Resident Evil games change on Nintendo consoles due to violence limits

Trailers for Resident Evil games on Nintendo show less shooting than on other systems. This is to hide the game's violence.
By Newsroom | Gaming, Technology |

Capcom’s survival horror juggernaut, Resident Evil, has a complex and often fraught relationship with Nintendo hardware, marked by ambitious attempts and considerable hurdles. While the series found its initial footing on PlayStation, its journey across various Nintendo platforms, from early handheld experiments to console prequels, has seen both promising developments and notable setbacks.

The Nintendo 64 era proved particularly challenging, with Capcom's internal team struggling to translate their vision for Resident Evil 0, a prequel to the original game, onto the console's architecture. This period also saw the creation and eventual cancellation of Resident Evil 1.5, a precursor to the iconic Resident Evil 2, a testament to the wild, iterative development processes that often shape the games players eventually experience.

Resident Evil’s Big Nintendo Swing and a Miss - 1

Handheld endeavors and hardware limitations

Capcom's forays into bringing the survival horror experience to portable Nintendo devices have yielded mixed results. Early attempts to adapt games to handheld cartridges, such as putting an entire PlayStation game on a Game Boy cartridge, underscore the technical compromises often necessitated by the hardware.

Resident Evil’s Big Nintendo Swing and a Miss - 2

  • Resident Evil: Revelations on the Nintendo 3DS, however, later managed to fulfill the franchise's promise of delivering a substantial survival horror experience on the go.

The trailers and the toned-down violence

More recently, trailers for Resident Evil Requiem shown during Nintendo Direct presentations have drawn attention for seemingly downplaying the game's violent content.

Read More: Crimson Desert Game Controls To Be Fixed By Pearl Abyss After Player Complaints

Resident Evil’s Big Nintendo Swing and a Miss - 3

  • Gameplay footage for Resident Evil Requiem showcased protagonist Leon Kennedy missing numerous close-range shots against enemies.

  • This contrasts with trailers from other platforms, which typically highlight successful combat.

  • This deliberate omission of violent action in Nintendo trailers is a strategy apparently employed to temper depictions of gore, a move that has not gone unnoticed by viewers.

A long-standing connection

Despite these difficulties, Resident Evil and Nintendo have maintained a connection across the years.

Resident Evil’s Big Nintendo Swing and a Miss - 4

  • The GameCube era, for instance, is remembered fondly for the once-exclusive Resident Evil 4, a collaboration that birthed a beloved entry in the series.

The development of these games, often under demanding technical constraints and evolving creative directions, highlights the "swing and a miss" nature of adapting a flagship franchise to different hardware ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do Resident Evil game trailers look different on Nintendo consoles?
Trailers for Resident Evil games shown during Nintendo Direct events seem to show less violence. This is a choice made to make the game's gore less obvious for Nintendo's audience.
Q: What changes are seen in Resident Evil trailers for Nintendo?
In trailers for games like Resident Evil Requiem, characters like Leon Kennedy miss many shots up close. This is different from trailers on other systems that show successful fighting.
Q: Has Resident Evil always had problems on Nintendo consoles?
No, but it has been difficult. Early attempts like Resident Evil 0 for Nintendo 64 faced problems. However, games like Resident Evil 4 on GameCube were very successful.
Q: What is the history of Resident Evil on Nintendo hardware?
Resident Evil has a long history with Nintendo, with both good and bad moments. Some games were hard to make for Nintendo's systems, while others, like Resident Evil 4 on GameCube, were big hits.