Summary
With Capcom still going full steam ahead onResident Evil, the survival horror series seems to have more options at its disposal and tricks up its sleeve than ever before.Resident Evil’s modern era has seen it rise once again to the top of the best the genre has to offer; a notable achievement given that the franchise was felt to have stumbled from its heights during the early to mid-2000s period. Now, though, multiple exciting projects are in the works, some of a more surprising nature, like the leaked/rumoredResident Evil ZeroandCode Veronicaremakes, andREhas many promising prospects for the future.
Alongside the above, two other big updates are that the long-expectedResident Evil 9was finally officially confirmed, with Koshi Nakanishi returningto the director’s role. Under Nakanishi’s watch,Resident Evil 7reinvented the franchise and placed it firmly back in fans' good graces, kicking off the current upward trend, and leading many to wonder how he will again steer the series to success in the ninth installment. Over its course,REhas experimented with various upgrade systems, and the one seen inRE7was memorably unique. Given Nakanishi’s involvement, the next release then should capitalize on this aspect by bringing it back in some form.
Nakanishi was also a designer onResident Evil 5, which is assumed to be remadeeventually as well.
Resident Evil 9 Has an Opportunity to Cash in By Revitalizing RE7’s Antique Coins
Resident Evil 7’s Coin-Based Upgrade System Was the Perfect Fit
While not present in the earlier games, inResident Evil 4,players were able to find cash, precious gems, and the like to trade with the famous merchant for weapon upgrades and other items. This fit the setting and tone of the story, and a similar mechanic would return in the next entry, although it was notably absent fromRE6.Resident Evil 7’s antique coinsthen put a fresh spin on it for the next generation. As players make their way around the Baker estate, those who search diligently can come across these coins, which are used to buy upgrades and rare items.
In keeping withResident Evil 7’s own creepy atmosphere, the coins are spent on unlocking strange bird cases scattered throughout the environment that house powerful and otherwise unobtainable items. On its highest difficulty level,RE7throws players a curve by increasing the number of coins, rearranging some of their locations, and upping the cost of certain gear. It was a satisfying loop, maintaining the feel of the previous upgrade systems but tailoring it toRE7’s artistic vision and level layout.
How Resident Evil 9 Could Take RE7’s Antique Coin Mechanic And Run With It
One of the major questions surrounding it presently iswhetherResident Evil 9will fully embrace an open-worlddesign, as it’s one the franchise has flirted with but never completely committed to. While there are arguments to be made on both sides of the fence, doing so would allow the series to try some new twists on its latest upgrade system. With Nakanishi at the helm again,RE9could take a cue fromRE7’s coin system, and include one in a similar vein that perfectly matches the next entry’s world and atmosphere.
EvenifResident Evil 9adheres more closely to the tighter level designsas seen, for example, in theRE2remake, it could still find inspiration inRE7’s antique coin system.Resident Evil 9need not copy it exactly, but could iterate on the general idea, perhaps via a range of coins worth varying amounts that can be redeemed in a distinctly odd yet fitting manner akin to the bird cages. Another option would be having coins that can be combined in certain configurations with other valuable items (also likeRE4) to greatly increase their value and the type of rewards that can be obtained, depending on how many and of which kind players manage to discover.
Resident Evil 7’s antique coins remain one of the more imaginative upgrade resources to appear in the series. They were an organic part of the setting that incentivized combing through every nook and cranny to find them, allowing fans to appreciate bothResident Evil 7’s level designand world while searching for tangible benefits. Including something along the same lines in the ninth entry would be a great way to call back to and invoke some of the best parts of Nakanishi’s previous work onREin the upcoming installment.
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.
