The Resident Evil series is one that features some of the most iconic main characters and villains in the history of video games. This genre-defining horror game series is one that comes to mind when anyone thinks of their first and most memorable scares in the medium. Of course, without these amazing characters headlining the series no one would be as connected to it as they are.
Enter Jill Valentine, who is not only one of the most important Resident Evil characters there is but one of the most well-known and loved female characters in video games. However, this master of unlocking isn't only a pretty face with a keen eye for taking out zombies and mad scientists. There's a lot more about Ms. Valentine many don't know.
10 Jill Originally Was French-Japanese
Before the release of the original 1995 Resident Evil 1, Jill was actually spoken of in a Capcom book. This book detailed the Resident Evil characters and their backstories most likely in an attempt to hype up potential players before the actual launch of the now-classic game.
In this book, it was stated that Jill's father was French while her mother came from a Japanese migratory background. Many believe that this is outdated as of now and has been disregarded for a Caucasian background.
9 Jill Is A Common Reference In Multiple Capcom Games
Capcom is a company that absolutely loves to reference games of the past in their portfolio. This can go from little visuals in the backgrounds of their games to other characters donning outfits of an iconic mainstay of their long-lasting IPs.
This is the case of Jill Valentine as well, who has not only appeared in other games through physical appearances but via simply her outfit as well. In Street Fighter V Cammy can wear Jill's Resident Evil 1 and Resident Evil 3 outfits, in Super Gem Fighter: Mini Mix Chun-Li wears her outfit during a combo along with some of her iconic weapons, and Yuki, a character in We Love Golf! wears her outfit as well. Her uniform also appears in one of the great new Playstation 5 titles, Astro's Playroom through a small reference.
8 Even When Under Evil Mind Control She Was Still Chris's Partner
In Resident Evil 5 Jill is missing. This time around series mainstay, Chris Redfield comes with a new partner in Sheva Alomar. The duo goes looking for Jill and eventually finds her in a new outfit with dyed hair, albeit under the mind control of the evil Albert Wesker.
However, while Jill is now against Chris and her own will there is an easter egg that shows that the two are still companions. If the player doesn't defeat Jill and remove the control device from her chest during the battle a message appears stating, "Your Partner has died." Recognizing that the two have been partnered for years prior to Resident Evil 5.
7 She Almost Always Has A New Voice Actress
Jill is one character that never returns with the same voice behind the wheel. In most of her big appearances, Jill always comes back with a totally new voice actress to deliver her iconic lines.
In the original game she is voiced by Inezh, by Catherine Disher in Resident Evil 3 and Marvel vs Capcom 2, Heidi Anderson in the remake of the original Resident Evil, Patricia Ja Lee in Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil: Mercenaries, and so on with new voice actresses throughout her successive appearances.
6 She Once Had A Resemblance To Another Capcom Character
Jill isn't the only strong-willed female starring in a Capcom horror franchise. Regina from the Dino Crisis series is one that has many similarities to Jill Valentine.
To push that little feature further, Capcom added a small cameo for Regina in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis where Jill can find a dress shop key and wear Regina's Dino Crisis dress and red wig.
5 She Was Designed To Avoid Sexualization
Many female video game characters are created solely to be sexualized and even when not, they are sexualized by many fans of these series. Jill was designed to go against this.
Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami and designer Isao Ohishi designed Jill to be an independent character to avoid the erotic and submissive female horror trope that many female characters fall into.
4 She Has Always Been Recognized As Easy Mode
Jill Valentine's gameplay throughout the Resident Evil series has always differed from her counterpart, Chris Redfield.
Jill's inventory has always started off as larger and she is equipped with a free lockpick from the start of the game. This gives her more access to goodies earlier in the game and has led to her being recognized as the beginner/easy mode of the series.
3 She "Teams Up" With Enemies In One Game
During Jill's appearance in the legendary fighting game, Marvel vs Capcom 2 she actually has monsters from the Resident Evil series as assist special moves.
These monsters include zombies, Cerberus dogs, crows, and even a tyrant for one of her supers.
2 Her Design Has Been Changed Throughout The Years
While she was designed to avoid the male gaze, in the beginning, Jill Valentine's design has changed throughout the years and has even gone back on this design choice.
In the remake, Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi said she was made cuter but kept muscular and was modeled after Canadian model and actress Julia Voth, who looks exactly like Jill when wearing her amazing Resident Evil cosplay. In the new and amazing Resident Evil 3 2020 remake she was modeled after Russian model Sasha Zotova.
1 She References Terminator
In Resident Evil 3: Nemesis's original 2020 remake, Jill was able to unlock different costumes after completing the game.
One of these outfits was that of Sarah Connor from Terminator 2: Judgement Day.