There are a lot of reasons to love theResident Evilseries, and the many vocal performancesand the many times they’ve changedare absolutely part of those reasons. Even the performances that aren’t exactly loved for their quality are still loved by fans of the series thanks to the campy dialogue reads from some voice actors who, whether they like it or not, have become legendary.
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Even though there have been some slips, the series is also home to some stellar performances. There are tons of skilled voice actors out there, and it seems like these days, the series is interested in seeking out the best of the best.
10Resident Evil (PS1) - Barry Burton (Barry Gjerde)
You can love the original Resident Evil or you can hate it, but the so-bad-it’s-amazing vocal performances from the entire cast simply can’t be denied. The entire cast deserves an honorable mention, but Barry Gjerde who voiced Barry Burton is the top pick if there has to be just one.
He arguably has the clunkiest of all the written dialogue,and he handles it with the cheesiest grace possible. There’s a reason that when people think of Resident Evil quotes, they probably think of one from Barry right away. That is the power of this wonderful performance.
9Resident Evil 4 Remake - Ashley Graham (Nicole Tompkins)
Spoiler alert for this list, but you will see the fantastic Nicole Tompkins again. While the original performance of Ashley inResident Evil 4was solid in its own right, Nicole Tompkins manages to bring Ashley into the modern age with ease.
While Ashley can still be a bit of a damsel at times, Tompkins’s powerful performance adds a new layer to the character and makes her instantly much more fun to be around,even if the original was much funnier. The performance may still be new, but it won’t be surprising to see fans listing it as one of their underrated favorites.
8Resident Evil 2 Remake - Claire Redfield (Stephanie Panisello)
While fans have not been happy with the many new voice casting choices for Claire Redfield, it’s hard to deny how well Stephanie Panisello did inResident Evil 2 Remake. She managed to take Claire in a new direction while still making her feel familiar to long-time fans.
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Claire comes across as someone who knows they’re in a horrifying situation, but when dealing with Sherry Birkin, she also manages to put on a brave face that still has lingering hints of fear. Yeah, she may swear a bit too much for some people’s liking, but that’s not a fault of the performance.
7Resident Evil 3 Remake - Jill Valentine (Nicole Tompkins)
Surprisingly, there really doesn’t seem to be a definitive voice of Jill Valentine in the minds of many fans. There have been great Jill performances before, but much like she managed in Resident Evil 4 Remake, Tompkins managed to help reinvent Jill for the modern era inResident Evil 3 Remake.
This game is certainly not as loved as some of the other entries from the series, almost helping Tompkins’s performance stand out as a shining light. The only thing this performance was lacking was more cheesy references to classic Jill Valentine quotes, but their sparse inclusion can be understood.
6Resident Evil 5 - Sheva Alomar (Karen Dyer)
There is a reason that fans of the series are begging for the return of Sheva Alomar to the main series, and Karen Dyer is largely to thank for that. Sheva could have been a nothing character that simply acted as a basic sidekick, but instead, she became one of the most interesting and beloved characters in the series with a single appearance.
Dyer brought a different kind of dynamic to the role, something that wasn’t hard considering the series was in its “everyone has to sound like a tough action hero” phase. This performance may stand out more because of that, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s one of the best female performances in the entire series.
5Resident Evil 4 Remake - Leon Kennedy (Nick Apostolides)
For some people, the performance of Leon in Resident Evil 2 Remake just didn’t work, but inResident Evil 4 Remake, Nick Apostolides nails it. For the first time, Leon Kennedy has believably morphed into the Plaga-suplexing machine that we know him as.
This performance is one that demonstrates just how scarred and hardened Leon has become, while also allowing for some softer moments with Ashley. It’s exactly what someone would expect if Leon Kennedy were a real person, and that’s major praise for a fantastic performance.
4Resident Evil 7 - Jack Baker (Jack Brand)
WhileResident Evil 7is filled with some debatable performances, one that most people can agree is excellent is Jack Brand’s take on Jack Baker. The southern monster of a man has someshockingly evil moments right from his introduction, and some heartfelt ones toward his ultimate end.
While Jack is absolutely at his best when he’s taunting and screaming at Ethan, it’s hard to deny how wonderful of a scene it is when Jack pleads with Ethan to help his family. It’s a performance no one saw coming, but one that created a new instant-classic villain for the series.
3Resident Evil: Code Veronica - Claire Redfield (Alyson Court)
When most people think about Claire Redfield, they probably think about Alyson Court as the definitive take on the character. She brought so much life to Claire and made it clear that, in an era when voice acting in games wasn’t great, game characters could have great voice actors.
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She was fantastic in the original Resident Evil 2, but she really hit her stride in Code Veronica. Claire is sassy, confident, and constantly astounded by Steve Burnside in the worst way possible. The entire time, Court’s performance makes it clear exactly how Claire is feeling, even if you aren’t looking at the zombie-based chaos on screen.
2Resident Evil 4 - Leon Kennedy (Paul Mercier)
If quotes from the original Resident Evil aren’t the first thing that jumps to your mind when you think about the games, then odds are, it’s one of the many quotable lines of dialogue from Resident Evil 4. Paul Mercier absolutely chews the scenery every time he gets a chance to bethe most over-the-top Leon in the series.
This version of Leon is the quintessential action hero, and every line proves that. While some could say the performance is a bit one-note when compared to others, it’s hard to come away with that as a negative considering how enjoyable every cutscene of the game is, even when compared to the remake.
1Resident Evil 5 - Albert Wesker (D.C. Douglas)
There are few villain voices that will ever manage to match the sheer quality that D.C. Douglas created for Albert Wesker inResident Evil 5. It’s another over-the-top performance,especially with all his iconic lines, but it’s one that works perfectly in the context of the game.
Douglas clearly gave the role everything he had considering every word that leaves Wesker’s lips feels like it’s laced with poison. Every growl and quippy moment is delivered to perfection, and sadly, it’s probably not likely that anyone will ever manage to top this villainous performance for years to come.
