Resident Evil HD: 10 Essential Lessons Capcom Must Relearn
3. Emphasize Survival
The Resident Evil series wasnt originally about thrilling action, though you wouldnt think so given the current state of the franchise. Yes, the earlier games have elements of this, but it was merely one of many that contributed to the core design of exploration and survival. Over the years action has taken precedent over everything else, and the horror, once the priority, has been watered down. You cant even call the recent games survival horror; they are too action packed with very little survival to be had. The series is now less about exploration and fear and more about being led down linear corridors while shooting everything that moves. You know, like a typical shooter. We dont get many games like the remake anymore, which is why Capcom should forget the emphasis on action and go back to the slow, methodical pace of that game. A classically designed Resident Evil game enhanced and significantly improved by current technology would be just what this dwindling series needs right now. Obviously there should be some action in the game, but it should service the experience instead of defining it. Resident Evil is a horror series, and over the top action undermines that. If the series is to remain relevant to the genre it helped give birth to, Capcom needs to realise this going forward.
