Power-Up #7: Green Herb (Resident Evil)

Although it's not the first survival horror game, Resident Evil was the game that brought the genre to a mass market. It also helped kick-start a zombie craze that is still going strong today, almost two decades later. But when it comes to special items, Capcom's adventure game is lacking. See why the green herb makes no sense when you watch the below video.



Purpose: Simply put, the green herb is there to help heal a small portion of your life. Injuries are common place in Resident Evil, especially as you take on a wide assortment of zombies, giant insects and mutated monsters. One toke of the green herb and you're good as new. Players are also able to mix different colored herbs to make even more potent concoctions. But don't get confused, because it's the green herb that heals zombie bites.

Legacy: Although it's never fully explained, the green herb was a simple way to convey a health item in this bleak world. You'll find this power-up in all Resident Evil sequels and spin-offs, making it one of the most consistent items in video game history. Perhaps Resident Evil 7 will take place in a green herb field, where Capcom digs into the origins of a plant that can heal massive wounds.

In Real Life: Assuming there was a natural drug that could cure ailments as strong as a zombie bite, you better believe it would have been pulled off the market years ago. Thanks to the pharmaceutical industry and lobbyist, a miracle drug would stay off the market as major corporations attempted to make money on synthetic versions. They would use the media to drum up fear, making it a drug that every moral human being opposes.