacy characters in this Capcom series, such as Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon Kennedy, have earned such a title as they are the stars of many mainline and spin-off game entries, and not all of them have returned the same way. Switches of job titles and changes to their personalities almost make it feel like players are meeting them for the first time all over again.

5 Sherry Birkin (Resident Evil 2 - Resident Evil 6)

Sherry Grows Up To Be A Capable Young Woman

In Claire's route of Resident Evil 2, she will encounter Sherry Birkin, the daughter of William and Annette who has been all but abandoned and left to fend for herself as her mutated father tears apart the police station in search of her. It was likely expected by most players that Sherry would never return, and she was just there as part of Claire's story, just as Ada was in Leon's.

But it would not be the last time fans would see Sherry, as she would return in Resident Evil 6 as a playable character, teaming up with Wesker's son Jake. She was a sweet young girl who took to Claire immediately, seeing her as a surrogate mother figure. The helpless Sherry would grow and mature to be a government agent in exchange for her freedom of their custody. She is shown to not be as helpless as she was before and is now very capable. Out of all the characters, Sherry's character arc might be the most dramatic, but given the years between her appearances, it is not surprising in the least.

4 Ada Wong (Resident Evil 2 - Resident Evil 4)

A Mysterious Agent Who Returns With More Sass

The remake of Resident Evil 4 made some drastic changes from the original, creating a moodier, more gritty atmosphere while injecting more horror. It even made a few changes to the characters. Ashley was more agreeable, Leon had less cheesy dialogue, and Ada maintained the aloof and mysterious nature she carried around with her in Resident Evil 2, a diversion from her character in the 2005 version.

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By  Rhenn Taguiam

Ada's character in the original Resident Evil 4 was different from that in RE2. While she would still drop in and out of Leon's mission throughout the game, constantly keeping him arms length, she would drop the occasional witty one-liner and acted a little more flirtatious. This is where she differs from her character in RE2, but given the tone Capcom were going with Resident Evil 4, she complemented it perfectly.

3 Jill Valentine (Resident Evil - Resident Evil 3 - Resident Evil 5)

From A Dedicated S.T.A.R.S. Member To Wesker's Henchman

Fans are hoping to see a return of Jill Valentine, as it has been quite a while since her last appearance in the RE timeline. It would be exciting to see what she has been up to and how her character has developed since then, as she has seen changes in some of her games.

She appeared alongside Chris in the first game as one of the playable characters, known for her skills as a lockpicker. She is resourceful and intelligent, and she seems mostly well-meaning as she has the goals of cleansing the world of BOWS. Fast-forward to Resident Evil 3, and a more hardened, self-assured Jill appears, who acts even more like a badass towards the antagonists in the game and even towards Carlos, which serves as a contrast to how she normally treats allies. However, her most drastic change comes in Resident Evil 5, as she swings into action against Chris and Sheva on the side of Wesker. Even if this was due to her being mind-controlled, it was still a shocking revelation to players at the time.

2 Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil 2 - Resident Evil 4)

Leon Matures The Most Throughout The Series

Resident Evil 2 covered the events of the Raccoon City Incident, an event that shook the entire world and tested the survival skills of multiple Resident Evil characters. Leon Kennedy was one such character, who was on his way to his first day on the job as a member of the RPD, but his first shift was anything but ordinary as a T-Virus outbreak saw almost everyone in the city become zombie-like creatures. The appearance of Mr X only further complicated things.

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Leon was a young and fresh-faced rookie in Resident Evil 2, who always believed in doing the right thing and protecting others, as his job would require. He took things very seriously (perhaps too seriously), his personality meshing well with Claire's but grating against Ada's. In Resident Evil 4, Leon is more tried, true, and mature. He is less of an idealist than before and even cracks a few jokes (moreso in the original Resident Evil 4 than the remake).

1 Chris Redfield (Resident Evil - Resident Evil 5 - Resident Evil Village)

The Franchise's Hero Goes Through The Most Drastic Changes

Chris Redfield, thus far, has had the most appearances in the franchise, proving the popularity and importance of his character to the RE fandom and timeline. As such, there has been ample time for Chris' character to evolve throughout the games, which indeed he has.

Debuting as a playable character in the first RE, Chris appears as a loyal and good-natured hero who wants to protect those around him. Resident Evil 5 leans into the more heroic part of his nature, making him appear more like a macho action-movie protagonist, resulting in some over-the-top action such as punching a boulder with his bare fists and not breaking every bone in his hand. Village is a game more focused on story and horror than 5, and naturally, Chris's altered personality reflects this. He is a lot colder than his previous iterations, letting Ethan believe he gunned down his own wife. He also treats him like more of a nuisance than an ally.

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