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Barry Burton
Resident Evil character
Barry Burton in Resident Evil (1996)
First appearance
Created byKenichi Iwao
Designed byJun Takeuchi
Portrayed byGreg Smith (Resident Evil live-action cutscenes)[1]
Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution)[2]
Voiced by
  • Barry Gjerde (Resident Evil)[3]
    Ed Smaron (Resident Evil 2002 remake)[3]
    Jamieson Pric (Resident Evil 5)[3]
    Jamieson Pric (Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D)[3]
    Michael McConnohie (Resident Evil: Revelations 2)[3]
  • Yusaku Yara (Resident Evil 2002 remake, Resident Evil: Revelations 2)[3]
In-universe information
Significant otherMoira Burton (daughter)
NationalityAmerican

Barry Burton (バリー・バートン, Barī Bāton) is a character in Resident Evil (Biohazard in Japan), a survival horror video game series created by the Japanese company Capcom. He was first introduced as a supporting character in the original Resident Evil (1996) and became a player character in Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015).

Some video game publications have described Barry as among the greatest and likable characters in the franchise; he gained popularity due to his "clunky", inducing dialogue in the original Resident Evil game.

Concept and design[edit]

Barry was introduced in Capcom's 1996 survival horror video game Resident Evil.[1] While Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine seem to have been in the Resident Evil cast from the start, Rebecca Chambers and Barry were not.[4] Heavy weapons specialist for Special Tactics And Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.), Gelzer was a muscular cyborg. An infrared scope implant was used to replace his right eye. According to a WildStorm interview with director and producer Shinji Mikami for Resident Evil: The Official Comic Magazine, Gelzer's role was similar to Barry's in that he had to support the ceiling in the shotgun trap area to save the player from being crushed. In the end, Barry was created using several of Gelzer's design cues, including his enormous physical stature and military experience.[4] According to writer Kenichi Iwao, he wrote Gelzer and Dewey. He remembered taking out Gelzer, but he didn't take out Dewey. When he was writing them, he believed they were unreal since they lacked a scary atmosphere and were much stronger than zombies. He initially wanted to make Barry black, but designer Hideki Kamiya was strongly opposed, so Iwao made him white. When it comes to naming, he wanted a name that was easy to remember, so he made it alliterate.[5] Designer Jun Takeuchi helped create Barry's in-game character model in the first Resident Evil. He suggested giving Barry a red vest to help differentiate him from the other characters.[6]

Greg Smith, a retired principal, portrayed Barry in the first Resident Evil live-action cutscenes. They had already made up the game, according to Smith, and they needed to find a "rudimentary character that stifles around, stiff-legged. [...] It was close to 2000 dollars American a day or something. It was good money back in 1995." Smith also mentioned that they had to find someone who resembled the video game character Barry Burton.[7]

Appearances[edit]

In Resident Evil series[edit]

Every game in the series is set in the fictional American metropolitan area of Raccoon City until its destruction at the end of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.[8] The original game is set in July 1998 in a mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City,[9] which Barry and his team enter while searching for colleagues.[10][11] Working with fellow survivor Jill Valentine, they discovers the property is a façade for a biological warfare laboratory operated by the Umbrella Corporation, and its undead occupants are the scientists who developed the T-virus mutagen. Their commander, Albert Wesker, is revealed to be a double agent for Umbrella.[8] Barry, Jill, and Chris are among the five survivors of the incident[8] who form a strong friendship and become passionate opponents of bioterrorism.[9]

He returns in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999), where he helps Jill and Carlos escape from Raccoon City before its destruction.[12]

Barry is one of a playable characters in Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015), set in 2013. Barry shows up on an island after reaching it by boat, having gotten a distress call from his estranged daughter, Moira Burton, who was part of the group TerraSave, but was forcefully brought there, with Chris' sister, Claire Redfield.[13] After docking, Barry almost immediately meets a young girl called Natalia Korda, who lost her parents due to a tragedy which occurred in the first Resident Evil: Revelations game which was set in 2005. The pair begin searching for Moira, and Claire, encountering many monsters. It is revealed Natalia had met Moira and Claire before, but a distraction enabled the antagonist Alex Wesker to take away Natalia, in an attempt to transfer herself into her, which she was halfway to succeeding before Barry arrived. Alex in a more deformed appearance tries to attack Barry and Natalia. It is revealed that Natalia could see monsters through walls as a result of being experimented with, which Barry relies on. Eventually, Barry saves Moira after being fueled by vengeance, believing Moira had been killed by Alex Wesker months ago, and he manages to kill Alex with the help of Moira and Claire, but it is revealed in the "good ending" that Alex succeeded in transferring her soul into Natalia so she may live on.[14][15][16]

Barry is also a playable character in non-canonical Resident Evil games. Barry is the main protagonist in Resident Evil: Gaiden (2001),[12] mobile game Resident Evil: Genesis (2001),[17] Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (2011),[18] and Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition (2015) in its minigame mode Mercenaries Reunion.[19]

Barry also appears in the non-canon live-action Resident Evil film Resident Evil: Retribution (2012).[2]

Reception[edit]

Barry Burton is the greatest Resident Evil character, according to Bloody Disgusting's Zac Thompson. He claimed to have taken on the role of Jill in his first Resident Evil game. a decision that gave his encounter a majestic aspect that he would not have otherwise had. The majesty manifested in Barry Burton's "flowing red beard, flawed logic, compulsive confusion, tactical prowess, and eloquence encapsulated." No other character in the series, according to Zac, arouses as much anticipation with just their appearance. He remarked that you never knew when he would show up or the comedy and bravery these meetings would bring. You see, Barry personified that very exceptional trait of being both immensely admirable and cherished as a mate, while absolutely hilarious in the majority of situations. Although Barry only ever had a supporting part in one scenario of a single Resident Evil game, Zac referred him to be the Adam West of the Resident Evil universe, and claimed that "his memory still burns in the minds of his many fans".[20] IGN staffs described Barry as one of the best playable Resident Evil characters, saying that "he’s a charismatic buffoon with a heart of gold, and out of all the characters you’ll meet playing Resident Evil, he’s the most likeable."[21] Barry is among the most loved characters in the history of the franchise, according to Aoife Wilson of Eurogamer. In the end, Wilson referred to him as a "big confused cult-wielding teddy bear" and said that he is incredibly quotable, has always been there for Jill when she needs him, and frequently shows up at the right times. She further said he also exudes a manly air and people adore him for his eloquence.[22]

In-game dialogue
A eleven second excerpt of in-game dialogue from the original Resident Evil game, which achieved popularity.[23][24]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The first Resident Evil game, according to digital media scholar Esther MacCallum-Stewart, gained notoriety for its "very clunky dialogue and voice acting, an element which lent the otherwise suspenseful game an element of charm that endeared it to players."[25] Although she explains that the weak dialogue might be attributed to poor translation of the original Japanese text, she said this inadvertently helped differentiate the series from its rivals.[25] Several lines from the game achieved enduring popularity: "You were almost a Jill sandwich",[23] a remark made by Barry in an unnatural voiceover after a falling ceiling trap nearly crushes Jill, was brought back to life as a Internet meme ten years after the game's debut.[24] Capcom referenced the line in several of their later games, including Dead Rising (2006),[26][27] Resident Evil: Uprising (2009),[24] and Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2015).[28] Another piece of dialogue spoken by Barry – "Jill, here's a lock pick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you" – also gained notoriety.[29][30] The quote has been also parodied for containing an excessive amount of silence between words.[31] It was removed from later editions.[32] According to Melissa Sarnowski of Screen Rant, Barry Burton's debut in the first Resident Evil made him the best non-player character. She went on to say that Barry's clever one-liners and well-rounded biography helped him establish himself as Resident Evil's greatest non-player character very fast. In addition to hearing some of the most famous quotes from the series—like "That was too close! You were almost a Jill Sandwich!" and "And Jill, here's a lock pick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you"—players who take on the role of Jill in the first Resident Evil also get to see Barry more frequently throughout the game.[33] Maxwell McGee of GamesRadar+ called Barry a "comedy goldmine." He added that Barry "has always been a fan-favorite among Resident Evil fans, most notably for his voice actor's amazing work in the original Resident Evil. He also said that "Barry became famous for having the most awkward, most cringe-inducing lines, like Jill sandwich, in a game known for its awkward, cringe-inducing dialogue."[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Smith, Ed (September 22, 2022). "Resident Evil 1's Wesker, Chris and Barry are rubbish at Resident Evil". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Cotter, Padraig (October 30, 2021). "Is Barry Burton In The Resident Evil Movie Reboot?". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Barry Burton Voices (Resident Evil)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b Faulkner, Jason (January 18, 2017). "What Resident Evil Could Have Been". Shacknews. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Exclusive interview with Kenichi Iwao". crimson-head.com. 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-05-07. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  6. ^ Kelly, Andy (2022-10-12). "Dawn of the Dead: The making of Resident Evil". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  7. ^ Yarwood, Jack (March 30, 2022). "The Story, and Enduring Legacy, of Resident Evil's Original Live-Action Opening". IGN. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Miller, Zachary (January 29, 2012). "Resident Evil: The Story So Far". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Denick, Thom (2013). Resident Evil Revelations. London: BradyGames. ISBN 978-0744014921. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  10. ^ MacCallum-Stewart, Esther (2019). The Playful Undead and Video Games: Critical Analyses of Zombies and Gameplay. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1138895461. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Crowley, Adam M. (2014). "Why They Keep Coming Back: The Allure of Incongruity". In Farghaly, Nadine (ed.). Unraveling Resident Evil: Essays on the Complex Universe of the Games and Films. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. pp. 34–44. ISBN 978-1476614403. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Patricio Kobek (April 5, 2020). "Resident Evil 3 Cut The Best Character". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Barry Burton Is In Resident Evil: Revelations 2". Siliconera. December 1, 2014. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Wesley Yin-Poole (2 December 2014). "Resident Evil Revelations 2 trailer confirms Barry Burton's return". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  15. ^ Brown, Peter (March 19, 2015). "Resident Evil Revelations 2 Review". IGN. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  16. ^ O'Brien, Lucy (March 17, 2015). "Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Episode Four Review". GameSpot. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Vasconcellos, Eduardo (January 18, 2008). "Resident Evil: Genesis Review: Return to the outskirts of Raccoon City on your mobile phone". IGN. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  18. ^ Drake, Audrey (June 2, 2011). "Alternate Costumes in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries". IGN. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  19. ^ Chester, Nick (June 12, 2021). "Barry and Rebbca get lost in Resident Evil 5 DLC nightmare". Destructoid. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  20. ^ Thompson, Zac (September 10, 2014). "Why Barry Burton is the Best 'Resident Evil' Character". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  21. ^ Krupa, Daniel; Judge, Alysia (January 17, 2017). "Top 10 Playable Resident Evil Characters". IGN. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  22. ^ Wilson, Aoife (February 9, 2015). "Video: Oh my Cod - An ode to Resident Evil's Barry Burton". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Perron, Bernard (2018). The World of Scary Video Games: A Study in Videoludic Horror. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1501316197. Archived from the original on 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  24. ^ a b c McDonell, Jess (January 28, 2013). "Gaming Meme History: Jill Sandwich". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  25. ^ a b MacCallum-Stewart, Esther (2019). The Playful Undead and Video Games: Critical Analyses of Zombies and Gameplay. London: Routledge. p. 262. ISBN 978-1138895461. Archived from the original on 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  26. ^ Woo, Ryan, Ryan (January 18, 2012). "The 50 Best Video Game Easter Eggs". Complex. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  27. ^ Schott, Gareth (July 2010). "Dawn of the Digital Dead: The Zombie as Interactive Social Satire in American Popular Culture". Australasian Journal of American Studies. 29 (1): 61–75. ISSN 1838-9554. JSTOR 41054186. For example, the mall shop 'Jill's Sandwiches' in Dead Rising might be considered a reference to the line, 'you were almost a Jill sandwich' in Resident Evil.
  28. ^ Baez, Dominic (June 9, 2017). "She was almost a Claire sandwich". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  29. ^ Clements, Ryan; Drake, Audrey (August 29, 2012). "The Most Absurd Resident Evil Quotes". IGN. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  30. ^ Famularo, Jessica (January 19, 2017). "The Silliest 'Resident Evil' Moments". Inverse. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  31. ^ de Rochefort, Simone (September 6, 2017). "Revisiting Resident Evil's most powerful scene". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  32. ^ Cowan, Danny (October 21, 2015). "Resident Evil HD Mod Masterfully Unlocks 1996 Dialog Recordings". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  33. ^ Sarnowski, Melissa (April 28, 2023). "The Best Resident Evil NPC Of All Time Is Not In RE4 Remake". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  34. ^ McGee, Maxwell (January 26, 2015). "Barry and Natalia are comedy gold in Resident Evil: Revelations 2". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
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