Capcom has been on a roll lately when it comes to theResident Evilfranchise. After a lukewarm reception to prior entries veering too far into blockbuster action, the series came back in a big way with 2017’sResident Evil 7and has been releasing hit after hit ever since. WithResident Evil 4 Remakebeing the most recent outstanding reimagining of a classic entry, all eyes are on the chances ofResident Evil 5being next in line for the same treatment (though many will also argue for aResident Evil: Code Veronicaremake).
While it received a positive enough reception at the time of release,Resident Evil 5has been subject to some criticism over the years, especially when compared to the landmark title that had just preceded it. If Capcom examines all aspects of howResident Evil 4 Remakewas developed and applies those same lessons to a possible new version ofResident Evil 5, then it could have another homerun on its hands.
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Incorporate The Modern Resident Evil Tone
Something that the recentResident Evilremakeshave been nailing lately is a chilling, consistent tone that seems to sum up everything that makes the series so entertaining. Just the right amount of horror, pulse-pounding action, and cheeky humor all blend together perfectly, with no element overshadowing one another too much. This is in contrast to what the series was like no more than a decade ago, withResident Evil 5being guilty of leaning into excessive action and excessively goofy moments (like the boulder punch QTE).
TheResident Evil 4 Remakebrought the game into the modern day, toning down theover-the-top 80s action movievibe for something more human at its core, all while still blowing the heads off of all things grotesque. If a newResident Evil 5can achieve the same effect, it would make for an even more enthralling experience. Perhaps flesh out the relationship between Chris and Sheva even further, making their bond over the course of the journey feel even stronger. Even more emphasis on environmental storytelling and subtle details for players to pick up on to heighten the story and connect to theResident Eviluniverse at large would be another nice touch.
Include Resident Evil 5’s DLC At Launch
As excellent as theResident Evil 4 Remakewas, it isn’t perfect and there are a few missteps thatResident Evil 5can learn from in the future. While as of this writing, it is unclear iforiginalRE4side storiessuch as “Separate Ways” will be remade as well and added to the base game. Even if this is added into the game in the future, it is arguably something that should have been included at launch, both as a nice bonus and to add more context to Ada as a character and her place in the overall storyline.
Resident Evil 5had its share of side content in the form of DLCs named “Lost in Nightmares” and “Desperate Escape.” While including these from the get-go would already be advisable, an extra treat would be to integrate them into the main game. “Lost in Nightmares” in particular served as a prequel to the events of the main game and serves as the springboard forChris Redfield’s personal journeythroughout the rest of the adventure. This can help makeResident Evil 5feel more complete from the start and give players a more fleshed-out and rewarding experience to enjoy.
A remake forResident Evil 5or any other past entry that has yet to receive thesame treatment from Capcomis yet to be confirmed; however, if it happens and it follows in the same footsteps as recent titles, then fans are in for even more action horror goodness. With a few minor tweaks and additions, the series can raise the bar even higher than it already is.
Resident Evil 5is available on PC, PS4, PS3, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
