Game developer Capcom has been wholeheartedly embracing theResident Evilseries with high-definition remakes alongside new additions to the franchise. Newer games in the series likeResident Evil Villagehave embraced a first-person perspective, whereas olderResident Evilgames used a third-person point of view. While both are useful to create different gaming experiences, Capcom continues to toe the line between the two. The current remakes maintain the same perspective that was used in the initial games, but there is one classicResident Evilgame that might be better off in the style ofResident Evil Village.
With theResident Evil 4remake changing its original gameand still finding major success, it’s clear that Capcom doesn’t need to keep everything identical to the source material with these endeavors. The originalResident Evilhasn’t been remade since the GameCube era, and while some fans may appreciate the original mechanics of the firstResident Evil, it might be better off getting a full overhaul and new perspective.
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The Potential of a First-Person Resident Evil Remake
Resident Evilinitially came out in 1996, but the iconic survival-horror game received a remake in 2002 for the GameCube that was later ported to Wii. An HD remaster of this remade version was also eventually playable on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, including new mechanics, altered puzzles, improved graphics, and additional areas to explore. This remake is likely the reason thatCapcom began with aResident Evil 2remakein 2019, but the 2002 remake ofResident Evildoesn’t hold a candle to newer attempts.
Resident Evilwas a truly terrifying experience when it was released, and the remake brought that horror to another generation, but its scares and gameplay don’t hold up as well after several decades.The firstResident Evilgame’s use of a fixed camera, its tedious and confusing puzzles, and its awkward puzzles make up a nostalgic charm now, but for a remake to stand a chance,Resident Evilwould need a massive facelift. Instead of attempting to approachResident Evilfrom the same third-person perspective, Capcom could improve it by tackling this classic entry in the first-person format ofResident Evil 7andVillage.
The premise ofResident Evilshares some similarities withResident Evil 7. After a series of horrific murders, the Raccoon City Police Department’s S.T.A.R.S. team ends up stranded and separated in an abandoned mansion on the outskirts of town. Just as Ethan Winters searches a decrepit estate for his missing wife inResident Evil 7,Chris Redfield and Jill Valentinemust search a terrifying mansion for the lost Bravo Team inResident Evil. InResident Evil 7and its sequel,Resident Evil Village, the first-person perspective created immense tension for players by making them personally explore the dangerous villages and properties that Ethan is making his way through while fending off zombies.
ApproachingResident Evilfrom an entirely new perspective wouldbenefit both old-school and newerResident Evilfans. For players who have completedResident Evilbefore, a new look at the mansion and horrible mutants inside would likely be a welcome revisit to the terror they felt the first time they booted up the game. For newer fans who got into the series with either7orVillage, the first-person perspective would be more familiar and approachable, allowing gamers that are intimidated by older titles to experience the characters and story that originated the series.
Resident Evil 4is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
