Every mainline Resident Evil game, and many of its spin-offs, have at least one stand-out moment that becomes etched in the minds of those who play them. The first Resident Evil has the dog bursting through the window, Resident Evil 2 has Mr. X, Resident Evil 3 has Nemesis, and so on. But only a handful of Resident Evil games are remembered for their NPC characters, with Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village certainly at the top of the list.
Throughout Resident Evil 4, players will encounter a shady-looking individual known simply as The Merchant, a man willing to buy and sell a selection of weapons, ammo, and treasures from Leon during his adventure to rescue the President's daughter. Over 15 years later, Resident Evil Village tried to recapture the magic of Resident Evil 4's Merchant using its own version of the character named Duke, but there's always been one clear winner among them.
Resident Evil 4's Merchant Remains One of the Most Memorable NPCs of All Time
In the gaming world, there are few NPCs that can match the infamy of Resident Evil 4's Merchant. After an ominous introduction where the hooded figure beckons Leon to join him around a secluded corner, it's revealed that the Merchant is simply a man trying to shift his stock. After a lucrative first trip, he becomes a sweet sight every time he's encountered. The Merchant essentially acts as Resident Evil 4's primary progression system, allowing the player to acquire new weapons, sell their trinkets, and upgrade their gear. By having this association, the Merchant becomes a trusted and welcome figure, which is rare in Resident Evil 4's enemy-dominated world.
But it's not the Merchant's practicality that has led to his infamy. To many fans, the Merchant is a perfect representation of Resident Evil 4 as a whole - if not most of the Resident Evil franchise. Though he looks a little intimidating on the outside, he's actually a corny character underneath, constantly referring to Leon as "stranger" and letting out chuckle with every sentence. So along with providing a physical safe area to rest, the Merchant also offers a tonal break, where Resident Evil 4's predominantly horror-centric mood is set aside for just a few moments of B-movie levity.
Over the years, Resident Evil 4's Merchant has grown in popularity as more players see the character in action for themselves. Even those who have never played a Resident Evil game before will likely know the Merchant's general silhouette, and his infamous "what are you buying?" line. There's also a good chance that the Merchant is about to become more iconic with Resident Evil 4 Remake right around the corner.
The most recent mainline entry in the franchise, Resident Evil Village, tried to implement its own version of the Merchant that worked quite well. Similar to the Merchant, Duke would offer the player a safe space, and acts as the game's main form of progression. Duke's overall appearance and way of speaking was also memorable. But even though they share the same strengths, Duke isn't nearly as iconic as the Merchant, and a lot of that has to do with the game's other characters. Unlike Resident Evil 4, where the antagonists are mostly set aside in favor of moment-to-moment action, Resident Evil Village spends a great deal of time focusing on each of its main antagonists. With an icon like Lady Dimitrescu around, no other NPC has a chance of standing out on their own.
Resident Evil 4 releases on March 24, 2023, for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
