Health



The health or conditon of a player character is an importnat factor in any video game, especially the Resident Evil series.

Starting with the very first Resident Evil, the player's health is shown in the inventory menu. The health system essentially seems to monitor heart rate. In REmake, it seems to be modeled after a EKG readout.

Like in nearly all video games a players health is full from the start and they lose health if they take damage from enemies or enviromental hazards. Health can be restored with Herbs, First, Aid Sprays, or in later games things like eggs and even fish. Resident Evil also uses a color coding system to indicate health but also uses single words to explain the condition the character is in.

Full or nearly full health is called "Fine" and is green. The next level is "Caution" and starts off yellow but can turn orange if more damge is taken. In REmake, "Caution" can even be red when borderlining into the next status, which is "Danger". In most games this indicates that the character is close to death. In Outbreak and RE5, an even worse state, called "Dying" is implemented. Characters can eventually lose the remainder of their health if left in this state for too long. In RE5, players have to be rescistated by their partner when teamed up in Co-op or single player.

RE4 and RE5 used a circular meter instead of a heart rate monitor. In RE4, Leon, Ada, and Ashley's health could be upgraded with Mixed Herbs featuring a Yellow Herb. Both games allowed the player to increase their health by equipping armor like the Tactical Vest, Melee, and Bulletproof Vest. Umbrella Chronicles and Darkside Chronicles also use a health meter. In UC, only the player's health is shown along with the character they selected. During Co-op the meter is lengthened considerably and shows the names of both characters despite a few inconsistencies (i.e. Wesker & Wesker or Rebecca & Rebecca). In DC no matter what both characters get a health meter with a few exceptions (such as Krauser is Darkness Falls).

Before RE4, there was a staus effect known as "Poison" which was purple in color. Poison can be afflicted by several enemies throughout the series and can be cured with a Blue Herb or in special cases, Serum.

In RE3:Nemesis, a special status effect is given to Jill valentine after she is infected by Nemesis which is appropriately called "Virus" which is also purple and can only be cured by the Vaccine.

In Outbreak there is another status effect called "Bleed" which is multicolored depending on how much health the character has. It is randomly acquired but is often afflicted by the Leech man in "The Hive" scenario. It can go away over time but can also be cured instantly with a Hemostat.

Starting in RE2, health was indicated with body language from a player character. This was mostly done because health could only be seen in the pause menu. In "Fine" characters stand upright and can move smoothly. In the varying levels of "Caution" characters tend to hold their sides and lower their heads slightly. In REmake and RE0 yellow "Caution" kept them in their "Fine" pose. In "Danger" characters limp and move sluggishly. In "Dying" characters move much more slowly and can even end up crawling on the ground. "Poison", "Virus", and Bleed" all have the same animation as "Caution" unless they are taken into "Danger" in which case they'll limp.

In Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Jill's Heal Type assist move shows her pulling out a Mixed Herb (G + R). If a character touches the herbs they will be healed slightly and an additonal animation depicting their health going from "Danger" to "Fine" will be shown.