Leon executing a round house-kick in the Gamecube version of Resident Evil 4
Melee moves are context-sensitive attacks that can be performed against enemies in Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, Mercenaries 3D and Revelations. They can be performed by first shooting an enemy in a body part such as the legs or face, and then pressing the on-screen button while the enemy is stunned. Melee moves often deal devastating damage that rivals or surprasses even the strongest firearms.
They debuted in Resident Evil 4, and evolved further in Resident Evil 5. Melee moves are often used by experienced players to save ammo and get spacing, as when used, the player is invincible from incoming attacks from other enemies, and will also hit/knock/stagger any enemy nearby depending on the angle/position.
In Resident Evil 4
Limited to face and leg reaction moves, they can also be triggered by slashing the enemies' face and legs with the knife. Enemies knocked down stay in the ground for some seconds before getting up, leaving them open to weapon fire or knife slashing.
In the Mercenaries game all characters have their own Melee Movesets, though some share similar moves.
In Resident Evil 5
Aside the standard moves, there are also the Melee Assists, which consists of reaction commands to be used when your partner is grabbed by an enemy; he/she will hit the enemy, freeing the partner and leaving the aggressor in a stunned state. After assisting, your partner may use a reaction melee on the now stunned opponent to finish him off.
While in Resident Evil 4 only by shooting the enemies' legs or head the reaction command appears, in Resident Evil 5 shooting the arms also trigger it. Different moves are used depending where the enemy is shot. Some moves, such as Sheva's Throat Slit or Chris's Neckbreaker (triggered by shooting the enemies' legs and pressing the button while behind them), will instantly kill regular Majinis (Town, Wetlands and Base) and prevent their Plaga from emerging.
Barry Burton delivers a devastating kick to a zealot's head in The Mercenaries 3D.
It's also possible to make Chain Melee Attacks with your partner by shooting the enemy in the arm and using the reaction command: the enemy will be knocked back, but standing in a stunned animation, allowing the other character to hit him with another melee finish him. Some enemies, mostly sub-bosses such as Executioner Majini, Chainsaw Majini, Big Man Majini and Gatling Gun Majini, can be hit a third time by the first player in this chain, and this particular attack is far more powerful than all other moves.
Enemies knocked down, but alive, can be executed by the player. Approaching a knocked down enemy will trigger a reaction command that inflict heavy damage and usually causes head-critical damage, making the enemy head explode. Sub-bosses such as Executioner Majini and Chainsaw Majini are immune to those instant kill melees, since they can't be knocked down.
In The Mercenaries mini-games, melee kills add five seconds to the timer. In The Mercenaries Reunion melee attacks are heavily buffed, being able to kill almost any regular Majini, depending on the character; also, in Duo Mode characters have access to different and more powerful moves, called Special Melees, depending on who is the partner.
In Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
Most melee attacks remain the same, with a few characters having different moves. The characters are now balanced to a sort, with some moves being buffed while others received minimal nerf. The attack patterns and Melee Prompts are the same of Resident Evil 5.
In Resident Evil: Revelations
It is the first game in where a melee attack can be charged for more damage, although this leaves the player vulnerable to attacks from other active enemies (however the enemy is still invincible during the execution). Finishing an enemy off with a melee attack in Raid Mode often awards the player with an item such as extra ammo.
Trivia
- In the Mercenaries in Resident Evil 4, Krauser has a unique Melee attack that instantly kill any enemy, using his mutated arm. However, it's not a reaction command, but rather a special move that can be used after an amount of time (after 1 minute, when his arm glows red).
- In the Mercenaries in Resident Evil 4, HUNK is the only character in the game that can instantly kill enemies (only regular Ganados) with reaction moves, more specifically his head stun melee, which consists in snapping the enemy's neck (This will prevent the escape of the Plagas). Being equipped with a modified TMP makes him very deadly, as a small barrage of fires in the head can lead into a chain of neck breaks.
- In The Mercenaries Reunion in Resident Evil 5, characters have access to Special Melees in Duo Mode, depending on who they're paired with:
- In The Mercenaries Reunion in Resident Evil 5, Rebecca and Excella are the only characters whose some of the reaction commands are not visually Melee attacks. Rebecca uses small flame spray to burn the enemies (which can hit nearby enemies) and medicine sprays which stun the enemy (functioning like a pepper spray, as she aims in the eyes), and she also uses a taser (her Chain Finisher) which kills instantly almost any enemy and prevents Plagas from emerging. Excella in the other hand has an instant kill where she injects a serum of first aid in the enemy's neck.
- In The Mercenaries Reunion in Resident Evil 5, Barry Burton is the only character in the game to use a gun in one of his Melee Attacks, more specifically his Ground and Back Execution. These shots do not consume any existing ammo. It'll also hits any enemy who happens to be really close to Barry.
- In Resident Evil 5, the Stun Rod, as the name suggest, is a very effective weapon for stunning enemies and proceed to Melee. A good strategy is to aim downwards, hitting the enemy's legs, and then quickly move behind them to use the Back Finisher.
- Much like Krauser in Resident Evil 4, Wesker can use his signature high-speed dash in The Mercenaries in Resident Evil 5 at any time, by pressing R3, in exchange of 10% of his life bar. He'll charge forward till hitting an obstacle, which makes it a very good move to escape tight situations or travel long distances in short time. He's also invincible during the dash.
- Running through Majinis will stun them, allowing the partner or Wesker himself to perform reaction commands. The player can also change running direction by pressing left or right plus the Run Button, or turn 180º by pressing down plus the Run Button; changing running direction can be done only 3 times.
- Also, Wesker can perform a Special Melee called Knee Cannon, which can only be used during the dash. Though the timing is slightly difficult, will be fatal to most regular Majini, either killing or dealing heavy damage causing knockdown. Stronger enemies such as Executioner Majini, Chainsaw Majini and Agitator will not be instant killed, but will receive heavy damage.