's notorious and mysterious Merchant remains an icon in video game history, a reputation that's earned him many references in other video games too. Known officially as the Weapons Merchant, he appears at certain points in Resident Evil 4, unaffected by the outward circumstances protagonist Leon Kennedy has to battle through. His famous phrases include, "What're ya buyin'?," and, "What're ya sellin'?," flavored with a raspy laugh.
Many fans continue to theorize about who the RE4 Merchant is, where he came from, and whether he's infected by the Plagas parasite. Resident Evil 4 provides very little in of an origin story for the Merchant - or any concrete information about him, for that matter, besides what he carries inside his tattered trenchcoat.
Because of the intrigue this origin-less character evokes, many other games and have referenced the merchant, both in visual style and via his famous catchphrases.
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - Bayonetta
Critically acclaimed hack-and-slash Bayonetta references Resident Evil 4's Merchant in a humorous tribute: At one point, shopkeeper Rodin uses the Merchant's "What're ya buyin'?" phrase verbatim, then says he "heard that in a game, once."
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - NieR: Automata
Another hack-and-slash game from Bayonetta creator PlatinumGames, NieR: Automata makes a direct reference to the Merchant in a similarly charming, "meta" way. A shop owner says the Merchant's famous line, then tells the protagonist he "studied a relic of ancient civilization" and discovered that's how merchants talk. Does that mean the shopkeeper played Resident Evil 4?
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - Destiny & Destiny 2
Bungie pays homage to the Resident Evil 4 Merchant in Destiny and Destiny 2 through a character named Xur, a mysterious merchant that players can purchase exotic items from. He appears only at specific times of the week and sells varying items per visit, but what's most similar to the RE4 merchant is his hood and the eyes glowing from within.
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - DOOM Eternal
In the blood-soaked hellscape that is the world of DOOM Eternal, there's still room for tributes to other video games like Resident Evil 4. At one point, while slaying demons, players can happen upon a store named "Whatcha Sellen," one of the famous lines from RE4's star merchant.
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - Borderlands 2
Gearbox's Borderlands 2 references many games that preceded it, including a nod to Resident Evil 4 in the name of one of its challenges. By spending a certain amount of money in shops throughout the game, players can complete a challenge called "Waddaya Buyin'?"
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - Hearthstone
Blizzard's popular card game, Hearthstone, has its own RE4 reference. One of the cards, Wand Thief, comes with a familiar quote in its flavor text: "What're ya buyin'?"
Resident Evil 4 Merchant References - Resident Evil Village
Not so much a reference as much as it is a theory, but some fans think a new merchant character in the Resident Evil Village could be RE4's Merchant. Based on the new merchant's personality, the theory has little to go on, but it's still fun to wonder. Either way, it's nice to have a merchant returning, even if it's not Resident Evil 4's.
