Summary
Resident Evilhas been enjoying years of success since what might be deemed the seminal survivor horror series' “modern era,” which many point to having begun with 2017’sResident Evil 7. AfterRE4revolutionized the franchise in 2005 (and general game design in the process),Resident Evilseemed poised to continue conquering the horror world. However, a large portion of fans felt it stumbled with its next two entries,RE5andRE6, which pivoted away from classic slow-burn horror and embraced the bombastic over-the-top action trend that gripped much of the gaming landscape at the time.
Capcom then went back to the drawing board in an attempt to revitalizeResident Evil.RE7marked a big shift back to its roots, returning to the sense of disempowerment by trimming down the scope and scale and introducing an everyman protagonist. Following that up with theexcellentRE2remakeand thenVillage,RE’s reinvention was complete. With it back at the forefront of the industry, and another title likely on the horizon, it’s a good opportunity for Capcom to evolveREyet again by flouting some longtime standards.
Although not officially confirmed, based on previous patterns, it is largely assumedResident Evil 9is currently in development.
3 Big Series Traditions Resident Evil 9 Should Break
Resident Evil’s Previous Tradition Breaks
Given this, it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility forCapcom to defy expectations again inRE9. REhas already experimented with twisting its established elements, and among the most notable are:
Scrap Laboratory Levels
One of the most ubiquitous inclusions inREgames, an underground laboratory level is now basically expected. While originally it may have been a neat reveal and cool surprise to find a secret experimental lab beneath an opulent mansion or connected to a sprawling sewer system, the lab level has since become viewed by fans as often the low point of many titles.
Change Time Periods
REplots are usually set roughly in the contemporary era of their release, taking players to urban cities or decrepit estates. But there is a wealth of untapped settings, particularly at different times, thatRE9could shift to instead. Indeed,RE Village’s heavily fantasy medieval-inspired elementsmight be just the tip of the iceberg. Capcom could decide to run with them fully and setRE9in the distant past or even far future. The series is no stranger to taking liberties with explaining away drastic or jarring changes, and could easily justify a non-modern setting.
Ditch Science Fiction, Embrace the Supernatural
The Umbrella Corp. has been a core component ofREsince its start, and its sci-fi aspects of mutating viruses being the cause of its monsters have been central to almost every game. However, withRE Villageleaning more into the dark folklore/supernatural side of horror, as well as Lovecraftian-inspired games generally being on the rise recently,REis perfectly poised to tackle paranormal or Eldritch creatures next. This would still allow for the bizarre, unsettling enemy design and atmosphere the series is well-known for while avoiding the cliche of the same corrupt company unleashing yet another unethical science experiment gone awry.
Though there’s always a fine line for any franchise between innovation and the risk of losing its identity, if somerumors aboutRE9hold water, it could be shaping up to move it forward in a big way. While fans eagerly await the nextRE, it will hopefully take the chance on standing out once more by continuing to iterate, while retaining the sensibilities that form its central conceits.
