Unmasking the Enigmatic Appeal of Resident Evil's Ethan Winters
Ethan Winters defies the typical Resident Evil protagonist mold, offering a refreshing change from the highly competent professionals His relatable and ordinary nature adds an unparalleled charm to the game
Resident Evil excels when it challenges players to maintain a delicate balance between confidently defending themselves and navigating tense encounters. This equilibrium is achieved when ammunition is scarce, forcing players to carefully manage their resources and decide when to use a bullet or when to avoid a confrontation altogether. While not every Resident Evil game needs to be terrifying to be enjoyable, the protagonists play a significant role in determining the level of horror present.
It should be acknowledged that the franchise can be gruesome and gory, regardless of which protagonist takes the lead. However, characters like Chris Redfield, who possess exceptional combat skills, rarely exhibit a sense of fear. The protagonists in Resident Evil are often defined by their expertise in combat and their ability to dispatch bioweapon monstrosities with style, which diminishes the fear factor of the enemies they face. There are numerous reasons why Ethan Winters is a preferable choice as a new protagonist, but one of the most notable is his genuine fear, which sets him apart and makes him truly unique.
Ethan Winters is the Antithesis of Most Resident Evil Protagonists
Ethan demonstrates bold brashness, especially in Resident Evil Village when he pursues his daughter. However, what sets him apart from characters like Chris is the fact that he is an ordinary civilian. In Resident Evil 2, Leon Kennedy was a new Raccoon City police officer, but he possessed a determined spirit to help others.
The remake did a great job of showing Leon's emotive reactions, but he was well-prepared to handle the challenges he faced. Ethan, on the other hand, was an unremarkable individual who could be depicted as fearful and disgusted by his encounters. His motivation to continue onward was Mia, but his presence was primarily necessary for the narrative to progress.
Ethan's actions in the Baker's Louisiana home, with a shotgun in hand, mowing down Molded enemies, may come as a surprise. It is evident that Ethan possesses a level of firearm proficiency beyond that of an average person, as he effortlessly handles handguns, shotguns, and even a grenade launcher. However, it seems necessary for players to overlook this oversight in order to enjoy the diverse combat experience.
Considering the limited variety of actual enemy types in Resident Evil 7, the game could have provided Ethan with even fewer weapons. Perhaps, between Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, Ethan could have undergone training by Chris, enabling him to use a wider range of weapons in the sequel. Nevertheless, Ethan remains far from a soldier or someone scarred by war.
Nevertheless, Ethan's distinctiveness lies in his anonymity, setting him apart from the established lineup of legacy characters in the Resident Evil series. This decision by Capcom to portray him as an ordinary citizen was a brilliant move in their relentless pursuit of gruesome horror. While it may diminish the uniqueness of having an ordinary citizen as the protagonist in Resident Evil 9, it would still bring about a heightened level of dynamism compared to previous entries, where highly skilled STARS members effortlessly battled bioweapons.
