Most important RE character (series)

[Vector]

I think Resident Evil is a pretty cool guy. Eh craetes cool vireses and doesn't afraid of anything.

[Bianca]

I voted Spencer, Wesker, Birkin and Marcus. Undeniably so, the villains have much more presence in the Resident Evil series, and they have contributed far more to the storyline's history, both past and present.

[GuardhouseMusic]

I thought your first paragraph regarding Spencer was wonderful, plus I would pretty much agree with your assertions on the most important characters. Problem is, the rest of your post has many mixed up facts.

-Birkin did not create the T-virus, Marcus did, and Birkin took over Marcus's research.

-Marcus had no part in leaking the T-virus into the sewers. No debate. That was all Birkin and the rats. Marcus did leak the virus in the Arklay labs and Umbrella training facility, so I'm sure the infected humans, plants, and wild animals also contributed to the Raccoon outbreak. Marcus still had no part in the leak via the sewers

-I love the Lisa Trevor story point and I would put her above Birkin in terms of the progression of influence (of course Spencer is at the highest point). I do know that her research did not lead to a perfected T-virus, G-virus, or the NE-α parasite. T-virus = P-virus + leech DNA. The NE-α was used on Lisa, not found as a result of her experimentation. While Birkin found the G-virus in Lisa, it took him a little while to perfect it, as evidenced by files and scenes in REmake and RE0.

[Henry Spencer]

Spencer > All other RE characters in terms of importance.
He played a pivotal role in finding the Progenitor virus and emplying the right people to create the viruses, as he would establish Umbrella and under his rule, he would garner both the influence and fear necessary to get the people working to how he wanted. He was the one who practically drove both Wesker and Marcus over the edge (both of them lost their sanity by the time they found out they had been manipulated, especially since they both had very big egos and felt like they had gained Spencer's respect, but unfortunately for them, they were both wrong). Even after Umbrella's downfall, he would still become the most important character, he killed off any surviving members of Umbrella, to cover his tracks and really did manipulate many characters to do his bidding before killing them. He pretty much manipulated everybody he came into contact with, from the Trevor family, to the Birkins, to Wesker, to Marcus, and everybody else in between. He gave a good 90% of the series antagonists their motivations (Wesker to surpass him, Marcus to get revenge, to give Birkin full reigns of the research, which would inevitably lead to his self destruction. The man did it all.

Birkin and Wesker for orchestrating things behind the scenes. Birkin went on to create both the T-Virus and G-Virus, as well as develop Wesker's virus (which brought Wesker back from the dead). Birkin is pretty much why we have so many viruses in the series. There is much debate whether it was him or Marcus that leaked the T Virus into the sewers, but I beleive both were responsible for that. He also would become the one who became so obsessed with his research, that he injected himself with his "masterpiece" and would wreak havoc around Raccoon City. Thank this man for the Raccoon City incident.

Still befuddled on why so many people view Ada as being so important. It's cool that she's your favourite character and all, but she's hardly all that important in the large scheme of things.

I also voted 'other' for Lisa Trevor since without her being experimented on, we wouldn't have the perfected T-Virus sample. Through her being experimented on, we also got the NE-α Parasite which would be used to create Nemesis, as well as Birkin being able to perfect the G-Virus. She's definitely the most important character to be experimented on, no doubt.

I voted for Marcus, since he was the one who pretty much started the whole experimentation on human beings, which would of course later lead to the Tyrants, Zombies, Hunters, Lickers etc. We have him to thank for that, really. Plus, it's debatable whether it was him or Birkin who set off the Raccoon City incident, but I believe they both played a part in that. So, as before, thank this man also for the Raccoon City incident (which we would get a lot of games out of).

[hellrizer]

Spencer and Wesker all the way! They were the one who started all this anyway. Am I right?

[Mr. Spencer]

Spencer. As I said in another thread, if he didn't exist then he wouldn't have noticed anything interesting in Travis' books about the African continent, no-one would have found out about the Sonnentreppe save for the Ndipaya themselves. Umbrella wouldn't have been founded, there would have been no enemy to fight. Marcus, Edward and Bailey would never have discovered Progenitor, there would be no T-virus, no zombies. Project W wouldn't happen so Wesker won't have existed.

S.T.A.R.S. would never have been founded, Raccoon City wouldn't have flourished and would have most likely remained a quaint and peaceful town, Chris would still be roaming the streets as a vagrant after being kicked out of the U.S. Air Force, Barry would be serving in SWAT, Jill in Delta Force, and Leon would be working lonely days at the Raccoon City Police Department, solving crimes that you would find in an episode of Heartbeat while writing reports day after day after day, and for the most part the world would remain a more or less safer place.

Of course, you could argue that Travis himself was the most important character in the series. If he hadn't been around then none of his books would have been written and Sonnentreppe would continue to remain a mystery.

In fact, that's my vote for the most important character in the series - Henry Travis.

[Dante2014]

They all are important in a way since their actions ultimately shaped the story, so I can't really chose, even minor characters like Marvin shaped the outcome of their respective scenarios.

[Skunky]

Birkin and Marcus: for their lifetime achievement in 'scientific and humanitarian work'.
Spencer: the Bill Gates/Davros 'evil figurehead' award.
Chris, Jill, Leon, Claire and Rebecca: because 'they have a job to do and they're gonna see it through!'
Wesker: 'Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated... and now I've got super powers' award. He's been a worthy 'Resident Bad Guy'.
Ada: one of the few remaining characters who genuinely still holds some interest and intrigue for me.
Other 1: Lisa Trevor. Probably the coolest character back story in the series. What's not to like about a girl who's been kept in a dungeon and pumped full of every virus and experimental drug that Umbrella could come up with, only to continue to survive and wear her Mommy's face as a mask?
Other 2: The Ashfords. 'Keeping it in the family...'
Other 3: All the zombies, monsters, mutants and parasites etc. within the series. The games wouldn't be much fun without them!
Other 4: Sherry Birkin, because "there's something special about that girl"...

[Yzak]

Story-wise? I went with Wesker, Chris and Spencer.

Wesker because he was behind it all during the game, and then Spencer punked him in RE5, proving that he was as much of an overall mastermind. There would be no RE without them. And considering it's them, Chris comes into it by being there from the start and being Wesker's ETERNAL RIVAL!!1!!50!!

[aris13]

Spencer, Wesker and Birkin. This trio was responsible (directly or indirectly) for most of things that happened in the series;

Don't forget about James Marcus. After all he was the one who made the breakthrough with the virus.

[Mr_Zombie]

Spencer, Wesker and Birkin. This trio was responsible (directly or indirectly) for most of things that happened in the series; without them, there wouldn't be an incident in Arkley mansion, Raccoon City, Rockfort Island, Africa...

All the good guys, just like Anders had said, were mostly there just trying to survive things, not causing them. You could swap them with another generic guy or lady and no one would notice the difference.

[Dark_Chris]

Spencer, Chris, Wesker

[Darinl1979]

Chris/Jill - They are the main heroes of the story, focus was on Chris a little more...especially in the latest game but still they are the originals.

Spencer - He was not an important onscreen character...but without him there wouldn't of been a Resident Evil.

I would of voted for Leon and Claire but they are really just secondary characters that were lucky enough to get their own starring roles.

[Daargoth]

Spencer for his idea of getting rich and making himself a God.

Birkin for finding the viruses and causing mass chaos on Raccoon City

Wesker as the executor of the big storyline. Taking viruses, injecting them, becoming superhuman and causing a lot to happen in several games. even though he wasn't in them, his dark presence was felt. Rival to Chris

Chris being the "superhero" of the series. Blowing up Wesker's plans and trying to stop him at any cost. Their fates are intertwined and wherever Chris is, Wesker is right next to him. Rival to Wesker.

As of now, Leon is just there to mop up the remains.

[aris13]

I voted Spencer, Wesker, Chris and Ada.