Summary
In terms of immersion, one could argue that no current technology on the market can beat the offerings of virtual reality, and more franchises are beginning to explore the gaming mode’s advanced physics levels to bring unparalleled levels of fun to their releases. Capcom is one of the pioneers on this front, with the developer making noteworthy forays into VR, the most exemplary beingResident Evil 4, which earned the title ofBest VR/AR Gameat The Game Awards in 2021. AlthoughResident Evil 9has yet to be officially announced, fans have an idea of what to expect from theResident Evilfranchise – and after the release ofResident Evil Village’s VR mode, there’s a possibility the upcoming title will come to the headset. As with every potential new game, there are some pros and cons that Capcom will need to weigh before making a concrete decision.
TheResident Evilfranchise has prided itself on masterful quality releases since its inception in 1996, and recent projects likeResident Evil 4 Remakeshow that Capcom isn’t slowing down any time soon.Resident Evil Villageset the bar high forResident Evil 9with its performance, even expanding into a VR mode that allowed players to experience firsthand the horrors of a village run over by mutants in the search forEthan Winters' kidnapped baby daughter. Given the largely positive reviews, it stands to reason that Capcom will look to do the same forResident Evil 9. However, there are some areas for the developer to improve upon withRE9for its VR mode to be considered a success.
RE9 VR Has to Build on the Element of Stepping into a Nightmare
The first thing a virtual reality game has to nail is its visuals. Fortunately, Capcom has some experience delivering intense animations in VR, asResident Evil Village VRproved to be one of the better works of art in the futuristic headset.
Visuals and Added Tension Make a Case for RE9 to Get a VR Mode
The lore-accuratemassive depiction of Lady Dimitrescuand the attention to environmental detail vastly improved onRE4’s VR version, and the leap inspires some confidence a mode forRE9could be even better. The enhanced visuals are a plus for the franchise, and by itself poses a strong argument forResident Evil 9to get a VR mode, if only to give fans a real-life view of what it’s like to be a protagonist in the zombie universe.
Another strong argument forRE9to get a VR mode is the puzzle enhancementResident Evil Village VRsaw. Puzzles can feel like a tedious distraction from the standard game pace in mostaction RPGs. However,RE8VR added a sorely missed tension element to the otherwise boring dynamic. Fumbling with keys to open a door while being chased by malicious-looking creatures can really spike the heart rate in virtual reality, and placing more emphasis on such features could makeRE9’s prospective VR mode feel like something out of a cliche horror movie.
Reprojection Issues and Physics Pose a Problem for RE9
While there are solid reasonsRE9should feature a VR mode, Capcom still has a few things to work on for a smooth transition. Firstly, although thescary graphics were amongRE8VR’s strengths, it was also obvious at certain junctures that it was a 2D conversion to a 3D environment. A common complaint is the reprojection – which made text almost unreadable – and low resolution that got exposed when looking closely at items.
Hardcore virtual reality gamers are used to the polish ofgames likeHalf-Life: Alyx, and ifRE9is getting a VR mode, it needs to cut out the problems that hamper its best feature, perhaps by building a version for VR from scratch. Additionally, it’s essential for game physics to not feel wonky in a virtual reality setting.RE8VR, for the most part, did a fine job with its controls by accentuating blocking combat mechanics.
However, accessing the protagonist’s arsenal with the arms wasn’t as smooth as players expected, and basic handling such as opening cabinets could prove frustrating. It’s left for Capcom to assess whether a VR mode inResident Evil 9can top the experience fromResident Evil Village, but for any future version to compete with the big players in the industry, it needs to refine some of its elements.
