There are a number of directionsResident Evil 9could take. With the series being more or less an anthology at this point, only tied together through a somewhat loose connective tissue, there’s quite a bit of wiggle room, both in terms ofResident Evil 9’s various mechanics and its narrative.
At the same time, Capcom is faced with a few key restrictions, mainly as it pertains to what will best keep the spirit of the franchise at the forefront and what has the most creative potential. Plenty has been said about Ethan Winters, the protagonist introduced inResident Evil 7and carried over intoResident Evil Village: while some consider him a breath of fresh air, he is generally seen as inferior to legacy characters like Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield, who are far more charismatic by comparison. With Ethan out of the picture by the end ofResident Evil Village,Resident Evil 9may be forced to push ahead with one of these older, more iconic protagonists.
Why Resident Evil 9 May Be Hogtied to a Legacy Protagonist
Introducing Yet Another New Hero in Resident Evil 9 Could Be Awkward
It’s clear that theWinters saga is over followingResident Evil Villageand its DLC, with Capcom definitively putting the final nail in the coffin for the ill-fated family. While there were a number of benefits that came with the less-trained, less capable Ethan at the helm, leaving him in the past is probably for the best; Ethan was never the most likable or interesting character, with his increased vulnerability being contrasted by a milquetoast personality.
There’s always the chance thatResident Evil 9could bring Ethan back, but the combination of his story reaching a natural conclusion and the lack of fan outcry for a reprisal makes this particularly unlikely.
Ethan’s introduction toResident Evilcanon made sense: he was on a journey to save his wife, which subsequently meant getting roped into the horrors of the Baker household and the ensuing events ofVillage. That said, it could be difficult to justifyanother everyman protagonist inResident Evil9, as Capcom would have to make another branching narrative that isn’t directly tied to the BSAA or another similar organization. Moreover, looping another “nobody” character into the main character role could kill the narrativemomentum left behind byVillage, as the story would have to juggle establishing this new protagonist while building upon the greater lore of the series. In other words, Capcom could bite off more than it can chew.
It May Be a Good Time to Return to Classic Resident Evil Characters
Although it’s undeniably less scary to play as ahyper-competent soldier like Chris Redfieldthan a relatable civilian like Ethan Winters, these action-hero archetypes also play a big role inResident Evil’s charm. Chris, Leon, Jill, or even a less-utilized character like Claire are all solid choices for the lead ofResident Evil 9, as they are much more at home in the hectic, terrifying world of the series. Also, with so many of these characters being linked to biohazards through their professions, they are the best choices for actually moving the overarching narrative forward, rather than starring in the comparatively intimate, isolated stories ofResident Evil 7andVillage.
WithResident Evil 9possibly going open-world, it would be a great opportunity to put players back in the shoes of one of the series' more capable heroes, giving players a bit of familiarity within this decidedly unfamiliar framework. PerhapsRE9could even feature the multiple scenarios or co-op functionalities of older games in the series, allowing for a reunion of several classic characters rather than just one or two.
Resident Evil Village
Experience survival horror like never before in the eighth major installment in the storied Resident Evil franchise - Resident Evil Village.Set a few years after the horrifying events in the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 7 biohazard, the all-new storyline begins with Ethan Winters and his wife Mia living peacefully in a new location, free from their past nightmares. Just as they are building their new life together, tragedy befalls them once again.First-Person Action – Players will assume the role of Ethan Winters and experience every up-close battle and terrifying pursuit through a first-person perspective.Familiar Faces and New Foes – Chris Redfield has typically been a hero in the Resident Evil series, but his appearance in Resident Evil Village seemingly shrouds him in sinister motives. A host of new adversaries inhabiting the village will relentlessly hunt Ethan and hinder his every move as he attempts to make sense of the new nightmare he finds himself in.
