Looking at a Resident Evil character in Smash, there's the obvious barrier of realistic firearms. This was something that proved to be an obstacle for Snake, but Sakurai found a way to make it work with explosives. In creating the moveset, Snake was dubbed, "Heavy weapons expert" or a title of similar significance. Snake is also a user of CQC, which allows for the regular attacks in his moveset, or at least gives a reason for the complimenting of his style. It also pulls more from his home series.
As we know, Resident Evil is a series that started as Survival Horror, which gradually turned into Action Survival Horror (probably a controversial statement but whatever), with the latest *new* title taking on FPS as an additional genre with Resident Evil 7. While certain aspects of Survival Horror have changed throughout the course of the series, there are still aspects that remain the same. Players of Resident Evil are still required to manage their ammunition, healing items, and in some games,
saving items. This is what makes Resident Evil a revolutionary, genre-defining series. It's not just the jump scares, it's more that several aspects of gameplay define the experience, and add to it.
Across all Resident Evil games, (Resident Evil 1 (and REmake) , Resident Evil 0 (and 0 Remake), Resident Evil 2 (and RE2 remake), Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Resident Evil 4, 5, 6, 7, and the Revelations games, the protagonists swap in and out from each title. Jill Valentine, the iconic female protagonist who made her debut in the first game of the series (and as such has become one of the more iconic female gaming characters of all time) alongside Chris Redfield, who has become a gaming icon in his own right. Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield starred together in a similar fashion in Resident Evil 2. Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen took the spotlight in Resident Evil 0, Jill Valentine made her return in Resident Evil 3, Leon returned on his own for 4, Chris Redfield made his return for 5 (in which Jill appears at a later point in the game), and many of the cast (staples and some...up and comers) come together. 7 stars Chris Redfield in a DLC story, and that covers the main series games.
The Revelations titles, of which there are two, stars Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield (REV1), while Claire Redfield stars as a main protagonist in REV2. This places Jill as one of the most recurring characters in the Resident Evil franchise, and this doesn't include her appearances in various other media titles, including movies, crossovers, and other material.
In Resident Evil 1, players are given the ability to use several different weapons in a variety of offensive and defensive ways. One of the "explosive" option, rather than a firearm for Jill and Chris, is the Grenade Launcher. A recurring weapon from the series, the Grenade Launcher typically is able to fire explosive, napalm/fire, and corrosive/acid shells. These are used depending of the weakness of the monster you're seeking to defeat. However, as with most other weapons in the series, the player must be careful to manage their ammunition so that they don't get cornered by a force to be reckoned with.
However, should the player meet a zombie in a face to face situation, Jill or Chris are able to use either a knife or taser to counter the monster for the time being. This is something that might save a player from needing to replay the half hour of progress they made, or more.
With the more actiony Resident Evil games, namely 4 and 5, there's a bit to talk about as well. Leon Kennedy has a classic moment in his game in which he grabs zombies, and suplexes them. While this is incredibly ridiculous, it's something that absolutely adds to the history of Resident Evil as well as...the possibilities for memes.
But when it comes to combat for Resident Evil 4, Leon has access to flash grenades, incendiary grenades, and ordinary explosive grenades. Another unique weapon that Leon has access to, is the Mine Thrower, which essentially shoots out a mini-missile which attaches to the target and explodes after a few moments. These are all aspects that show a difference in gameplay, which staying within the same series.
Based on this, and the fact that this is being posted on Smashboards, what can be taken from this? Well, a few things. If Resident Evil is to get a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, I propose some sort of playable representation within the following options:
1) Jill Valentine
2) Leon Kennedy
3) Jill Valentine with a set of alts for Leon
4) Jill Valentine and Leon Kennedy as an Echo fighter, similar to Simon and Richter Belmonts.
Some may question further.
Why? If they use explosives, why should Jill and Leon be added if they would have such similarities to Snake? Luckily, I have that answer. Surely, Jill and Leon use similar weaponry and have the same restriction as Snake did. They have to avoid realistic firearms so that they aren't shooting the Pikachus or Mario's of the world with bullets. Y I K E S...there goes my childhood!
The object of Resident Evil, is the keep your ammunition supplies up, and to keep your enemies as far away as possible. If your opponent
does get closer to you then you want them, you have a select few options. Those are only truly as a last resort however. Translating to Smash, what does this even look like?
To start, I'll post the following link which will give an idea of how Jill fights in Marvel vs. Capcom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFq9fezfDZI
While not a moveset breakdown, there are a few things to take note of. First, Jill is fast, and has moves that she can easily string together. The next is that she can effectively summon zombies, which she can then use to force her opponent into a dicey situation...:either dodge the zombie, and then get hit with a follow up to Jill, or dodge Jill and get hit by the zombie coming at them. It's not a great situation to be in. Finally, one of her special moves is to whip out a massive rocket launcher. I'm not a fan of her whipping that out in Smash in her moveset...but her Final Smash? That's a different story.
To put it simply: Jill can bring it! Some of my ideas have gone from the option to choose different ammunition types for a grenade launcher, and needing to manage it, to being able to toss different grenades, like for example the flash grenade. Using a flash grenade can stun an opponent, and allow for a retreat, or perhaps a follow up for an enemy attempting to retreat. In addition, just like the countering options in Resident Evil 1, Jill could utilize a taser to counter-shock the opponent. However, if her moveset takes on the "ammo management" of the Resident Evil series, this would then be put on a cooldown after use. Meaning, in future counters, Jill would either simply counter attack with less of a benefit, or take damage as she counters, something similar to Incineroar.
If modeled similarly to Snake in terms of stage control, this is where the zombie summoning could be put to excellent use. The zombies could be allowed to walk straight forward and simply bite the opponent, be tripped by Jill and cause knockback, or perhaps used simply to force the opponent to move themselves to a different spot (leading to the predicament I mentioned earlier).
This all said, Leon Kennedy has
never been actually featured in a fighting game before. So why include him in the first place? Leon is one of the more iconic gaming characters across media, and he is the protagonist of one of the greatest Gamecube titles of all time, that obviously being Resident Evil 4. His body type is also far more similar to Jill than Chris Redfield would.
For the Final Smash, I see it fitting for both Chris and Leon to dive out of the way of a Tyrant attack, which would miss them and hit anyone it was aimed at. After that, the Tyrant would attack the opponents while Jill/Leon aims and fires their Rocket Launcher, which would then destroy the Tyrant and blast any opponents into the air!
For a stage, while there may be some truly iconic options, to me there's no other choice than Raccoon City.
Sure, the name sounds silly. However, it's the main hub of the events that started it all, and lasted among 4 games in the series. Resident Evil 1, 2, 3, and 0 all take place either in, or close to Raccoon City, being at least referenced in 1 and 0...not to mention, Leon is a former Raccoon City Police Officer, while Jill herself is a former member of the Raccoon City S.T.A.R.S Unit. This stage could easily have the backdrop of a city on fire, with terrifying monsters roaming the streets, stalking the walls of various buildings, and making their presence known. Among these creatures are the Lickers, Hunters, Cerberus' (zombie dogs), Crimson Heads (basically stronger, angrier and red versions of regular zombies), and much, much more. Looking for a stage boss? Look no further than this BAMF:
I haven't played Resident Evil 3, but all I know is, is that he's fast, he's strong, and he's got a rocket launcher and/or minigun. Y I K E S.