Rebecca Chambers (character)

Rebecca Chambers is a video game character from the Resident Evil series of survival horror games. She first appeared as a supporting character in the original Resident Evil and later as the female protagonist of the prequel Resident Evil Zero. She subsequently starred in two separate chapters of Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles as one of the playable characters in the game. She will be a playable character in the upcoming Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition.

In the series Chambers is a rookie member of S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team, who is in charge of rear security, and serves as the team's medic. She was voiced by an actress credited as "Linda" in the first Resident Evil, Hope Levy in the GameCube remake of the same, Riva DiPaola in Resident Evil Zero, and by Stephanie Sheh in Umbrella Chronicles. She was modeled after Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki, who was the official spokeswoman for the game in Japan.

Portrayal
She was portrayed by an actress credited as "Linda" in the live-action cutscenes of the first Resident Evil, Hope Levy in the GameCube remake, Riva Di Paola in Resident Evil Zero, and by Stephanie Sheh in Umbrella Chronicles. In Zero, she was modeled after Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki, who was the official spokeswoman for the game in Japan.

Appearances
Rebecca Chambers is a member of STARS' Bravo team, who is in charge of rear security, and serves as the team's medic.

Rebecca makes her first appearance in the original Resident Evil, as a supporting character who assists Chris Redfield. She arrives at the Arklay Research Facility before the STARS Alpha team, after her unit is scattered across the Arklay Mountains. Her introduction and other appearances throughout the game vary depending on the path the player chooses. Rebecca can be controlled by the player during certain portions of the story.

An 18-year-old Rebecca is one of the main protagonists in Resident Evil Zero, which serves as a prequel to Resident Evil. In the game, Rebecca comes aross the Ecliptic Express train while investigating a series of murders within the Arklay Mountains. She encounters a convicted ex-marine, Billy Coen, who helps her. The two discover that the attacks have been masterminded by James Marcus, formerly one of the Umbrella Corporation's top scientists, who has reanimated himself to kill his murderers. Rebecca also appears in The Umbrella Chronicles, which summarizes the events of Resident Evil Zero and details her experiences between Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil. The chapters pair her with Richard Aiken, as they work together to fend off hordes of undead creatures.

Rebecca has a central role in S. D. Perry's Resident Evil novels, particularly in the original stories Caliban Cove and Underworld, where she joins members of the Exeter, Maine branch of S.T.A.R.S., and later with Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield in Underworld, as well as in the novelizations of the games where she appears (The Umbrella Conspiracy and Zero Hour).

Promotion
In February 2001, toymaker Moby Dick produced action figures of Rebecca Chambers. This figure is notable as it is based on the character's depiction in the canceled Nintendo 64 version of Resident Evil Zero.

Reception
GameDaily honored her as its "Babe of the Week" in an eleven page feature for 19 September 2008, with Chris Buffa explaining, "Resident Evil's youngest member battles zombies and other horrors so you don't have to. That makes her a true American hero." David Hinkle of Joystiq praised Rebecca's inclusion in Resident Evil 5's downloadale content, stating "we're all for bringing [her] back, but only if we get oddly apologetic Rebecca..."