Summary
TheResident Evilfranchise has forged itself a rather complex identity over the last few decades. On one hand,Resident Evilis known as a franchise that can offer some of the most intense scares in gaming, but at the same time, it’s also known as one of the campiest horror franchises around. Similarly, whileResident Evilis known for having some of the most compelling video game lore, it’s also a franchise known for its absurd plot beats and bizarre dialogue.Resident Evilis all these things merged, and it’s this unique blend that makes it such an iconic gaming franchise.
ButResident Evil 9could end up flying in the face of some classic series traditions. According to some recent rumors,Resident Evil 9might be going open-world, and while that seems like a natural evolution ofResident Evil Village’s more open-ended structure, that evolution might come at the cost of some staple franchise mechanics, and the series' survival horror roots might struggle to maintain their prominence.
Resident Evil 9’s Survival Horror Roots Could Be At Risk
Resident Evil Thrives on Limitations
Resident Evilis, first and foremost,a survival horror franchiseand a core pillar of the genre is limitations. From limited healing items to limited ammo to limited inventory space to limited upgrade materials, the vast majority ofResident Evilgames put clear restrictions on the player that have them constantly making tough decisions on how best to use their finite amount of supplies. It’s these tough decisions that keep players on their toes and fuel that deeply rewarding feeling that the player is always just scraping by.
WhentheResident Evilfranchisehas been more forgiving with its resources, it’s historically led to a more disappointing experience that doesn’t really feel like aResident Evilgame. Though puzzles, scary monsters, corny dialogue, and plenty of gore are all staple features of theResident Evilfranchise, none have quite the same impact on gameplay and atmosphere as the series' limited resources.
Resident Evil 9 Could Struggle to Balance This Core Feature
Just a few months ago, leaker Dusk Golem took to Twitter to claim thatResident Evil 9would be building off the technicalgroundwork ofDragon’s Dogma 2, hinting that the new entry in the long-running horror franchise could be adopting an open-world structure. If this ends up being true, thenResident Evil 9might find it a little tricky to balance the series' limited resources mechanic.
The vast majority ofResident Evilgames have been carefully structured to ensure that the player always has just enough ammo or healing items to survive an encounter by the skin of their teeth. Past games were able to do this by purposefully placing specific items along the player’s path, right up until that encounter. ButifResident Evil 9goes open-world, then it’s not going to be able to ensure that all players follow that path.
This non-linear structure could easily lead to players not having enough ammo for certain boss fights or combat encounters, or at the opposite end of the spectrum, having too much ammo and healing resources due to extensive exploration before continuing the golden path. There are ways Capcom can balance this inResident Evil 9, such as adding a wealth of resources just before a big fight, but this potential change in structure could greatly impact one of the series' defining mechanics.
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.
