Zombie dog (Resident Evil)

The zombie dog (ゾンビ犬 zombi-inu) is a fictional creature from Capcom's Resident Evil series. A domesticated canine infected with the T-Virus through its secondary method, namely the ingestion of infected food or organisms, first appears in the 1996 video game Resident Evil and has since been a recurring feature in both the video games and the films. A jump scare scene involving the creature in the first game is considered to be one of the most iconic depictions of horror themes in video games by video game journalists.

Zombie Dog
Resident Evil character
Zombie Dog render from 1998's Resident Evil 2
First appearanceResident Evil (1996)
Created byNoboru Sugimura

Development

Zombie dogs are not considered to be a Bio Organic Weapon (B.O.W.), as they are as unintended side-effects of t-Virus dispersal and are thus classified as irregular mutants. The zombie dog retain much of its former agility, with a noticeable increase in durability and aggression. In most cases, potential prey should listen for the sound of padding paws as a clue to their presence, with a growling warning that it has become aware of the player and is preparing to attack. They will let out a pained yelp when killed.[1]

Akin to the canine related T-Virus mutation is a general necrosis in their left eye orbit, leaving their left eye visible bulge out of their otherwise savage but proportional facade, making for a more fearsome appearance.[2] The Raccoon City Destruction Incident is the only known event in which a non-doberman was infected a Labrador Retriever. The reason for the frequency in Dobermans being found infected was due to Chief Brian Irons' suggestion to the K9 unit that the breed be used as the police dog for the Raccoon Police Department.[3]

Appearances

In Resident Evil series

The zombie dog debuted in the Capcom video game Resident Evil (1996), the first entry in the Resident Evil series of video games.[4] In the Zombie Dog's first appearance, one jumped through a window in an attempt to kill the protagonist.[5] They have appeared in various later games as well.

Resident Evil film series

Zombie dogs appeared in every Resident Evil film,[6][7] and Resident Evil: Vendetta.[8]

Reception

The zombie dog has received particular attention in reference to its jump-scare introduction in the first game. IGN considered the scene to be the second most terrifying scare in video games, and that it sets a defining tone of "gnawing unease" for the rest of Resident Evil, particularly if the player character walks past another window.[9] Kotaku claimed that the zombie dog window scene in the first game is one of the greatest video games jump-scares as well as the "original moment in frightening PlayStation users".[10][11] The Guardian made similar claims.[12] Destructoid called the window scene an "amazingly scary sequence".[5]

References
  1. (in Japanese) BIOHAZARD CODE: Veronica Kanzenban Kaitai Shinsho. Enterbrain. p. 68.
  2. Excerpt from BIOHAZARD CODE: Veronica Kanzenban Kaitai Shinsho, page 68: "ロックフォート島の訓練所や南極基地で飼育されていたドーベルマン種の軍用犬が､ T-ウィルスに汚染された飼料や生物を摂取することで二次感染したもの｡肉体 の腐敗は進んでいるが､ 緩慢な動きしかてきないヅンビと異なり､ 生前と変わらぬ俊敏さで獲物へと襲いかかる｡"
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2019-12-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Weekend Hot Topic, part 2: Most frightening video game moment". November 3, 2019. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  5. "The Memory Card .07: Attack of the zombie dog!". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2019-12-08. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  6. "The 10 Most Ridiculous Action Sequences Of The Resident Evil Movies, Ranked". ScreenRant. July 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-12-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Resident Evil: Vendetta Clip Takes The Series' Terrifying Zombie Dogs To The Next Level". WWG. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  9. "The Most Terrifying Scares in Video Games". IGN. October 23, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  10. "Resident Evil's Window Dogs Set The Standard For Video Game Scares". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  11. Kunzelman, Cameron. "The Window Dog And Other Tricks From The Resident Evil Series". Kotaku. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  12. Stuart, Keith; MacDonald, Keza (October 31, 2018). "The 13 scariest video game moments ever". Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.

Attribution

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