An Ode To Ramón Salazar, Resident Evil’s Most Absurd Villain

Soapbox options allow our particular person writers and contributors to voice their opinions on scorching matters and random stuff they have been chewing over. Today, Ollie seems to be again on the pantheon of resident evils in all of the Resident Evils and pens a tribute to maybe his favorite character in video gamedom…

I’ve a little bit of a confession to make. Back in 2005 once I performed Resident Evil 4 for the primary time on my trusty GameCube, I utterly fell in love with it, however Ramón Salazar and I didn’t get off to the very best of begins. After enjoying by way of the opening village part of the sport, which featured lethal Ganados, the esteemed Dr. Salvador, El Gigante, and the fearsome village chief, Bitores Méndez, my first encounter with Salazar left considerably of a bitter style in my mouth.

There was undoubtedly a way from the beginning that Resident Evil 4 was an entirely completely different beast to what got here earlier than it, and I don’t imply due to its sharper give attention to motion over horror. Despite the collection’ apparent B-movie roots, RE4 demonstrated a putting willingness to not take itself so critically. Now, I’m not saying that each RE sport previous to the fourth entry noticed itself as a self-serious ‘Citizen Kane’ of the survival horror style, however with Leon’s sarcastic quips (“where’s everybody going, bingo?”), his outstanding repertoire of wrestling strikes, and his blossoming friendship with a stray canine, it was clear that Resident Evil 4 was one thing fairly completely different from the doom and gloom of Raccoon City.

This is why, once I reached the citadel part and met its resident castellan, Ramón Salazar, I used to be fairly stunned by each his look and his manner. I distinctly keep in mind sitting in my chair, looking at my 19-inch CRT display with a glance not dissimilar to ‘side-eyeing Chloe’. Seriously, who was this man?

Here’s the factor although. I’ve performed by way of Resident Evil 4 extra occasions than I may even keep in mind (I misplaced depend after the fifteenth playthrough) and I completely love Salazar now. Love him. He’s one in all my favorite characters of all time, not simply in Resident Evil 4, not simply within the franchise as a complete, however in all of gaming. He was each endearing and unnerving in equal measure; a villain that appeared virtually laughably benign in comparison with the likes of Nemesis and Wesker, however one which additionally managed to instil dread in my coronary heart along with his weird, childlike whimsy and fearsome, cloaked bodyguards.

What’s extra is that with every subsequent playthrough, I truly discovered myself mourning the truth that Salazar wasn’t the sport’s main antagonist. Don’t get me flawed, I like Osmund Saddler as a lot as the subsequent Ganado, however he was very a lot the quintessential “fancy pants villain with a dastardly plan”. Next to Salazar’s pleasant appeal and magnetic presence, he frankly bored me.

Salazar’s eventual (REALLY OBVIOUS SPOILER ALERT!) loss of life by the hands of Leon Kennedy brings with it a deep sense of loss every time I play by way of the sport now. Yes, he was evil. Yes, he wished to assist Saddler subjugate the whole world with the Las Plagas parasite, however darn it, he was cute! Perhaps there was some a part of me, deep down, that thought I may possibly change him. Can you think about Salazar becoming a member of Leon, Chris, Jill, and co. in preventing in opposition to bio-organic terror? I reckon he’d do a strong job.

The Resident Evil 4 remake is simply on the horizon — although sadly not for Switch house owners, though a ‘Cloud Version’ appears possible sooner or later given the actual fact all of the others obtained the identical remedy — and I merely cannot wait to dive again into that world once more. Salazar’s temporary (very temporary) look in one of many pre-release trailers has me… not anxious, as such, however barely involved. His look has undoubtedly been altered fairly drastically, and to me, he now not seems to be like a creepy little one with previous man options. He simply seems to be like an previous man.

It’s odd, however I belief Capcom to do the character justice. Well… apart from letting him reside, in fact.

What do you consider Ramón Salazar from Resident Evil 4? Would you rank him amongst your favorite characters from the collection? Share your ideas with a remark beneath.