I hope that everyone has been doing their prescribed eye-rolling workouts, because you’re going to need the benefits of training for this one.
Three UK clergymen, Bishop Bryant of Jarrow, Archdeacon Brian Smith, and Rt Rev John Goddard, have each accused Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles of promoting the occult and glamorizing violence. The latter said “If we dabble in this area we open ourselves to influences and put ourselves at risk. I would regard any encouragement for children to be drawn into this behaviour with extreme horror.”
Okay, there are many things wrong with this, the first and most obvious being that the franchise is over a decade old, and two-thirds of the game are based on old material. Maybe I just missed where Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica were called out, though. And maybe RE 3, 4, 5, 0, REmake, Outbreak, Gun Survivor, and The Umbrella Chronicles.
Did I miss anything?
Second, the game isn’t for kids. You know how children aren’t allowed in casinos and R-rated movies? Same deal. Get over it already.
Third, I will readily admit that I have unfortunately not had the opportunity to play the game yet. However, I’m unfamiliar with any circumstance in which Resident Evil has really done anything to encourage kids– or anyone– to join the occult. If anything, it seems that any such characters would likely be painted as the villains.
I could probably go on, but instead, let’s see what the game’s publisher, Capcom, has to say about these allegations which have been brought before them:
“Most games (and movies) like Resident Evil show characters fighting evil not supporting it,” says spokesperson Leo Tan. “Unfortunately the clergy is showing a lack of understanding of the video games industry and is too quick to splash the holy water and lump video games players into stereotypical boxes.

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“Video games are entertainment and like horror movies or other scary films they are covered by a ratings system. Resident Evil for example is a 15 and not suitable for anyone under that age. Parents have to be trusted to adhere to these age restrictions and use common sense.”
So, largely the same thing I said. Well, I apologize for the redundancy, but it just goes to show that this common sense is common enough that we get it, but clearly not people who probably heard about it from the friend of a mother whose son was overheard talking about it after reading about it on the internet.
I just don’t get it when people go nuts like this. It’s like saying that The Bible encourages Satanism due to how a snake punk’d Adam and Eve.
