Lydia Sung - Sunday, June 29th, 2008 | 6:40PM (PT)
"Sure I'm not human any more, but just look at the power I've gained!"
Who doesn't know Resident Evil? Old as the series is, it has done quite well for one that makes so little sense. If this game was present in your childhood, you likely remember those giant spiders quite well, and the shadows on the wall are scarier in your fabricated imagination than anything.
While I will admit that I've turned away from the RE series for a frightening good time -- thank Silent Hill for absolutely spoiling me -- Resident Evil 4 proved to be one of the most entertaining games I've ever had a chance to play (on a PlayStation 2). Now Resident Evil 5 is flooding the news, stirring up controversy well before its release, dated for 2009. It only seems fair that for this week's beefcake highlight, which will be shorter than the last week's (being focused on a single person), we turn to someone who is no stranger to the series: Albert Wesker.
Not the most obvious choice given Leon Kennedy's popularity after the release of Resident Evil 4 (face it, he wasn't nearly as cute in RE2), and the fact the Wesker is an absolute basta--.. I mean jerk following the events of the first Resident Evil. Rest assured, Leon has gotten enough lady love, and one less blog-entry about him is not going to hurt. Wesker, on the other hand, is usually overshadowed and overlooked (there's just less inappropriate Wesker fanart out there). Yet no one denies how cool he is, as demonstrated by that godly thrusting punch in Resident Evil 4 Mercenaries.
I'm willing to bet those of you who played the game tried that technique over and over again. No, don't deny it.
For those less than familiar with Resident Evil, Albert Wesker appeared alongside Chris Redfield in the original game as the commander of S.T.A.R.S. (like a fictional S.W.A.T.) and leader of Alpha Team. Through a series of events, we learn that Wesker is actually working for Umbrella Corporation and was hired to lure his subordinates into a trap as a part of the company's research experiment.
Luckily for us, some people never learn that playing with viruses and zombies is a bad idea, thus prolonging the Resident Evil series.
As the story progresses throughout the games, Wesker continues making appearances, next showing up in Resident Evil Code: Veronica where we learn of his superhuman nature. At the end of the first game, the player is lead to believe that the traitorous leader is dead, but it is later explained that by injecting himself with an experimental virus, Wesker was able to survive the lab explosion (kids, sticking strange needles into yourself is not a good idea, despite what his situation suggests).
The conspiracy continues on to Resident Evil Zero and number 4, with Umbrella Chronicles later introducing Wesker as a playable character.
To be perfectly honest, there isn't much to talk about as far as character depth and background goes, and it's highly doubtful that Capcom would ever indulge fans with much more than what was revealed in their fictional documentary Wesker's Report. At least we know the man started out wanting to be a lead researcher for Umbrella, changing his mind later when he met William Birkin. In the timeline of Code: Veronica, he is no longer working for Umbrella, but rather a secret organization that is conspiring against them.
What Umbrella Chronicles did give us is a sleeker, better looking Wesker.
A trenchcoat? He knows the secret: long overcoats will give the illusion of hip fashion sense, even when one lacks such. There is nothing particularly suave or blatantly attractive about him at first glance, especially compared to Leon's boyish good looks and socially acceptable haircut:
What does Wesker possess, other than a really nice outfit? Enough intellect to run a secret operation behind everyone's backs! The know-how to drive Chris Redfield out of his mind! Nevermind his bulging muscles.
Nice arms. I'd hit that... or steal his shades.
Granted, he looks like a crazed cop, but in the whole span of Resident Evil, who doesn't? Wesker just makes it look good.
We more or less know his role in the grand scheme of things (so far), but his appearance in Resident Evil 5 will more than likely shed new light on a rather dim scenario. Hopefully, Wesker will get to see more action in the next game rather than merely taunting us from the shadows.
What point are you trying to get across here? It sounds like shes just putting her fantasies into words. Heres a summary Albert Wesker = Mysterious Bad Guy, Leon Kenedy = Street Smart Good Guy, All up Resident Evil REALLY popular!!
What's the point in any light hearted reporting? Why is it that weekly someone is like "if it's not epic and dramatic and full of controversy, it's not news"?
I liked the post, it points out a rather consistent theme by Capcom of having loose ends and really odd ways of managing their portfolio of characters in a given title.
There really are quite a large amount of games doing it as well and it's annoying when you catch someone who was in a game 3 instances ago in the latest title with 3x the muscle and the ability to make your head explode when nothing explains how that even came about.
Are you asking us or the author about this article?
I really see no "fantasy" in this article for that matter (other than pointing out his bulging . . . biceps ^_~).
She is just pointing out one of the antagonists behind the scenes of nearly the entire Resident Evil series, who clearly does not enjoy much of the limelight. She even says, "there isn't much to talk about as far as character depth and background goes." No strange "fantasies" of Wesker spiriting her away to do naughty things to her.
What she does is hint at the things that Wesker has done in the series: driving Chris crazy, leader of a secret operation, mutated human. These plot devices will surely pop up again and again so Capcom can continue with their popular Resident Evil series.
And with most mysterious antagonists, each new game in the series will shed more light on his character until he's not so mysterious anymore.
Remember that not everyone is as familiar with the Resident Evil series as you may be, and this article may help them understand the story especially if they started later in the series.
The story is much more complicated than Wesker being a bad guy and Leon being a good guy, and this article helps flesh out Wesker's history.
Not to hate but it seems the author spent about 4/5ths of the article building up to something and then nothing.
There's a lot to talk about concerning Wesker, as any fan of the series can no doubt tell you. A better summary of this article would be: "There's not much we know. But what we know is obvious so no point in getting into it."
Funnily enough, isn't that how Capcom is dealing with this character? Most of the time you gain some relevant information, only to have the man disappear or whatnot (oh he died, but he really planned it xD).
Of course any fan can tell you what he's done so far, but any person who is new to the series won't have the luxury of playing through the earlier games in the series.
"Remember that not everyone is as familiar with the Resident Evil series as you may be, and this article may help them understand the story especially if they started later in the series."
That maybe so but Capcom must be doing something right with all the interest these games are getting, controversial and otherwise. I think this article should link to the Wesker Reports for those who want a better impression of Albert Wesker to be honest.
Tbh, we need more "fun" articles on Neoseeker. Most gaming sites have them. Neoseeker is definitely lacking in that area. So good job, Lydia! Wesker is definitely an underrated RE character, especially considering he's the main baddie of the series. He needs to show up alot more often, rather than playing behind the scenes or appearing in minor mini-game-esque sequences.
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There is nothing particularly suave or blatantly attractive about him at first glance
wut? He's been my RE man-candy since the very first moment he appeared in Resident Evil. (the actor that played him in the intro ... I will find him).
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