Resident Evilis one of the most prominent series in gaming history. It helped define ageneration of survival horror games,releasing for theSony PlayStationin 1996. During this time, 3D textures were emerging, andResident Evilwas one of the hottest IPs around. Playing the originalResident Eviltoday, one might wonder what happened to its classic gameplay?
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RecentResident Evilgames maintain a similar inventory management system and horrific zombie themes. The Umbrella Corporation still exists inResident Evil lore,but the overarching story and gameplay have changed. Has this horror series changed for the better or worse?
10Spin-Off Games (Way It’s Worse)
Although not as well-known as the main series games, spin-off entries can be highly enjoyable.Resident Evilspin-offs add to the overarching story of the series.Resident Evil – Code: Veronicareleased for theSega Dreamcastin 2000. It has been ported numerous times, and it’s an excellent example of a spin-off game. The game expands onClaire Redfield’s storyafterResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3: Nemesis.Mostly,Resident Evilspin-offsappeal toResident Evilfansand less to series newcomers.
9More Horror (Way It’s Better)
When theResident Evilseries first released, it was one of thescariest games on the market.The teams atCapcomhave acknowledged this and continue to release games as horrific or more than the originals. Of course, game creators and filmmakers alike are finding new ways to scare audiences.
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Much aboutResident Evil Villagehas been kept under wraps. The upcomingResident Evil Villageshould follow suit byadding more horror than the game before it.
8Playthrough Lengths (Way It’s Worse)
The playthrough lengths of theResident Evilgames are typical for any game series. At 21.6 hours for completion, according tohowlongtobeat.com,the series peaked in length whenResident Evil 6was released. Since then, Capcom has released severalResident Evilremakes to capture the essence of the original games.
It makes more sense for players to pay full price for a longer game. Hopefully, the series' creators continue to increase the length of games—and not follow the runaway train headed towards shorterResident Evilgames.
7Inventory Management (Way It’s Better)
Depending on theResident Evilgame you play, inventory management can be a chore. The game that introduced the series,Resident Evil,proves that games in the series slowly age. However, it would be a stretch to sayResident Evilplays just as well as its launch date. The inventory spaces are limited in size, depending on your character. The newResident Evilgames have superior item management systems andmore weapon diversity,which add to the overall experience.
6Identity Crisis (Way It’s Worse)
TheResident Evilseries is having trouble identifying itself. The games are now spread across various genres like action-adventure, survival, and horror.Resident Evilis one of the longest standing game franchises in history. However, it’s becoming more of anaction game seriesthan a survival horror series like the original. If it maintains its roots and doesn’t make any more unexpected changes, the series should be okay.
5The Main Series Games (Way It’s Better)
The main series is still in recovery since the release ofResident Evil 6.Resident Evil 7: Biohazardwas a step forward in the right direction, even if it didn’t cover all its predecessors' shortcomings. Like many of the most well-known game franchises, theResident Evilmain series contains hit or miss entries.Story-wise,Resident Evil 7: Biohazardnailed it.Capcom listened to the frustration of players, making it less of an action-oriented game.
4Gameplay (Way It’s Worse)
RecentResident Evilgames are a step down fromResident Evil 4andResident Evil 5.The main series arguably hit its peak withResident Evil 4’s survival horror gameplay. Capcom is continually trying to switch up the formula with new gameplay. The series already contains flawless games, so why try to reinvent the wheel? At the same time,Resident Evil Villageis a blank slate that looks promising.
3The Series Relies On Remakes (Way It’s Better)
This one is a toss-up, but given that theResident Evilremakes had excellent reception, they have to be viewed positively.Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2,andResident 3all had phenomenal launches. However, looking strictly at the main series,Resident Evilneeds work.
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Capcom accomplished what a remake should. A video game remake should re-build a game from the ground-up while paying homage to the original. TheResident Evil 4remake will be a blockbuster, and we’re waiting to hear any developments.
2Too Much Action (Way It’s Worse)
Resident Evil 6was Capcom trying to reinvent itself. The resulting video game was not quite the blockbuster title we hoped for, but at least Capcom learned from past mistakes. One possible reason why critics negatively received this game was that it strayed too far from the series norms. It adopted more of an action-oriented focus rather than a survival horror one. The series was originally a survival horror game. Hopefully,Resident EvilVillagegoes back to the series’s roots.
1Graphics (Way It’s Better)
There is a lot more to come than this possibleResident Evil Villagescreenshot. According topcgamesn.com,“the dev’s shared in its live showcase that the upcoming PC game’s got ‘a lot more freedom’ and room to experiment than its predecessor,Resident Evil 7.” This could mean thatResident Evil Villagewill be less linear than its predecessor. From an art direction standpoint,Resident Evil Villageis shaping up to be a masterpiece in visual design.
