Summary
Resident Evil 9is on the horizon, but getting to this point required Capcom to do some heavy lifting. Prior to 2017,Resident Evilwas on the outs.Resident Evil 5andResident Evil 6had learned the wrong lessons fromRE4, ripping the series away from its survival horror roots and transmogrifying into a horror-adjacent action game that relied too heavily on combat and one-liners. Negative reactions put the series on hold for almost five years. This sent Capcom back to the drawing board and resulted in the company taking a much more creative approach to its next title.
Resident Evil 7reinvigorated the franchise. It was a complete departure from not only the previous two games but the series as a whole. Overwhelmingly positive feedback from both critics and players led to the 2021 release ofResident Evil Village— a direct sequel toRE7— which was met with similar acclaim.First confirmed by IGN,Resident Evil 9is in the works, and Capcom should adopt the same strategy going into this game that madeRE7so successful: being creative.
Reinventing Resident Evil
What madeResident Evil 7so special was how substantially different it was compared to previous titles. It shifted away from the action-based gameplay ofRE5andRE6, placed an emphasis back on atmospheric storytelling, and most notably shifted to a first-person perspective for the first time in the series. Combined with a narrative that was almost entirely separated from the rest of the series,RE7appealed to fans who had become disenfranchised with the series' direction, as well as players who had never played aResident Evilgame before but were simply looking for a good horror game to play.
Resident Evil Villagein some ways rode the coattails ofRE7. Sure, it brought a new setting, new enemies, and an increased focus on combat, but it largely played the same as its predecessor. It did, however, end the Winters Family’s narrative that began inRE7. With this saga over, it means that the nextResident Evilwon’t be intrinsically tied to either the storyline or stylings of the two previous games. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Capcom will make a big leap with its next entry, but considering how successful the jump it made withRE7was, it would be a shame not to.
Resident Evil’s Open-World Rumors
There are many directions that Capcom could go when it comes to refreshing the series.Resident Evil 9is rumored to be an open-world game, which would be a series first. Past games have allowed for exploration throughout their maps, but they’ve never been more than hub zones attached with intermittent corridors.
An open world to explore could do wonders forResident Evil 9if implemented properly. Theruntimes forResident Evilgameshave never been incredibly long; the previous two games could be beaten in around 10 hours each. An open world could increase that exponentially as players not only traverse a larger map but engage with side activities throughout.
Resident Evil’s Movement Could Use a Refresh
Whether or not the next game is open-world, the nextResident Evilshould also reexamine the approach it takes to movement. If there is one through line connecting theREprotagonists, it’s how slow they are. Even when a character is sprinting, it feels like they’re taking a leisurely jog. The design mentality makes sense when it comes to establishing player fear regarding any creatures chasing them, but this clunky movement system makes the games frustrating to navigate — especially on a replay. TheDying Lightmovement systemcan provide a great example of how to make a player feel fast while still making them feel scared. Increasing movement speed, implementing a dodge action, or even adding vehicles of some sort could all help alleviate this issue.
Resident Evil 9could similarly examine its approach to perspective, weapons, and enemy types — bosses that aren’t just covered with eyeball weak spots would be nice. Whatever approach Capcom takes, it’s important to focus on revamping the series as much as the company can — especially since it looks likeResident Evil 9’s protagonistmight be a familiar face.
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.
