Summary
Horror isn’t ever afforded the luxury of being able to play it safe or by the numbers, for better or for worse. As a genre, horror always seems to need to redefine itself. Perhaps that’s because so much produced in that space is so identical or inspired, but carving out a niche in horror never lasts long when imitators flood the scene and oversaturate whatever intriguing hook horror’s imparted lately. For a while, horror had found success inallegorically or metaphorically depicting mental illness through grisly, supernatural encounters, though that hasn’t been nearly as nuanced or subtle as of late.
Resident Evil, on the other hand, has stuck around and met the demand of many uniquely shaped molds. Indeed, while not without its own blunders and missteps,Resident Evilhas prevailed where few other horror franchises have managed to excel. This could be a stroke of luck depending on how Capcom’s approach to the series is perceived, and yet the fact that it’s still pushing out numbered mainline installments almost 30 years later is a profound achievement and unmistakably impressive. With this in mind, it’s easy to see howResident Evilshows no signs of quitting while it’s ahead and could be a seminal horror property for another decade or longer.
Resident Evil’s Nearly 30-Year History is a Testament to Its Timelessness
NoteveryResident Evilgamemay be to every individual player’s liking, but that’s the beauty ofResident Evilbecause it ensures there’s at least one entry that anyone could adore for how unique it is. Personal preferences will play a huge role in which games are enjoyed and witheight numbered mainline titles,a handful of spin-offs,and several remakesthere is quite a lot to choose from.
Remakes themselves give new audiences an opportunity to experience classic games through a reimagined lens and also add a new perspective to games that maybe not everyone fully appreciated when they had tank controls, fixed camera angles, and polygonal characters. It’s been incredible to see howResident Evilhas evolved since its original trilogy, making drastic design changes to adopt a new gameplay structure, and though its action-leaning endeavors have been deemed less iconic in the franchise, they were also thefranchise’s best-selling games before7,Village, and the remakeshad launched.
There’s arguably never been a point inResident Evil’s lifespan where the series wasn’t doing well and that’s because Capcom has kept a thumb on the genre’s pulse to decide when and where it needed a fundamental shift. That’s becoming more difficult to gauge now that its mainline games are embedded in horror while its remakes are steeped in action, but if anyone has had experience successfully navigating horror’s dips and bends it is Capcom.
Resident Evil Has Infinite Franchise Potential
Resident Evilcould continue on forever if Capcom wanted it to so long as it manages to include a new hook every couple of mainline installments. There’s no reason to stop atResident Evil 10if Capcom could viably get toResident Evil 20, for example. The franchise has only recently begun to scratch the surface of how bold and reinventive it can be when Capcom loosens its grip onResident Evil’s leash,folding fantastical horror into its signature dark humor brilliantly inVillage.
There’s no plausible wayResident Evilwould’ve been around still if it wasn’t for how creative the franchise can be—Resident Evil 9is rumored to be an open-world game, too.
That’s not necessarily emergent considering how many open-world games there are; regardless, it’s an avenueResident Evilhas yet to attempt and Capcom truly delving into those mechanics and design philosophies would once again cement the fact thatResident Evilis unafraid to stretch its legs. IfResident Evilonly ever makes it to 10 mainline games before shuttering that would be a phenomenal and undisputed legacy to behold. However, there’s no reason whyResident Evilshould ever retire if it has the means to terrify and excite players with engrossing stories.
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.
