TheResident Evilfranchise has built itself a sizable cast of colorful characters over the last few decades, some of whom have grown to become some of the most iconic characters in gaming.Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, his sister Claire, and Jill Valentine are all key examples, starring in several entries each and becoming well-known names in the gaming industry.
ButResident Evil’s cast doesn’t consist of just the games' main heroes. There have been plenty of tertiary characters in the multi-decade-spanning journey ofResident Evil’s winding story, a handful of which have managed to gain a surprisingly large following despite their limited number of appearances. Barry Burton is one such character, and it’s about time he made his return toResident Evil.
Resident Evil Should Bring Back Barry Burton
Barry Burton Is a Rare But Welcome Legacy Character
Barry Burton made his debut alongside Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Rebecca Chambers, and Albert Wesker all the way back in1996’sResident Evil. A member of S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team, Barry Burton becomes a frequent character in Jill Valentine’s half of the game, assisting her with the search of Spencer Mansion.
Barry Burton became a fan-favorite character right off the bat, thanks in no small part tothe originalResident Evil’s campy voice acting, delivering infamous lines like “You were almost a Jill Sandwich.” Along with those iconic lines of dialogue, Barry Burton’s personality also drew the admiration of fans, being a source of optimism and humor amid an otherwise terrifying scenario.
Barry Burton makes several appearances throughouttheResident Evilfranchise, though it’s mostly in the form of a collectible file or photo. But the few times Barry makes a voiced appearance, such as inResident Evil 3: Nemesis, he becomes a highlight of the experience, regardless of how fleeting his cameo is. Barry Burton has also appeared once or twice as a playable character, such as inResident Evil 5,Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, andResident Evil: Revelations 2, which has further cemented his place in fans' hearts.
How Barry Burton Could Come Back to Resident Evil
The modernResident Evilseries could use a little bit of levity, and Barry Burton is just the man to deliver it. The last time fans saw Barry Burton in thecanonicalResident Eviltimelinewas inResident Evil: Revelations 2, which is set around a decade before the main events ofResident Evil Village.
By the end ofResident Evil: Revelations 2, Barry Burton has returned home to continue his life as a father, though he still has a strong relationship with Claire Redfield. This relationship (and his connection to Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield) could be the gateway to Burton’s reappearance in theResident Evilfranchise, perhaps coming to her aid if she appears in a future title.
Of course,Barry Burtonis about 19 years older than Claire Redfield, and about 10 years older than Chris, so if he showed up in a modernResident Evilentry he probably wouldn’t be able to participate in the action for too long. But he wouldn’t need to. A brief cameo from Barry would be all that fans need to satiate their desire to see the character again.
Resident Evil Village
WHERE TO PLAY
Ethan Winters finds himself in an entirely new nightmare in Capcom’s latest installment of the acclaimed Resident Evil franchise. Whether you’re defending against Lycans in the grim dwellings of the village or exploring the lavish Castle Dimitrescu, the meticulously designed environments immerse you in this eerie world, powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Run from, hide or face off against a diverse cast of terrifying village inhabitants in dream-like - no, nightmarish - situations and fight your instincts to push through classic horror-based sequences. Also, be sure to check out “The Mercenaries” that unlocks once you’ve finished the campaign, a fast-paced and arcade-like game mode which challenges players to blast away enemies against the clock.
