TheResident Evilfranchise has undergone a series of permutations over the course of its decades-long tenure. From the early days of tank controls and crude graphics all the way to the photorealistic and action-movie qualities of the modern games and remakes, the franchise has exhibited a surprising degree of flexibility, shifting and reforming in whatever manner is necessary for success and innovation. Now, withResident Evil 9expected to take things in a new directionyet again, it will be interesting to see what else comes along to transform the series' identity.
As one would expect, someResident Evilmechanics and trends are more popular than others. The franchise underwent something of a dark period during the eighth console generation, for example, because of its pivot away from survival horror into more explosive action-adventure fodder. Capcom demonstrated a willingness to both adapt and embrace the past whenResident Evil 7came out, though, proving that the franchise is still capable of being scary, tense, and genuinely unnerving. This is all well and good, and hopefully something that future games will continue to double down on, but maybe not every element of the franchise’s past needs to be tossed out.
Resident Evil Ought to Bring Back Co-Op Campaigns
Proper Resident Evil Co-Op Is Surprisingly Rare
Though there are a number ofResident Evilgames with multiplayer, only a few entries in the series have proper, fully-integrated co-op campaigns, including:
Though these may not consistently rank among the most beloved games in theResident Evilfranchise, fans often fondly remember them for their cooperative multiplayer. This is especially true forResident Evil 5andResident Evil 6, which are arguably redeemed by their cooperative campaigns. In an attempt to bring the franchise back to its roots post-RE6, Capcom may have thrown the baby out with the bathwater, seemingly shying away from fully integrated co-op in favor of more awkwardly implementedcompetitive multiplayerResident Evilspin-offs likeResistanceandRe:Verse. Moving forward, this reluctance should loosen a bit.
Campaign Co-Op Is a Great Fit for Resident Evil’s Gameplay
Although it’s fair to say that nothing is as scary as playing a horror game alone, cooperative multiplayer gels well with the staple gameplay mechanics of theResident Evilfranchise. This isparticularly evident inRE5andRE6, which position players against massive hordes of enemies that are best tackled with some assistance, leading to unique opportunities for teamwork and clever strategizing. Surprisingly, these games can be just as thrilling and exciting, if not more so, when enjoyed with a friend, as the tension is shared rather than a solitary experience.
EssentialResident Evilmechanics like resource management are deepened by co-op play, as one player may have an abundance of an ammo type or healing supply that the other lacks, or no remaining inventory space while the other has empty pockets. Similarly, risking everything to rush back into the fray and assist a fallen comrade adds another layer to the gameplay experience, allowing players to form their own stories through gameplay, which is one of the best parts of anyResident Evilgame, or any classic survival horror title in general.
Admittedly, this works best in the more action-orientedResident Eviloutings; it would be hard to imagine thepsychological horror ofResident Evil 7, for instance, synergizing well with more than one player at the helm. But ifResident Evil 9can strike a good balance between horror and action, as the bestResident Evilgames often do, then cooperative multiplayer, either online or locally, could be a boon.
Resident Evil 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Survival is just the beginning.Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.
