What's the deal with the original Resident Evil cover art?

The original Resident Evil had some of the weirdest cover are ever. What's the deal with it? Why is it so damn weird? Here's some theories.

[2pacalypsenow]

It was 1996

[naruga]

best Resident evil ( by large margin ) EVER and one of the most well done games ever created ....far better than the ultra dark-cliched RE Remake and far better than any of the numbered sequels ......

[Babadook7]

Re 1 and 2 are my favorites. But I love CV, 4 and 7 too.

[AnubisG]

I think you forgot to write; "in my opinion."

[Marioraider18]

Nope

[Yui_Suzumiya]

The first game, RE2 remake and 7 are by far my favourites 😁

[Mr Marvel]

RE3: Nemesis and RE2 Remake are my favourite.

[PhoenixUp]

What’s up with Chris’s physique changing dramatically from game to game?

At least Jill Valentine generally has the same consistent design throughout later entries, even when she temporarily became blond

[Gaming101]

The cover art isn't actually Chris, it's a different minor character who gets eaten by an alligator or shark.

[shaun mcwayne]

When you have a gun that big and you still don't feel safe, I would pull faces like that.

[Fist4achin]

Yes! Low on ammo, dead things and more are chasing you, you're eating herbs to feel better, and you have to use a typewriter of all devices. I'd say the face is about right...

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Lol

[Karlsh]

It is weird art, but I feel it could also pass in 2019.

[theshredded]

It's actually good and took a bit of effort because of the facial expressions.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

What the hell kind of gun is he holding anyway..a shotrifle?

[phinch]

Back end is the bazooka, front end is the shotgun

[Eidolon]

Nvm

[bluefox755]

Am I the only one that read the headline in Seinfeld's voice?

[Vanfernal]

I figured this out a long time ago. It looks so weird because you cover one half of the cover and he looks angry, you cover the other and he looks scared. One side holding a rifle, the other a shotgun.

[CorndogBurglar]

Dude. That's totally what it is. That's why it looks so weird, but you're 100% right. You can pretty much draw a line down the middle of his face and down the rest of his body and it all lines up. The gun changes a little further to the right than his face, but that's clearly what they were going for.

Not bad, man.

[TheOneWhoIsTornApart]

Looks to me they were trying to market the game like a Doom like game with tons of action. The cover reminds me of the Doom cover in a myriad of ways.

[franwex]

It for sure stood out to me. Which is the intent of it back in the mid 90s.

[Dom_Estos]

It was a product of a time well before people gave a shit about silly, unimportant things, and didn't have things like Twitter and Facebook to get on and moan about it. A time when just having zombies and blood in a game was exciting. The box art didn't have to make any sense.

[Knightofelemia]

I always told myself Chris was constipated when Capcom made the cover.

[Gatsu]

How is it weird?

[MWH]

Try covering each side of the face while looking at the other, i think the face was meant to combine the expressions of horror and hostility.

[Morgue]

I have the comic book that came with RE when it was first released. Plus that issue of PSM with Castlevania SON of the cover that had the Resident Evil lid sticker. Sticker is long gone though......

[jznrpg]

I always liked it . Reminds me of Bruce Campbell in Evil Dead

[AK91]

Nothing it’s fine

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Severe camp.

[FanboysKiller]

It's a survival horror game and Chris saw the Zombies for the first time, He is just terrified of them, it doesn't mean he is weak and coward.

[TheColbertinator]

The script was worse. That music was horrendous too.

[franwex]

I always thought of the 1st resident evil as a campy horror game. Even back in the day.

It wasn’t until the 2nd game were I’m not sure if they were tying to be campy, or if it’s unintentionally campy.

Up until Resident Evil 7 I’m still not sure.

[TheColbertinator]

A bit of awkward scripts never hurt anyone but RE was bizarre.

[Tazzy]

We can ask that question about a lot of games I don't see anything wrong with it look at Phalanx for Super Nintendo that's bad cover art and there's tons more Resident Evil has a great cover.

[Irishrocket69]

Mega Man wins every time.

[Vanfernal]

I have no idea what you're talking about, but I wholeheartedly agree.

[franwex]

He’s referring to the super ugly original Mega Man box art.

[DVAcme]

If you take a piece of paper and cover half of Richard's face, you notice it's actually a smash-up of two facial expressions. The left half looks angry and determined, while the right half looks terrified. That's why the face looks so weird, it's a stereoscopic illusion within the art. That type of play with perspective and expression is very typical of Sienkiewicz's work.

You should all check out his stuff, by the way, Bill Sienkiewicz (pronounced Sin-Keh-Bitch, btw) is considered a legend in the comics industry for a reason.

[mogwaii]

I always thought "wtf were they thinking?!" with alot of 90s game and CD covers but yeah this Resi cover, his fucking eyez!

[DJStotty]

isnt this article, like, 23 years too late?

[mgszelda1]

Megaman did it better

[Bleucrunch]

It's a weird game, is it so beyond the realm that the cover too would be just as weird? I STILL have the directors cut version at home and not too many scratches either. 2 was my favorite by far and 4 is just KING.

Code Veronica is ANOTHER classic in that it was a totally different spin on the franchise and so wonderfully done as well. I too STILL have the disc at home...might be buried with it.