With Resident Evil 8 eemingly set to launch next year, it’s time to take a trip through the franchise’s lifetime and examine the transformations that the games underwent, and what changes players can expect in the series’ next release.
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Humble Beginnings: Resident Evil 1 - Resident Evil 3
Capcom made a major impact on the gaming industry when it released the first Resident Evil in 1996, changing the survival-horror genre forever. The game was filled with a haunting atmosphere and startling scares, but succeeded most of all in making the player feel that they were never quite safe as they explored the halls of the Spencer Mansion. With more memorable moments than one can count, Resident Evil became an instant classic, with remakes and remasters of the original game, selling millions of copies to this day.
Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 would capitalize on the first game’s success, sticking with the core formula while expanding the game’s world, with RE3 only slightly changing the structure by centering on one protagonist rather than giving the player the option to choose between two main characters like in RE1 and RE2. The second always proved to be more popular than the third, which remains true even with the latest remakes.
Less Horror, More Action: Resident Evil 4 - Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 4 marked a turning point for the biggest name in survival-horror. Gameplay was completely revamped for the series newest entry, with returning protagonist Leon Kennedy being followed by an over-the-shoulder camera that made movement and shooting smoother than ever. In addition to better controls, the action in the game received a major shot in the arm. Instead of slowly steering through cramped hallways, Leon was now fighting off an angry mob of chainsaw-wielding villagers, riding through mine carts, and dashing and dodging through action-packed quicktime events.
The game wasn’t without its scares, however, as some of the series most terrifying foes made their debut in RE4. The combination of action and horror was a major success, and Capcom once again chose to go all-in on the successful formula with Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6. As the games became more adrenaline-fueled, however, they began to lose the elements that made the Resident Evil series great. Heavy emphasis on co-op erased the feeling of isolation evoked by the earlier games, and changing the open, progressive structure of the world to a series of replayable missions took away all the tension. While RE6 delivered the most action-packed Resident Evil yet, it also marked the point where the series lost the adoration of many of its longtime fans.
A Return to Form: Resident Evil 7
Fans were disappointed with Resident Evil 6, and Capcom listened. Instead of merely returning to the style of its earlier games however, Resident Evil once again reinvented itself with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Taking the series back to its terrifying roots, the game put players in the shoes of an entirely new character, trapped in a Louisiana mansion inhabited by entirely new villains. Action was subdued, with players forced to make their shots count instead of freely unloading on scores of enemies. With Biohazard, Capcom had injected new life into a franchise that once seemed to be dying.
Improving the Past: RE2 Remake and RE3 Remake
After the success of RE7, Capcom set itself upon remaking Resident Evils 2 and 3. These wouldn’t be ordinary HD remasters, as these were entirely new games. Made from scratch on current-gen engines, Resident Evil 2: Remake and Resident Evil 3: Remake brought the PS1 classics into the future, retelling their stories with all-new graphics, voice-acting, and cinematics. The gameplay was also revamped, adopting controls similar to Resident Evil 6 and remaking old bossfights and encounters of the new controls, the remakes sought to keep everything great about the old games, while adding improvements for the current generation.
While most gamers agreed that RE2: Remake better captured the feel of the original than RE3: Remake, both games were lauded for their polish and attention to detail. With Capcom supposedly interested in remaking more Resident Evil titles, the future looks bright for fans of the original games looking to jump into action one more time.
The Future: Resident Evil 8
With the remakes on hold as Resident Evil 8 looks to pick up where Biohazard left off, rumors and leaks are already swirling as to how the upcoming title will build upon the strengths of its predecessor. With everything including werewolves, medieval castles, and magic rumored to be in the game, time will only tell what RE8 has in store for gamers. The most verifiable leaks suggest that the game will be in first-person like RE7 and feature Chris Redfield as a protagonist, which makes sense giving how the last game ended. The rumored castle setting appears reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, which would suggest that the series is once again seeking inspiration from its past. Either way, Resident Evil 8 seems geared to once again change the face of the Resident Evil franchise.
Resident Evil 8 has not not officially announced.
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