Summary
Given the astounding critical and commercial success of the previous remakes in the series, it seems like only a matter of time untilResident Evil 5gets a remake of its own. If and when this eventual game comes out, assuming that it learns from thepreviousResident Evilremakeswhile staying true to the foundations laid by the original, filling the shoes of Chris Redfield could be a peak for the franchise.
Although some fans tend tothink ofResident Evilas having a specific and consistent gameplay style, the series has seen numerous transitions, remixes, and refreshes when it comes to movement and combat. A major leap can be observed between the originalResident Evil 3andResident Evil4, and then again withResident Evil 6.Resident Evil 7and the recent collection of remakes have brought the most drastic changes to gameplay, though, with last year’sResident Evil 4remake arguably featuring the pinnacle of the series' combat. Taking these changes and improvements into consideration, Capcom could kick things up another notch with aResident Evil 5remake.
Chris Redfield Could Be Perfected in a Remake of Resident Evil 5
As one ofthe faces ofResident Evil, Chris Redfield has been a consistent and powerful presence throughout the franchise. Despite this, players haven’t gotten a full game based around him since the originalResident Evil 5in 2009. The character’s absence from the main stage feels particularly poignant inResident Evil Village, where he stands in contrast with the comparatively bland Ethan Winters, leaving many to wonder why Redfield wasn’t more prominently featured.
Redfield is playable in one short section near the end ofResident Evil Village, as well as in theNot a HeroDLC forResident Evil 7. However, these moments are too brief to be representative of a full game with Chris at the helm.
A game withResident Evil’s modern survival horror combat, which has been polished to a brilliant shine thanks to the third-person remakes, would be a great fit for Chris Redfield. Fans of the franchise got to enjoy the bevy of improvements brought to Leon’s gameplay in theResident Evil 4remake, and there’s no reason this couldn’t be replicated withResident Evil 5.
Resident Evil 5 Remake: Recapturing the Success of Leon Kennedy’s Combat
Resident Evil 4’s remake was the result of the perfect storm, one that was created by both the circumstances of theResident Evilnarrative and the advancements in Capcom’s gaming technology and design.At the time thatRE4takes place in the series' timeline,Leon Kennedy has received copious amounts of training, which is reflected in how he controls; he is much more fluid and tactical, with more skills at his disposal. Couple this with the smooth and satisfying third-person shooting Capcom perfected in the previous twoREremakes, and players get aversion of Leon Kennedythat is more fun to control than ever.
This exact cocktail of game design and narrative premise could benefit Chris in anRE5remake. InRE5, Chris has become stronger and more skilled, moving on from STARS and into the BSAA, with years of experience under his belt. His training, coupled with his seemingly superhuman strength and athleticism, could make him a joy to control, while offering a welcome alternative to Leon’s more slick, versatile gameplay. Capcom doesn’t have to haveChris punching boulders left and right, but his heft and brute force would be more than satisfying inResident Evil’s revamped combat system.
Resident Evil 4managed to recapture the essence of the original’s gameplay while keeping things fresh, fluid, and exciting. The end result is arguably one of the best combat and movement systems of any survival horror game, period. If Capcom can pull off a similar feat in aResident Evil 5remake, then the series could be all the better for it.
Resident Evil 5
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The Umbrella Corporation and its crop of lethal viruses have been destroyed and contained. But a new, more dangerous threat has emerged. Years after surviving the events in Raccoon City, Chris Redfield has been fighting the scourge of bio-organic weapons all over the world. Now a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), Chris is sent to Africa to investigate a biological agent that is transforming the populace into aggressive and disturbing creatures. Joined by another local BSAA agent, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to solve the truth behind the disturbing turn of events.
