Resident Evil is arguably the most prominent horror franchise in existence, spanning several consoles over a few generations, starting on the PlayStation. Though the series has taken some very different directions with all its spin-offs and sequels, the original still stands as a classic that is revered by many, even if it hasn’t aged all too gracefully. Though the inaugural Resident Evil saw its beginning on the PlayStation, a recent interview revealed that it could’ve seen a start even earlier.
Koji Oda—director of Mega Man 11—recently sat down to discuss the new game with Game Informer and let slip the interesting tidbit. Oda said that when he first started working at Capcom, he was hard at work on Resident Evil for the SNES. Here’s what he had to say about it:
Honestly, I feel like I joined the game industry at the best time. Typically, games would take half a year and no longer than a year to develop, so I feel like I was able to take part in a lot of different projects. It’s not that well known, but before Resident Evil went to the PlayStation, I was working on it for the Super NES.
This was back before the name Resident Evil had even been assigned to it. The codename for this was literally just ‘horror game.’ On the SNES, we were working with limited hard drive space, so it’s not like we could dump a movie in there. If we had actually completed it on the SNES, I’m sure it would have been considerably different. For example, it was originally set in a place that had nothing to do with reality – more of a hellish place.
What do you think? How do you think this would’ve panned out? What’s your favorite Resident Evil game? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source gameinformer.com]
Comments 30
I got my start on the NES.
Everyone knows Resident Evil Gaiden for the GBC was the best version ever made.
I can just picture this SNES/Super Famicom Resident Evil game in the style of the NES/Famicom Sweet Home but in glories 16-bit graphics.
Capcom made a Goof Troop video game for the SNES. I heard that elements that Resident Evil had came from Goof Troop first. Or something like that. It’s been years since I played that Goof Troop game. Anyways, my favorite RE game is Revelations, so far.
Interesting. Also don't forget that the peeps who made the game threw shade at Capcom as well during the interview
My favorite is still the obvious one, RE4. Maybe RE7 might be second from what I’ve played. That or RE2.
So it was envisioned as doom...
Given Resident Evil's spiritual predecessor was Sweet Home on the Famicom/NES, this isn't that much of a revelation is it?
Hold It! I remember reading a interview that it had its roots in the famicom game Sweet Home.
I think if I could picture it, it'll be more similar to Doom and Clock Tower. Like Doom you can navigate endlessly from room to room and able to pick up items, weapons, and ammos but like Clock Tower you had restriction on where to go and a few jump scares, the ability to defend, solve puzzle, and end with multiple endings plus it taking place in a mansion as well similar to Clock Tower.
The Super Famicom had one horror RPG that was Japanese-exclusive called Laplace's Demon.
(there is a fan-translation but I don't think it is finished yet, just a very old and buggy version has been released)
It would be cool if there was any early screenshots or builds of this version of the game.
RE 2 and 4 are my favourites. Difficult to choose between them. Revelations is a close second.
It would have been nowhere near as good.
This is new news, but why are people banging on about Sweet Home like they themselves are making some big revelation????
2 and 4 are the best Res’
Thank goodness they moved it to the PS1 then. I can't imagine a timeline without the influence of that original RE. Most importantly, REmake—the best RE game—wouldn't exist either.
I don't like Resident Evil, and the thing I hate the most about itr is that it is too much realistic. I hate viruses, zombies and experiments, I prefer demons, ghosts, magic and supernatural things so if the older version was so much different and so less realistic I would have liked it more probably.
@JHDK Gaiden was actually made for Gameboy Color, which just furthers your point i guess..
Again this is old news, heard about this like 5 years ago or so lol...... P.N.04 switch exclusive!!!
Which they’d release a rom with what had been completed, just so we could see what it was like.
I would buy the heck out of "Super Sweet Home"!
thanks god that Resident Evil was released on PSOne after all
Well had it been on SNES it would have controlled a whole hell of a lot less annoyingly and without jarring equally annoying camera angles that messed with lousy tank controls.
That said, splitting hairs but it kind of got its start as Sweet Home on the Famicom anyway.
I think they made the correct choice, by 1996 there was very little activity left on the SNES. A release of Resident Evil on SNES would have mostly been missed by everyone, and not driven the industry like it did.
In fact being only one of a handful of games on a new system probably helped push it's success.
Where's RE2 Remake? Haven't heard much about it in a long while.
Hope that comes to the SNES 😁
Interesting.
Glad it was released for PSone instead. Although as mostly a Nintendo gamer at the time, I would've preferred it on N64. That game along with Super Mario 64 on launch day? Would've been pretty awesome.
Still one of my favorite RE games. I'd only put RE 2, Code Veronica, 7, 4 the Revelations games above it. As far as influence though, there's probably none greater in the series.
I started Resident Evil on Gameboy Color over the weekend.......
@shonenjump86 Pretty much all the design elements and mechanics in Resident Evil came from the French computer game Alone in the Dark.
Hard drive space? On a SNES??? What the heck is he talking about?
Love and respect for SNES but thank god RE moved to Playstation. It would suck as a SNES game and we wouldn't have one of the best game horror franchises
@ThanosReXXX Point taken but its obvious he's talking about cartridge storage.
Would have been cool.but glad it didn't
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