Resident Evil turns 20 today. Most fans would think that it's a good time to celebrate, but let's be honest: Capcom hasn't exactly given fans much to get excited about over the past few years.
Ever since Resident Evil 4 was released back in 2005, Capcom's biggest series has been in a depressingly steep decline. While not every game has been totally awful, the vast majority of recent Resident Evil titles have fallen flat on their faces. Even worse, it's already been four years since the last numbered entry in the series was released — at this point, there's really no telling where the franchise is headed.
There is hope, however: Resident Evil may be a shadow of its former self, but it doesn't have to stay that way. Capcom has made major changes to the series before, and it's time to do so again. The horror genre has evolved quite a bit over the past few years, and it's about time for Resident Evil to do the same.
Here's how the Resident Evil franchise can get back on its feet.
Completely Reboot The Story
The classic Resident Evil games are still scary, but they haven't aged all that well from a gameplay standpoint. Newer Resident Evil games can be fun to play, but their stories and scares are about as lackluster as you can get. So ... why not combine the two?
It worked with Resident Evil 4, and it can work again: Capcom should simply focus on recreating the scares of the classic games in the gameplay framework of more recent titles. Look at Dead Space; it followed that same exact plan and became a blockbuster franchise overnight. Clearly, the formula still works — Capcom just needs to take advantage of it.
Resident Evil used to be the best horror series in gaming — and, with a bit of work, it could be again. Whether or not any of these changes will actually happen is still up in the air ... but, if Capcom is willing to take a few risks, it could bring one of its biggest franchises back from the dead.
There are no solid plans for the next Resident Evil game just yet, but fans should definitely keep an eye on Capcom's booth once E3 2016 kicks off this June.
Photos: Capcom
