Resident Evil Gaiden is a 2001 action-adventure game developed by M4 for the Game Boy Color. It was published by Capcom in Japan and North America, and by Virgin Interactive in Europe. Receiving generally mixed reviews by critics, the game marks a departure from other entries in the series, insofar as areas are explored with the playable character seen from a top-down perspective and with battles fought in first-person view. The story revolves around a viral outbreak on a passenger ship and has Leon S. Kennedy and Barry Burton return as protagonists. This game is non-canon, as its plot is contradicted by the main series in key parts, and its events are ignored.