Despite being a critically acclaimed chapter in the long-running survival horror series, Resident Evil 5 was shrouded in debate prior to its release. But why Resident Evil 5 is being considered racist?
Capcom wasted no time getting to work on Resident Evil 5 after the tremendous groundwork set by Resident Evil 4, which has since had an equally successful Remake.
The game was a huge departure from the series’ horror origins, with sweltering African settings and blazing suns taking their position in previous entries.
However, this shift in scenario generated far more debate than the game’s shift toward a more combat-oriented design.
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What made Resident Evil 5 so divisive?
Famous video game reviewer N’Gai Croal, formerly of the “Newsweek” media platform, voiced worries about Resident Evil 5 after seeing the game’s first trailer.
Chris Redfield, the game’s protagonist, can be seen in the video killing off Manjini, parasite-infected locals.
“Clearly no black people worked on this game,” Croal remarked. “It’s like when you engage that kind of imagery you have to be careful with it. If you put up that imagery people would be saying, ‘Are you crazy?’ Well, that’s what this stuff looks like. This imagery has a history. It has a history and you can’t pretend otherwise.”
Some people complained that the game was racist because of how black characters were depicted, but Capcom was taken completely by surprise by the backlash.
The labels and accusations were “silly,” according to Professor Glenn Bowman, Director of Research at the School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent, but some journalists argued that the game’s theme was too much.
Resident Evil 5 was published to widespread praise, with players praising the game’s skilled action-adventure gameplay and the inclusion of co-op play. The game sold over 13 million units, which explains the high demand for a remake.