Resident Evil has been scaring the crap out of us since it first landed on the original PlayStation and with Resident Evil Revelations and Operation Racoon City already set for launch in 2012, it seems Capcom may also have another RE up its sleeve.

A viral website called NoHopeLeft has appeared on the web with several clues pointing to another Resident Evil instalment. In anticipation of an official announcement which would coincide with the game's 15th Birthday, we look back through the gory ages from the first time we had to minimise the sound on the telly to get through this blood-drenched beast of a classic.

Resident Evil (1996)

Where it all began. Whether you knew it as RE or Biohazard, it was the first time we got to know the S.T.A.R.S team, Raccoon City, the Umbrella corporation and more zombies you can blow a rocket launcher at. Opening with a live-action sequence, it may well been looked like it was cut straight out of bargain basement B-movie, but it established the prominent role that cut scenes would play to drive the RE story lines.

Set inside a large eerie mansion, the most chilling of soundtracks matched with enough mutated dogs to make you jump out of your chair made up for the disorientating camera angles and the poor voice soundtracks.

Look beyond the minor irks and the first Resident Evil instalment was clearly bringing something refreshing to the survival horror genre.
 

Platform: Sony PlayStation

Resident Evil: Director's Cut (1997)

Released a year after the original, Capcom amongst minor tweaks, decided to add the uncensored opening intro which was featured in the Japanese version of the game.

As well as adding new difficulty levels for those who found tackling a room of zombies with just one cartridge pack too taxing, the re-release aimed to catch the late PS one buyers who had not yet experienced the gory horror title.
 

Platform: Sony PlayStation

Resident Evil 2 (1998)

Who says sequels are always a disappointment? RE2 went against the gaming grain by delivering possibly the best game in the series.

As new rookie police officer Leon Kennedy finds himself with possibly the hardest first day on the job he could have imagined, on the other side of Raccoon city, Claire Redfield begins her search to locate her missing brother and S.T.A.R.S officer Chris Redfield.

Graphically RE2 came on leaps and bounds from the original, and with the overall depth of the gameplay enhanced, it is one game that makes is worth holding onto your PSone console just that little longer.
 

Platform: Sony PlayStation

Resident Evil 3 Nemesis (1999)

Following the RE narrative continuity which made the game so engrossing, the action takes place before and after events in RE 2, as former S.T.A.R.S member Jill Valentine is thrown knee-deep into the zombie action, as Raccoon City is overwhelmed by the Umbrella once more. Stalked by the constant dark shadow that is Nemesis, Valentine must escape the city with the bio-mechanical super soldier able to pursue the protagonist all the way as she plots her getaway.

RE3 was once again example of the Capcom guys blending gripping storylines with enough action to keep you on your toes, and the addition of the relentless Nemesis meant you feared what was coming round each corner.
 

Platform:Sony PlayStation / SEGA Dreamcast