| Merchant | |
|---|---|
| Resident Evil character | |
 The Merchant inResident Evil 4 (2023) | |
| First game | Resident Evil 4 (2005) |
| Created by | Masaki Yamanaka[1] |
| Voiced by | Original Paul Mercier Remake |
TheMerchant is a character in theResident Evilsurvival horror video game series created by the Japanese companyCapcom. Introduced in the 2005 video gameResident Evil 4 and returning for its 2023remake, he acts as anNPC who sells weapons and other items, he assistsLeon S. Kennedy in his mission to rescueAshley Graham from the evil cultLos Illuminados. A mysterious man with glowing eyes wearing a hooded blacktrench coat lined with weapons and a purplebandanna that hides most of his face, he is seemingly allowed to pass unhindered by the game's enemies, theGanados.
Critics have called the Merchant an iconic character in the series, as well as one of the most recognizable video game NPCs ever, due to his unique appearance and often-repeated lines, including "What're ya buyin'?" Reception to the character has been positive, citing his good-naturedness in the face of adversity. In the original game, he is played by voice actorPaul Mercier, who also voiced Leon, while in the remake, he was voiced byShigeru Chiba in Japanese andMichael Adamthwaite in English.
The Merchant was one of several characters created by artist Masaki Yamanaka for the gameResident Evil 4, in a design process he called "unique" due to the lack of restrictions on scenario or setting, and only basic guidelines to follow.[1][4] The Merchant, who goes nameless besides his title, was created late inResident Evil 4's development, and is meant to be the living embodiment of his shop. By doing this they were able to place a shop anywhere in the game's world.[5]
His hooded black trench coat, which holds a majority of his items in its interior, was inspired by the cloak worn byKinnikuman series characterNeptuneman. Neptuneman was a villain who adorned his cloak with masks stolen from defeated fighters,[6] something that shocked Yamanaka as a child.[7][5] The Merchant covers half of his face with a purplebandana, and carries a large tan rucksack.[8] His eyes glow similarly to antagonists infected by the mind-controllingLas Plagasparasites (the Ganados); however, he is completely non-hostile, and, according toResident Evil 4 Digital Archives will "do business with anyone as long as the price is right".[9][10] When the character was brought back inResident Evil 4 remake, he received minimal changes to his design.[5]
Several unused concepts related or similar to the character also exist, such as another Merchant inResident Evil 5 that would have run a stationary shop through a barred door.[11] In the artbook forResident Evil 6, the Merchant was considered as part of an unused alternate costume for series characterLeon Kennedy, with him in a sitting position and strapped to his back. This version of the character was shown to be notably shorter, wearing yellow gloves and boots with his coat held open, while Leon's outfit resembled his defaultResident Evil 4 attire. The design was ultimately cut due to how many technical issues arose from trying to implement it.[12]
The Merchant was first introduced in the 2005 video game,Resident Evil 4 as one of the few non-hostile characters protagonist Leon encounters. First appearing at a window, the Merchant speaks in a pseudo-Australian accent and encourages Leon to follow him behind the building where Leon will find him standing near a flamingsconce.[13][14] Once approached, the Merchant opens one side of his coat to reveal a vast assortment of ammunition and firearms, encouraging Leon to purchase from him with phrases such as "What're ya buyin'?" Afterwards the Merchant will re-appear at various points throughout the game, the locations marked by similar sconces. He sells weapons and items and purchases valuable antiques and gems that Leon discovers forpesetas. He also rewards Leon prizes for goodmarksmanship using hisshooting range as well as shooting blue medallions scattered throughout the game's levels.[15] The Merchant instantly dies if harmed in any way, but will still appear at any of his other locations in the game.[16]
WhenResident Evil 4 was remade in 2023 the character returned, but with some changes. He now cannot be harmed or killed, and any attempts by the player to aim at him will cause Leon to lower his gun.[17] The Merchant now also provides quests for Leon to do. Additional characterization was provided, with the medallions now described as religious charms hung up by game's villains that the Merchant wishes to destroy, and he has an array of new dialogue. However, some instances, such as the Merchant becoming impatient if his shop is browsed for too long proved divisive to fans, and resulted in amod called "Patient Merchant" to remove the extra lines.[18]
Outside ofResident Evil 4, the Merchant also appears inGungHo Online Entertainment's mobile gameTEPPEN, a card-based battling game featuring various Capcom franchise characters. In this title he acts as an in-game vendor, the weapons and ammo in his coat replaced withcompact discs.[19] In printed trading card media, he appears in theBandai produced gameResident Evil: The Deck Building Game.[20] The 2020 video gameResident Evil: Resistance includes a "spray" cosmetic item players can apply walls featuring the game'sraccoon mascotcosplaying as the Merchant.[21] InResident Evil Village, the Duke, a character that serves a similar function as the Merchant within the game, will sometimes say one of the character's introduction lines complete with a faux accent, and then laughingly mention it was something "an old friend of mine used to say".[22] In 2025, he also appears in a mobile gameResident Evil Survival Unit.[23]
In 2006, Augusta Entertainment released a series offigures forResident Evil 4, which included a figure for the Merchant.[24] The stationary figure was packaged withchewing gum, and was based on his concept art appearance.[25] The company Numskull later released acollectible cosplaying duck as the character as part of their "TUBBZ" line for theResident Evil series.[26]
Critical reception of the Merchant has been positive, calling him both memorable and helpful despite his menacing appearance. In 2006,Nintendo Power described the Merchant's quote as "permanently ingrained in the gaming lexicon" despite not placing on the Best New Characters list.[27] Zack Zwiezen ofKotaku referred to him as "the real star" of the original 2005 game, calling him "chill and focused on business" despite possibly being infected with the Plaga parasite. Describing the Merchant as a "man of no allegiance" who may also be selling the villagers their weapons, he lamented the fact that the Merchant had not yet appeared in otherResident Evil titles, citing the Merchant character inResident Evil: Degeneration as a "copy" and not the "real deal".[5] Comparing the Merchant to the Duke, he called the Merchant slightly more mysterious, but said that the Duke provided better services, such as cooking. He cited the Merchant returning after the player killed him as evidence he had "multiple clones".[28] Alan Wheeler ofIGN called Merchant as the most iconic NPC ever.[29] After the release of the remake ofResident Evil 4, fans wanted a Merchant type character in the possibleResident Evil 5 remake.[30]Wireframe described him as "genuinely bizarre" due to how out of place he felt in the world, but praised that aspect at the same time, calling him "utterly fantastic, and a constant reminder that the game he's in isn't entirely serious and should be played with a big old smile on your face."[31]
Max Scoville ofIGN called the Merchant absurd, but also stated that the character exemplified the game's great aspects. Saying that he has "all the subtle salesmanship of acrack dealer in a 1980s anti-drugPSA", he characterized the Merchant as both menacing and goofy. Scoville described the Merchant's design as combining "fantasyRPG" aesthetics with "slick futuristic stuff", the player's view of the character changing when he opens his coat to reveal the weapons he has for sale. Commenting on the Merchant's unusual penchant for buying antiques in exchange for weapons, Scoville states that the game "flaunts" itsludonarrative dissonance rather than trying to hide it. Mentioning a fan theory that the Merchant might be multiple individuals who dress and speak the same way, Scoville said that it only made the Merchant more ridiculous if true, like a "scarymall Santa".[13] Nick Bunce ofEurogamer stated that the Merchant's signature "Whaddya buyin'?" line was "eternally etched into [his] psyche", calling the character a "walking enigma". Saying that despite the Merchant's glowing eyes, he was seemingly unaffected by the mind-controlling Plaga parasite, Bunce described him as a "well-stocked ally" who "brought a unique warmth" to the hostile environment around him, claiming that his voice created "a neural connection" that meant both safety and a material advantage. Bunce said he was "bitterly disappointed" that the Merchant's original voice actor did not reprise his role in the remake.[9]
The Merchant appeared in a skit byparody groupMega64, who acted as him towards unassuming passerby while wearing acosplay of the character.[22] Another parody featuring the Merchant allows players to take the role ofAshley and date him alongside other characters in the format of anotome game.[32] In 2023,indie game developer Fractal Projects announcedSave Room – The Merchant, a sequel to theirSave Room item management video game that adds a female character inspired by the Merchant.[33]
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