Summary
TheResident Evilfranchise could wind up achieving a great sense of synergy through the releases ofResident Evil 9and aResident Evil 5remake. Although a remake forResident Evil 5hasn’t been announced, it seems almost inevitable, given the success of the series' previous remakes; the same can be said forResident Evil 9. Both of these games have a chance of continuing the franchise’s excellence, though for different reasons.
Resident Evilhas always straddled horror and blockbuster action, to varying degrees of success. The first game in the series was unabashedly horror-centric, with a slow, creeping pace and a focus on maintaining tension, atmosphere, and mystery. As the series progressed, it would eventually embrace evolving gaming technology by becoming more of an action-horror franchise. This focus on action culminated inResident Evil 5andResident Evil 6, which many fans lamented for abandoning the series' horror roots. A few years later, Capcom would return to its roots withResident Evil 7, which put scares back at the center of the experience. This back-and-forth may be reaching a solid equilibrium, thanks to Capcom’s release strategy.
Resident Evil 9 Can Be Full Horror, Resident Evil 5 Can Be Full Action
Resident Evil 9: Leaning Into Horror
AssumingResident Evil 9sticks to the design staplesofRE7andVillage, there’s a good chance that it will be more about the horror than the action; the first-person perspective adopted by this new generation ofREgames elevates tension by increasing immersion and limiting the player’s field of view, making it so they can only see what is directly in front of them. This perspective has a transformative effect on how horror is presented in these games, but the sense of terror is also buttressed by a slower pace, focus on exploration over combat, scarce resource economy, and the unsettling and intimate narrative of the Winters family saga.
IfResident Evil 9evolvesthis horror emphasis, perhaps scaling back the encroaching action elements that pop up inVillage, it could repeat or even surpass the fear-inspiring design ofResident Evil 7. In this way,RE9could be a full-fledged, proper horror experience, resembling something like the classicSilent Hillgames, with subdued combat, a less campy tone, and a narrative that is darker and more cerebral.
Resident Evil 5 Can Embrace Blockbuster Action
Though public opinion about the game is mixed due to its lack of horror, there’s a lot aboutResident Evil 5that works, and a remake of the game could further polish these successful elements without tarnishing the identity of the 2009 release. AResident Evil 5remake could enhance the combatof the original, fully modernizing and upgrading the moment-to-moment gameplay similarly to theResident Evil 4remake while adding revamped visuals, cinematics, and quality-of-life features.
By embracing the original’s action-movie-inspired design, aResident Evil 5remake can be a no-frills, no-filler adventure with tight gameplay and loads of replay value, following in the footsteps of the previousResident Evilremakes.
Resident Evil 5may have tipped the scales too far in the direction of action when it was first released. But for what it is trying to accomplish, the game is successful, offering a well-crafted and enjoyable experience, and it may have been better received by modern audiences ifResident Evilfans had an alternative: a more subtle and horror-focused game. IfResident Evil 9presents psychological horrorand serious narrative elements that are prioritized over intense action, then it could be this alternative, perfectly complementing anRE5remake.
Resident Evil Village
WHERE TO PLAY
Ethan Winters finds himself in an entirely new nightmare in Capcom’s latest installment of the acclaimed Resident Evil franchise. Whether you’re defending against Lycans in the grim dwellings of the village or exploring the lavish Castle Dimitrescu, the meticulously designed environments immerse you in this eerie world, powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Run from, hide or face off against a diverse cast of terrifying village inhabitants in dream-like - no, nightmarish - situations and fight your instincts to push through classic horror-based sequences. Also, be sure to check out “The Mercenaries” that unlocks once you’ve finished the campaign, a fast-paced and arcade-like game mode which challenges players to blast away enemies against the clock.
