Albert Wesker

" Sure I'm not human any more. But just look at the power I've gained!" -Albert Wesker in Resident Evil Code: Veronica

Albert Wesker is a power-hungry, intelligent and cunning human being who actively seeks power and domination over the entire human race, all for his own gain. To this end, he has been affiliated with the Umbrella Corporation, as one of it's most promising researchers, and at the same time participating in illicit activities by going undercover in the S.T.A.R.S., posing as one of it's team leaders. This changed before, during and after the Raccoon City Outbreak, where Wesker became affiliated with a mysterious group known as The Agency, and became instrumental in bringing about the downfall of Umbrella, and later joined the "S" Corporation, currently planning to resurrect Umbrella in his own image. Wesker, through appearances in subsequent games in the series, has been effectively established as the series' main antagonist.

Early Life and Umbrella Career
The origins and early history of the life of Albert Wesker are a mystery, with it remaining unknown if he has relatives alive today, or what motivated him to join the dark side of life.

Whatever the case, Wesker joined the international pharmaceutical enterprise Umbrella Corporation, at the age of 18 and began working as one of its researchers. In 1977, Wesker was assigned to the Management Training Facility under Doctor James Marcus. Wesker became friends with fellow trainee William Birkin, becoming colleagues and accomplices for years to come. Both Wesker and Birkin were regarded by Marcus as his best apprentices, and when the Training Facility was closed down on July 29, 1978, the two were personally transferred to the Arklay Research Laboratory (underneath Ozwell E. Spencer's estate) to continue their own T-Virus research (while Marcus continued to work on his own), becoming the facility's chief researchers.

Wesker and Birkin's research of the T-Virus lasted over 13 years and three different stages. In 1988, when the research reached its third stage (the creation of the Tyrant bio-weapon), Wesker and Birkin were then ordered by Spencer to assassinate their former mentor, Marcus and steal all of his research. Shortly after, Birkin's research yielded the discovery of the G-Virus in Lisa Trevor's body. When Spencer approved his project in 1991, Wesker began having doubts about Spencer's intentions and requested a transfer to Umbrella's Intelligence Bureau that same year.

In 1996, Wesker formed the Raccoon City Police Department's S.T.A.R.S. unit and served as its captain and as leader of one of its two squads, Alpha Team. Two years after the formation of S.T.A.R.S., a series of homicides occurred near the Arklay region. While the public feared these deaths were the work of a local cult, only Wesker knew the truth. In an effort to control the public outcry, S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team was dispatched to the region to investigate the situation. Wesker used the time they were gone as an opportunity to gather battle data by pitting the members of S.T.A.R.S. against Umbrella's Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s).

The Mansion Incident
"I will follow my initial plan and lure the S.T.A.R.S members into the Mansion. Their superior combat training should make them PERFECT test subjects." -Albert Wesker Resident Evil 0

The following day, all contact with Bravo Team was lost and Wesker's Alpha Team was dispatched to the site. Upon arrival, Alpha Team was attacked by Cerberus and then, abandoned by their pilot, Brad Vickers. After the loss of member Joseph Frost to the zombified dogs, Wesker and the remaining members of Alpha Team sought refuge in the nearby mansion, where Wesker had previously worked. Initially ordering everyone to split up, Wesker disappeared and left the remaining members of Alpha Team (Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton) to fend for themselves. Wesker probably gained access to a secret area or had the master key of the mansion in order to disappear for a great part of events that the other members of S.T.A.R.S. witnessed. It is believed that he monitored the battles between the remaining S.T.A.R.S. operatives and the creatures that infested the mansion from an undisclosed "secret" area.

Of the nine S.T.A.R.S. operatives who entered the mansion (including Wesker himself), only the members of Alpha Team, along with Bravo Team's Enrico Marini and Rebecca Chambers, managed to survive against the various creatures and bio-organic weapons that infested the facility. In order to ensure the downfall of the other members, Wesker used extortion in order to convince Barry to do his bidding (luring the others to traps) by threatening his family. When Enrico uncovered evidence that implicated Wesker and Umbrella, Wesker murdered Enrico (it has been stated that Wesker ordered Barry to perform the actual murder, though this is false because he is with Jill in her storyline.) However, Chris and Jill learned the truth about Wesker and then, proceeded to foil his plot by destroying the T-002 Tyrant, along with the facility itself.

During the ensuing chaos, Wesker injected himself with a variant of the G-Virus given to him by his partner, William Birkin. After allowing the Tyrant to kill him, the virus reanimated his body. This gave him superhuman strength, agility and regeneration, but at the severe cost of the loss of his humanity. The resulting mutation also gave him gold-red cat-like eyes (but these are not immediately noticeable, due to the sunglasses he always wears). Wesker was revived, while Umbrella and the remaining S.T.A.R.S. operatives were convinced that he died in the explosion. Realizing the S.T.A.R.S. had destroyed the Tyrant and escaped with their lives, he swore revenge against the remaining S.T.A.R.S. members. His plan to leave no shred of evidence behind had been foiled. He wanted to avoid suspicion cast in his direction, so as not to expose his long-past machinations to scrutiny from Umbrella. Regardless, when the remaining S.T.A.R.S. attempted to go public with what they knew, though disbelieved by the public, Umbrella was very interested in Wesker's betrayal. Eventually, they began to suspect Birkin as well, and planned to have him assassinated and his G-Virus projects seized (after Birkin decided to leave Umbrella and sell his work directly to the U.S. Government, instead). Wesker knew this and began to prepare to head off Umbrella.

Time With The Agency/Raccoon City Incident
Using data he recorded, Wesker was able to secure a high-ranking employment position within one of Umbrella's mysterious rivals; The Agency, and began spying on Umbrella's activities. When Raccoon City suffered a T-Virus outbreak, Wesker hired and sent a private agent named Ada Wong to retrieve the G-Virus sample in the (unknowning) possession of William's only daughter Sherry Birkin, hidden within her pendant. While Ada lost the sample, she was able to secure another sample of the virus from William's remains (William had transformed into a monstrous creature after injecting himself with the virus, and as such was defeated by both Leon and Claire), but then lost the other sample to Umbrella Special Forces Alpha Team Leader (and sole surviving operative) HUNK, who was also sent from Umbrella's Paris Branch to secure a sample of the virus. After the Incident, Wesker, wanting to know about what other secrets Sherry might be hiding on her late father's behalf, had the Agency's spies in the U.S. Government keep watch over her. Wesker, who never underestimated Birkin, eventually had Sherry taken into custody and imprisoned, believing there was something more to her than met the eye.

Rockfort Island/Antarctic Lab Incident
Wesker and a heavily armed Agency Special Forces Team attacked the Umbrella facility on Rockfort Island, intent on retrieving a sample of the T-Veronica virus, created on Rockfort by Umbrella Chief Researcher Alexia Ashford. The attack succeeded, especially when the T-Virus samples and captive B.O.W's in the laboratory section of the facility broke containment and contaminated the Island. However, Wesker and his men failed to find the missing Alexia. Wesker then went to the Antarctic Research Facility, which had also suffered a T-Virus outbreak from infected Rockfort employees fleeing to the facility. It was here Wesker encountered his former subordinate Chris Redfield (who had arrived seeking his missing sister Claire). Wesker failed to gain a sample of the virus from Alexia, especially when he tried to use his own abilities to force her to surrender one, only to be driven back by Alexia's own abilities. While Chris fought and killed Alexia, Wesker was able to secure a sample of the virus from the retrieved corpse of Steve Burnside.

The base started its self-destruct sequence, but Wesker engaged Chris in combat, eager to settle the score. Wesker quickly used his immense strength and speed to gain dominance, with Chris refusing to allow Wesker an easy kill. Wesker was poised to deliver the finishing blow, only for an explosion, caused by the priming self-destruct, to knock a flaming pillar inbetween the two. Wesker, vowing Chris was lucky and next time they met he couldn't count on luck again, escaped the base as it began to crumble and explode around them. Wesker reached an Agency Submarine and sailed away. While the flaming pillar had badly burned Wesker's face, his burns healed no more than five minutes later due to his superhuman regenerative capabilities.

Russian Facility Incident
In 2003, Wesker infiltrated the Russian Umbrella Facility and managed to kill the mutated Sergei Vladimir. He then took Umbrella data from the Red Queen, before deleting the computers memory, shutting down the facility. Shortly thereafter, finally having strong evidence against Umbrella, he brought his findings to the court. With information from Wesker (who operated under the pretense of being a personal friend of the CEO), Umbrella was found guilty and officially shut-down, it's top officials suffering legal troubles and an international manhunt began for Ozwell E. Spencer.

Post-Umbrella/Time with the "S" Corporation
Following the fall of Umbrella, Wesker soon proved to be a problem for his Agency superiors. Wesker had always cherished a desire for power, prominence and domination over others, and, seeing Umbrella as power incarnate, used it to hide behind while he made plans of his own. When Umbrella folded, and the sanctuary and protection it provided ruined by the surviving Umbrella leaders' constant power struggles, Wesker sought to resurrect Umbrella in his own way under his leadership. To this end, he contacted the "S" Corporation, and has been in contact with them following Umbrella's demise, serving as one of their operatives. The Agency was aware of this however, and, suspicious and remaining ever vigilant, ordered Ada Wong to pretend to work with him during the affair with the Los Illuminados, and then ordered her to supply Wesker with a false Las Plagas sample, after stealing a real sample from the cult's leader Osmund Saddler. Wesker wasn't fooled, however, as he knew exactly what the Agency is thinking, and will most likely see through the deception soon. What will happen then is unknown.

Character
Wesker is a true Renaissance Man (Polymath). He is proficient in the fields of science, research, observation, biology, virology, bioengineering, evolution, combat, martial arts, marksmanship, weapons, tactics, police procedure, espionage, murder, subterfuge, blackmail, opportunity, planning, persuasion, arms dealing, double-cross and even extra-sensory perception, as well as superhuman strength, speed, agility, resistance, metabolism, and vitality, due to his viral genetic mutations.

(Credit due to Albert Wesker(The Doctor) of MySpace.com)

As of now, Wesker has amassed a wealth of combat data on various B.O.W.s and mutants. He also has a large array of biological samples, possibly more than is known. And since the fall of Umbrella in 2003, he has acquired all of Umbrella's investigation and assets, including all of the company's information concerning the B.O.W.s and the viral research.

It should be noted that Wesker seems to only have loyalty to himself and seems to be playing all sides to his own advantage. He is seemingly trying to sell data and samples between competitors, like a weapons dealer selling to multiple factions, in order to gain a competitor's access to more opportunities to acquire additional data and samples.

It is unknown what he will do with all the data and samples he has amassed, though it should be remembered that Wesker was and may still be an active scientist. Ada comments in her report that to Wesker, "Umbrella meant power;" Perhaps this is a hint to Wesker's motives.

Known obtained viral samples

 * Progenitor Virus aka Mother Virus or Founder Virus
 * T-Virus aka Tyrant-Virus
 * G-Virus aka Gene-Virus / Recovered by Ada from William Birkin's remains and Sherry Birkin (who has G-Virus infected cells)
 * NE-T virus / Variant of the T-Virus present in Nemesis (accounting for Brad Vicker's increased stamina in his zombie form in RE2)
 * T-Veronica Virus / Recovered from Steve Burnside's body, which was infected by Alexia Ashford
 * Possibly the T-G Virus / Possibly aquired when he stole Umbrella's data and assets from the Red Queen in 2003.
 * Fake Las Plagas sample.

If Wesker was to get his hands on Las Plagas and T-G Virus, he would have a sample of every viral strain (and parasite) in the Resident Evil game series. He will also just hold the Las Plagas, capturing Ada Wong, if she is still holding the samples she took during the events of Resident Evil 4, including the Master Plaga sample.

And before Umbrella Chronicles, there were high chances that Wesker may never aquire the T-G Virus, since the events of Resident Evil: Dead Aim ended with the total annihilation of Morpheus D. Duvall, the only known carrier of the T-G Virus.

But since Umbrella Chronicles, it is thought that since Umbrella developed the T-G Virus, it's information must have been placed in the Red Queen database. And since Wesker stole the database from the Red Queen, it is very possible that he has aquired a sample of the virus or created his own strain with the T and G viruses he owns.

Appearances
Originally a supporting character in the first Resident Evil, Wesker appeared in the game as the captain of the S.T.A.R.S. unit and leader of its Alpha Team division. Wesker disappears early in the game and only makes one sporadic appearance through the course of the story. Near the end of the game, the player (as either Chris or Jill) discovers that Wesker is a double agent working for Umbrella and either witnesses the death of Wesker at the hands of the Tyrant (in nearly all the endings) or find his dead body inside the power generator next to the self-destruct module (in Jill's best ending in the original version). It should be noted, however, that in the remake of Resident Evil for the Gamecube, Jill's best ending allows Wesker to escape completely, as his body is not found in the Power Room.

Wesker made a surprise return in Resident Evil: Code Veronica, having been revived with new superpowers and apparently working for one of Umbrella's competitors. He later appeared as a supporting character in Resident Evil 0 and an incidental role in Resident Evil 4 (which is explored further in the PlayStation 2 version, due to the inclusion of the Separate Ways scenario and Ada's Report). He was also the narrator of the fictional documentary, Wesker's Report, a DVD which covers the events of the previous installments and was released as pre-order bonus with Resident Evil Code: Veronica X (an updated version of the original Code: Veronica). It was followed by an Internet sequel, titled Wesker's Report II.

From both Wesker Reports, it is learned that Wesker is a machiavellian schemer who's had a hand in the events of all the games in the series, except Resident Evil: Dead Aim, where the entire scenario is created by a rogue operative outside of Wesker's control. Although his physical presence is not constant and indeed quite rare, the effects of his plans can be visibly seen in almost every game of the series.

Albert Wesker is confirmed by the UK-based publication Xbox World 360 to reappear in Resident Evil 5. What his role will be in the game is currently unknown.

Actors
In the original Resident Evil, Wesker was portrayed by an unknown actor named Eric. In the 2002 remake of the original, he was voiced by actor Peter Jessop. However the actor most often identified with the character is Richard Waugh, who provided his voice in Resident Evil Code: Veronica and Wesker's Report, and later reprised the role in Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil 4. In Umbrella Chronicles Wesker was voiced by D.C. Douglas

Gameplay
Wesker was an unlockable character in the Battle Mode featured in Resident Evil Code: Veronica, as well as in the "Mercenaries" mini-game in Resident Evil 4. A (non-canonical) zombiefied version of Wesker also appeared as an enemy in the bonus Battle Mode featured in the Saturn version of the original game.

Resident Evil Code: Veronica
In Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Wesker follows the tradition of the bad guy getting only a knife in the battle mode just like his possible contact, Hunk and another possible contact and rival of Hunk, Nicholai. Wesker's run is quite challenging, but he has incredible stamina and very damaging knife attacks to cover for this. He later has the option of getting a Magnum out of a slot machine for the upcoming boss fight, but gets no additional ammunition for it so its use must be highly regulated. Sometimes the slot machine will give Wesker a file instead of the Magnum, leaving the player to fight the boss with nothing more than the knife and their own wits. It should be noted that this file does not help in the player in the least, as it is just a diary of the mouse Claire encounters in the main game.

Resident Evil 4
In the Resident Evil 4 minigame the Mercenaries, Wesker is considerably better equipped and capable of destruction. He starts with all 3 types of grenade (4 frag, 3 flash and 1 incendiary), a moderately upgraded Killer 7, a fully upgraded standard handgun with a silencer not seen anywhere else in the game, an almost fully upgraded semi-automatic rifle without the enhanced scope, and a first aid spray. His stamina is the same as Leon's. He also has some of the most powerful melee attacks in the game (a "thrust punch" that can strike several enemies with titanic force and a "chikyo chagi" axe kick that can crush an enemy's head). While his starting inventory is strong, it does have 2 downsides: firstly, there is little room for anything else in the inventory, and secondly, Wesker starts with no reserve ammunition for any of his weapons. Despite the lack of extra ammunition, Wesker can easily take on any foe. The Killer7 Magnum allows him to kill strong foes such as the Garrador, and the fearsome double-bladed chainsaw man (Super Salvador). The rifle is immensely powerful and is virtually a one hit kill weapon against all normal enemies, and the player can find ample ammunition for it. The pistol, though not a greatly effective weapon on its own, enables Wesker to stun enemies to allow for his immensely powerful special attacks. When an enemy is stunned by a headshot, Wesker is able to perform the "Thrust Punch" attack, which deals heavy damage (enough to generally be considered an instant kill) to the target and all other enemies directly in front of Wesker. Shooting foes in the knees may also allow for Wesker's "chikyo chagi" axe kick, which will crush the head of the target while also damaging nearby enemies. The handgun also has a decapitation rate that is five times greater than normal, rarely allowing the Las Plagas to show themselves; a useful feature.

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence
In Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, the Nintendo DS version of the first Resident Evil, Wesker is a playable character in the game's multiplayer mode. He is unlockable by completing the Master of Knifing minigame once with either Jill or Chris. In the multiplayer mode, he wields a specialized version of the Samurai Edge handgun.

Resident Evil 5
Wesker will return in the game, but his motives and his role in the plot are currently unknown. 

Wardrobe
Wesker wears a different outfit for each of his appearances, but they are always black. He always keeps his trademark sunglasses, even in situations that seem inappropriate, such as during S.T.A.R.S. operations in the middle of the night. During the original Resident Evil, he was shown in a group photo with several other lab researchers - his sunglasses give him a distinct (some might say jarring) contrast from the rest of the group. In the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 0, he wears a standard S.T.A.R.S. uniform similar to those of Chris and Barry, but completely black, with a navy blue undershirt. He wears a more streamlined outfit in Resident Evil Code: Veronica with the acronyms H.C.F (Hive/Host Capture Force) written on the back. During a fist-fight with Chris Redfield, his sunglasses are knocked from his face, revealing that his eyes have changed from normal human eyes to slitted eyes with a red-orange hue. He wears a different, more sophisicated outfit during his appearance in Resident Evil 4, sporting a black turtleneck sweatshirt, black trousers and jacket over his turtleneck, as well as black gloves. The outfit generally enhances Wesker's appearance, that of an intimidating villain, adding an assassin-like touch. Indeed, his new attire seems to hint at a general ascension in social ranking and favour among general peers. Whereas previously he seemed to function as an undercover policeman, his role within the Resident Evil world now seems more akin to that of an experienced spy, or even super villain.

In other media


Albert Wesker appears in the 2007 film Resident Evil: Extinction, portrayed by actor Jason O'Mara. In the film continuity he is the chairman of Umbrella, holding regular meetings from his office in Tokyo via hologram. He is constantly at odds with Dr. Isaacs. At the end of the film, Alice tells him that she intends to come after him, and she'll be bringing her clones with her. This implies that he may be the antagonist for the possible fourth Resident Evil film if the possibility of the fourth film is confirmed.

Trivia

 * Wesker is the character with the most appearances throughout the Resident Evil series. He appeared in Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 1, Resident Evil: Code Veronica and Resident Evil 4. (you could say he appears in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis as the picture in the STARS office but not as an actual character).
 * Wesker is one of the only two villains who is confirmed to have survived the Umbrella Corp. period of the Resident Evil series. (The other villain who survived is Ozwell E. Spencer.).
 * Actor Richard Waugh modeled his voice acting for Wesker after David Bowie.