History Trivia / ResidentEvil1

* VaporWare: The UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor port was very near to completion when it was canned. Naturally, the ROM eventually found its way to cyberspace, so even though it was never released, it's still possible to play it.

** Development of the game originally began on the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem. At this point, it was far more similar to ''Sweet Home'' then its final version, and was set in a less realistic location, described as a "hellish landscape" by those who worked on it. The announcement of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation convinced Capcom to shift development to it.

** For starters, development of the game originally began on the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem. At this point, it was far more similar to ''Sweet Home'' then its final version, and was set in a less realistic location, described as a "hellish landscape" by those who worked on it. The announcement of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation convinced Capcom to shift development to it.

** For starters, development of the game originally began on the SNES. At this point, it was far more similar to the NES Sweet Home game then its final product, and was set in a less realistic location, described as a "hellish landscape" by those who worked on it. The announcement of the super fancy new Playstation convinced Capcom to shift development to it.

** ''VideoGame/ShantaeHalfGenieHero'': An achievement is named "Master of Unlocking", which you get by unlocking all 10 Art Galleries.* TechnologyMarchesOn: Figuring out the slide projector puzzle towards the end of the game requires a general understanding of what slide projectors are and how they work, something many members of today's audience (especially younger gamers) wouldn't have a clue about, given that such projectors have long since been phased out by digital ones (and presentation software like Microsoft [=PowerPoint=]). Similarly, typewriters can be seen all over the place, even though by 1998 standards,[[note]]The year of the game's setting.[[/note]] typewriters were heavily phased out and a lot of younger audiences that didn't grow up with the game wouldn't get what a typewriter was.

* ReferencedBy: One puzzle in the game involves Jill playing the piano. ''VideoGame/TormentedSouls'' is a ''Resident Evil'' homage, and in one scene protagonist Caroline finds a piano. If you click on it, she says "An old piano. Sadly, I don't know how to play."
* TechnologyMarchesOn: Figuring out the slide projector puzzle towards the end of the game requires a general understanding of what slide projectors are and how they work, something many members of today's audience (especially younger gamers) wouldn't have a clue about, given that such projectors have long since been phased out by digital ones (and presentation software like Microsoft [=PowerPoint=]). Similarly, typewriters can be seen all over the place, even though by 1998 standards,[[note]]The year of the game's setting.[[/note]] typewriters were heavily phased out and a lot of younger audiences that didn't grow up with the game wouldn't get what a typewriter was.

* FollowTheLeader: ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'' may not have invented the SurvivalHorror genre,[[note]]That honor goes to ''VideoGame/SweetHome1989'', which ''Resident Evil'' was originally created to be an updated version of, while the cinematic, fixed-camera gameplay model was pioneered by 1992's ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark''[[/note]] but it ''did'' invent the name, and it proved the concept could sell. Cue ''VideoGame/SilentHill1,'' ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'', ''VideoGame/{{Carrier}}'', ''Countdown Vampires'', ''VideoGame/MartianGothicUnification'', Capcom's own ''VideoGame/DinoCrisis,'' and so on.

* NowWhichOneWasThatVoice: Pablo Kuntz [[https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-voice-acting-criticism-interview-embracing-legacy/ completely forgot he voiced Albert Wesker]]. Furthermore, he didn't learn of his involvement in the franchise until ''twenty years later'', when a fan recognized and commented on his identity in a [=YouTube=] video on his own channel selling Japanese swords. He originally considered letting Sergio Jones take the credit for the role due to embarrassment at his {{Narm}}tastic delivery, but eventually owned up to it, even going as far as to host a series of [=YouTube=] videos of him and his son playing the game together.

** There were supposed to be dumdum rounds available for the Colt Python, which were more effective against zombies but weaker against other enemies. The beta versions and demo basically treated the magnum as a somewhat stronger version of the Beretta rather than the [[OneHitKill instant-off switch]] for non-boss enemies it is in the final release; it would only occasionally [[YourHeadASplode blow off a zombie's head]] and usually took 2-3 shots to kill most enemies. They decided to give the Python a massive power upgrade and simply remove the dumdums altogether. Oddly enough, they were very nearly added but eventually cut from the remake, too. The scene where Barry takes three shots to kill a zombie with his Colt Python is likely a holdover from the beta where regular ammo would be less effective against zombies.

* ButForMeItWasTuesday: In a meta-example, Pablo Kuntz [[https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-voice-acting-criticism-interview-embracing-legacy/ completely forgot he voiced Albert Wesker]]. Furthermore, he didn't learn of his involvement in the franchise until ''twenty years later'', when a fan recognized and commented on his identity in a [=YouTube=] video on his own channel selling Japanese swords. He originally considered letting Sergio Jones take the credit for the role due to embarrassment at his {{Narm}}tastic delivery, but eventually owned up to it, even going as far as to host a series of [=YouTube=] videos of him and his son playing the game together.

* ButForMeItWasTuesday: In a meta-example, Pablo Kuntz, [[https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-voice-acting-criticism-interview-embracing-legacy/ completely forgot he voiced Albert Wesker]]. Furthermore, he didn't learn of his involvement in the franchise until ''twenty years later'', when a fan recognized and commented on his identity in a [=YouTube=] video on his own channel selling Japanese swords. He originally considered letting Sergio Jones take the credit for the role due to embarrassment at his {{Narm}}tastic delivery, but eventually owned up to it, even going as far as to host a series of [=YouTube=] videos of him and his son playing the game together.

* AcclaimedFlop: Despite gaining universal praise by video game journalists for being one of the scariest and most visually stunning entries in the series, the 2002 remake sold worse than what Capcom had anticipated, leading to the switch towards more actionized horror with the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil4 4th entry]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Not that this change was a bad thing]], as it changed the entire industry thereafter.
** Ultimately subverted by the [[UpdatedRerelease HD Remaster]]; twelve years after the game's original release, it took the gaming industry by storm in its own right by being multiplatform compared to the original release's UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube exclusivity, and finally exposing a premiere CultClassic to audiences worldwide. The result was becoming Capcom's best and fastest-selling digital title at the time, undoing the seemingly-irreversible damage that ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' had done to the series, and turning it back on track for more classic survivor horror with ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'' instead of the action horror focus that ''Resident Evil 4'' had kickstarted. The former AcclaimedFlop getting a second shot ''inverted everything'' that its failure originally caused.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: A meta-example. Pablo Kuntz, [[https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-voice-acting-criticism-interview-embracing-legacy/ completely forgot about voicing Albert Wesker]] after recording some lines for the role. He didn't learn of his involvement in the franchise until ''twenty years later,'' when a fan recognized and commented on his identity in a [=YouTube=] video on his own channel selling Japanese swords. He originally considered letting Sergio Jones take the credit for the role due to embarrassment at his {{Narm}}tastic delivery, but eventually owned up to it, even going as far as to host a series of [=YouTube=] videos of him and his son playing the game together.

* FakeAmerican: In the original version, Barry's voice actor (Barry Gjerde) is Norwegian, while both Chris' voice actor (Scott [=McCulloch=]) and Jill's voice actress (Una Kavanagh) were Canadian. In addition, Gregory Smith, Barry's live action actor, is Australian. In the remake, Jill's character model Creator/JuliaVoth is Canadian.

* TheOtherDarrin: Richard in the DS port is voiced by a different voice actor solely because he has a new line of dialogue in Rebirth Mode where he gives the player a hint to a secret ammo cache. Likewise, Jill and Chris had new voice actors just for their frustration / celebration sounds when solving puzzles exclusive to Rebirth Mode, even though they still use the original voiced recordings for everything else.

* ThrowItIn: Real Survival mode in the ''[=REmake=]''. By default, all item boxes are linked so you can get your items anywhere and there's auto aim (although this was not present in the US version of the original game). According to the description of Real Survival, the prototype of the original game had it where the item boxes weren't linked at all. The game mode emulates this and forces the manual aim for the ChallengeGamer.

** During [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSYJLan_jWI&lc=Ugw1cNyNwmBq_GOA69V4AaABAg.9UnQkTuY8jq9Up3l1CJxl4 a playthrough with his son]] [[note]]In a response to the linked comment chain.[[/note]], Pablo Kuntz (the voice of Wesker) said that part of the reason the dialogue was so [[BlindIdiotTranslation hilariously unnatural]] was because by the time the cast were hired to voice the characters, they had all been living in Japan for some time. As a result, they got used to oddly phrased English by non-native speakers and thus [[GotMeDoingIt didn't notice or think to correct the writers about whether their dialogue sounded natural]].

** There was originally going to be an African American character named Dewey, who was going to be [[PluckyComicRelief comic relief]]. There also was going to be a {{Cyborg}} character named Gelzer. He would have saved the protagonist by holding the ceiling trap. In fact, in early drafts, the entire cast were planned to be cyborgs, and the setting was supposed to be more futuristic. Gelzer was cut when the setting was brought more down to earth, though some aspects of the character were transplanted into Barry; and Dewey was probably cut because they quickly realized [[UnfortunateImplications his whole character was a horrendous idea]].

** Early screenshots for the remake showed that Chris and Jill were at one point going to be able to fight barehanded, with Chris using [[GoodOldFisticuffs punches]] and Jill using [[KickChick kicks]], but for whatever reason the ability was left out of the released version. There's also gameplay footage of Chris using some kind of laser-beam weapon that didn't make the final cut, either.

* ThrowItIn: Real Survival mode in the ''[=REmake=]''. By default, all item boxes are linked so you can get your items anywhere and there's auto aim (although this was not present in the original game). According to the description of Real Survival, the prototype of the original game had it where the item boxes weren't linked at all. The game mode emulates this and forces the manual aim for the ChallengeGamer.

* FanNickname: Mansion Basement, an infamously terrible track from ''Director's Cut'', is often referred to as "Clowns farting in the basement" by the fanbase.

* NamesTheSame:
** The Scott [=McCulloch=] who provided the voice of Chris in the original version wasn't the other Canadian actor of the same name.
** The Una Kavanagh who provided the voice of Jill in the original version isn't the Irish actress of the same name.

* FollowTheLeader: ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'' may not have invented the SurvivalHorror genre,[[note]]That honor goes to ''VideoGame/SweetHome'', which ''Resident Evil'' was originally created to be an updated version of, while the cinematic, fixed-camera gameplay model was pioneered by 1992's ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark''[[/note]] but it ''did'' invent the name, and it proved the concept could sell. Cue ''VideoGame/SilentHill1,'' ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'', ''VideoGame/{{Carrier}}'', ''Countdown Vampires'', ''VideoGame/MartianGothicUnification'', Capcom's own ''VideoGame/DinoCrisis,'' and so on.

* TheDanza: Subverted with Barry's original voice actor, Barry Gjerde; the actor's birth name is [[AwesomeMcCoolName Oddbjørn Egil Gjerde]].

* FollowTheLeader: ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'' may not have invented the SurvivalHorror genre,[[note]]That honor goes to ''VideoGame/SweetHome'', which ''Resident Evil'' was originally created to be an updated version of, while the cinematic, fixed-camera gameplay model was pioneered by 1992's VideoGame/AloneInTheDark[[/note]] but it ''did'' invent the name, and it proved the concept could sell. Cue ''VideoGame/SilentHill1,'' ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'', ''VideoGame/{{Carrier}}'', ''Countdown Vampires'', ''VideoGame/MartianGothicUnification'', Capcom's own ''VideoGame/DinoCrisis,'' and so on.

* FollowTheLeader: ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'' may not have invented the SurvivalHorror genre,[[note]]That honor goes to ''VideoGame/SweetHome'', which ''Resident Evil'' was originally created to be an updated version of[[/note]] but it ''did'' invent the name, and it proved the concept could sell. Cue ''VideoGame/SilentHill1,'' ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'', ''VideoGame/{{Carrier}}'', ''Countdown Vampires'', ''VideoGame/MartianGothicUnification'', Capcom's own ''VideoGame/DinoCrisis,'' and so on.

** Ultimately subverted by the [[UpdatedRerelease HD Remaster]]; twelve years after the game's original release, it took the gaming industry by storm in its own right by being multiplatform compared to the original release's UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube exclusivity, and finally exposing an otherwise-exclusive cult classic to audiences worldwide. The result was becoming Capcom's best and fastest-selling digital title at the time, undoing the seemingly-irreversible damage that ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' had done to the series, and turning it back on track for more classic survivor horror with ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'' instead of the action horror focus that ''Resident Evil 4'' had kickstarted. The former AcclaimedFlop getting a second shot ''inverted everything'' that its failure originally caused.

** Ultimately subverted by the [[UpdatedRerelease HD Remaster]]; twelve years after the game's original release, it took the gaming industry by storm in its own right by being multiplatform and finally exposing an otherwise-exclusive cult classic to audiences worldwide. The result was becoming Capcom's best and fastest-selling digital title at the time, undoing the FranchiseKiller damage that ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' had done to the series, and turning it back on track for more classic survivor horror with ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'' instead of the action horror focus that ''Resident Evil 4'' had kickstarted. The former AcclaimedFlop getting a second shot ''inverted everything'' that its failure originally caused.