Whether it’s the next entry in the series of franchise remakes from Capcom or not, aResident Evil 5remake is practically a foregone conclusion at this point. TheResident Evilremakes have proven to be a massive success for Capcom, both critically and commercially, and there are still plenty of titles for the studio to re-imagine in the same way that it has already remadeResident Evil 2,3, and this year’sResident Evil 4. That said, when the inevitable remake ofResident Evil 5arrives, fans should expect a title more tonally consistent withResident Evil 3thanResident Evil 2.
Despite being firmly entrenched in the similar horror-leaning tone of theResident Evil 2remake, some critics and fans were mixed on the remake ofResident Evil 3due to its greater focus on action. At the time of its release,Resident Evil 5was also criticized by fans for taking theResident Evilfranchise firmly into action game territory, building on the sea change brought about byResident Evil 4’s groundbreaking release and reception. ApotentialResident Evil 5remakehas the opportunity to rework some of the more action-oriented elements of the original for a greater emphasis on horror, but players shouldn’t expect a pure survival horror experience likeResident Evil 2.
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Resident Evil 5’s Setting Lends Itself to Action
It can’t be overstated how important lighting is in establishing the tone of a game. Especially when it comes to horror games, effective and well-implemented lighting can have a massive impact on the sense of tension that players are supposed to feel as they progress through a title. Case in point,the remake ofResident Evil 2. The originalResident Evil 2was already a certified survival horror classic, but the remake ratchets up the tension to 11 through clever use of darkness and shadow, leading to several moments where players would turn a corner or progress into a room only to get attacked by a zombie that wasn’t visible mere seconds earlier.
By sheer nature of its setting, it’s practically impossible forResident Evil 5to retain the same type of horror found inResident Evil 2’s remake. The sun-drenched streets and villages of Africa leave no room for shadows or darkness to conceal any awaiting threats. Even the underground temple sections feature plenty of torches and other lighting that leave every potential threat visible and well-telegraphed. There are certainly ways that Capcom could enhance the horror of these spaces in a remake, but outside a complete change of setting, it’s unlikely thatResident Evil 5’s remakewould match the same level of dread found inResident Evil 2.
The Co-Op Nature of Resident Evil 5 Means Players Are Never Alone
Resident Evil 2’s iconic duo of Claire and Leon are rarely together in the game outside the intro and epilogue, and even the companionship of Sherry and Ada is short-lived. Conversely, Chris and Sheva are together throughout the entirety ofResident Evil 5. This was obviously done to makeResident Evil 5the sole fully-cooperative experience in the franchise, and the result is that players are never truly alone. Even when playing solo, there’s a consistent AI companion to back the player up. This dual-protagonist approach to the game ensures that the title leans more into “buddy-cop” territory than the creeping dread and isolation found inResident Evil2’s Raccoon City.
Resident Evil 3has a similar problem with achieving the “horror” portion of its genre title thanks to numerous sections where Carlos and Jill are fighting side-by-side. While not true “dual-protagonists” like inResident Evil 5, thelater sections ofResident Evil 3see Jill and Carlos essentially working together to topple Nemesis and escape Raccoon City. It will be interesting to see how Capcom approaches a remake ofResident Evil 5and attempts to bring it more in-line with the more consistent tone established between the recent series remakes, but here again is a case where the design of the title lends itself more to action than horror.
Resident Evil 5is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
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