Given that the game features Chris Redfield, you are character is going to "feel like an action hero." Part of the eeriness of Resident Evil was derived from the protagonist being freaked out themselves. As the series has gone on the protagonist have gotten experience with the weird happenings of the games universe and are frankly trained to deal with the situation. Even the new character, Sheva is part of this international organization trained to deal with these bio terror threats.
The only way I can see them having a legitimate reason for making the protagonist a clumsily controlled mess is if they are laymans. A guy that works at the local depart store, gas station, fast restaurant, etc. Having protagonist with extensive combat and tactical training along with prior experience with such threat precludes them being terrified or controlling so poorly.
