Resident Evil, one of the most renowned and revered series’ in PlayStation antiquity, is at a crossroads as of late. Its fans have become increasingly disillusioned by the gung-ho, action-orientated direction series developer Capcom has taken for the past number of years, starving the franchise of its once great horror bedrock. The critically tepid reception its newest mainstream iteration garnered was enough to send anxious tremors throughout the Capcom boardroom, leading many to speculate as to what steps the ailing developer would take to rectify and once again champion its premier horror franchise. And now with ex-Capcom chieftain Shinji Mikami lurking in the sidelines, ready to usurp with the blood-soaked promise of The Evil Within, Resident Evil’s plight becomes all the more pressing.



Should it continue down the boulder-punching, Umbrella-conspiring, roundhouse-kicking path, or head squarely back to the drawing board and revisit what made the series a monumental success in the first instance? Alas, fear not, concerned fans, the answers are forthcoming. We at PSU are here to quell any such worry of the series’ direction by laying out the considered blueprint for getting it back to the upper echelons of gaming esteem it once so rightly sat upon. Pin your ears back, Capcom. Here’s how to get Resident Evil back on track.



Inject some well-worn atmosphere



The biggest aspect of a bygone Resident Evil – and the one which has fallen most foul at the face of the series’ modern transition – is undoubtedly the atmosphere. Long gone is that pervading sense of dread and unease which used to permeate every footstep, instead it’s now replaced with a direct sense of urgency more in tandem with the modern single-player shooter. This shift in emphasis is something that needs to be rectified immediately if Capcom wishes to usher in a new era on PlayStation 4. Players must feel that sense of hopelessness and immersion which was conducive to the Resident Evil of old; the slow plodding pace, masterful use of the score, and distinct sense of vulnerability are wholly required for that quintessential experience to rear its head once again. Setting will undoubtedly play an intrinsic part in this procession and it is imperative that Capcom look to inject a more believable scenario into the game’s narrative; rather than having muscle-bound, karate-versed super soldiers whose nine-to-five job is seemingly decapitating hordes of the undead with well-placed heel kicks, let’s see a character who’s unfamiliar with the run of play, a regular flatfoot who’s thrust into the gravest of events and must use cunning and know-how to emerge alive. Or just give us Barry Burton.

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Stress the necessity of survival



In line with the assertion that the game’s atmosphere needs a hefty rethink, surely the same must be said for the claim that Resident Evil still resides in the realm of survival horror; the inclusion of a points tally and the plethora of ammo at hand throughout its campaigns have been to the detriment of series, detracting from what’s been at the core since its inception. If Resident Evil wishes to still include itself in a genre which now boasts the likes of Amnesia and Penumbra it’ll have ditch the frivolities and greet players with a hard-nosed, unforgiving struggle where ammo is scarce and environment’s claustrophobic. Instead of trying to cater for all audiences with a wide, protracted set of campaigns with no central focus, create one finely-honed one-player-only experience – where survival is paramount and where the protagonist doesn’t have much of an upper hand over that of the enemy. Allow players to strategize and plan by re-imagining the inventory system once again and revive the much-loved sanctity of the save room. Create the sort of tension and survival-focused gameplay that will make the latter a welcome necessity, and also overhaul the damage system, allowing for prolonged affliction which will prove fatal if unattended to.



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Hark back to the old guard



Following the outcry by fans over the pronounced lack of traditional zombies in both the fourth and fifth instalments Capcom tried to appease all fronts by including them in Resident Evil 6. The result was a muddled contortion of a series staple, and something that just didn’t feel quite right. The inclusion of traditional monsters needs to be complemented by an appropriate atmosphere, and that’s something which Capcom can look to rectify in the future. It makes little sense packing a wide space with hoards of easily disposable zombies, they simply lose any semblance of being a threat. However, have a slow-paced, deep-voiced zombie slither towards the corner of a narrowed corridor where you’re housed with little ammo and it becomes an entirely different experience; the game must look to exploit the players’ peril, not handhold through droves of enemies. A consistent threat a la Nemesis is always a welcome addition, too – provided the pacing is carefully conceived so as to not upset the balance of the gameplay and narrative. If done correctly the medial zombie can pose as much of issue as a ravenous Licker or Hunter, and that’s what the developers need to understand: sometimes bigger isn’t always better; cut back and finely-tune an experience rather than go for the huge spectacle and you’ll plainly see which produces a more desired effect.



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Revamp the online – but with a familiar touch



While there have been plaudits in abundance for some of Resident Evil’s newer online multiplayer additions, the focus has always been isolated from whatever muddled central theme the main campaign’s tried to convey. As a result it’s seemed like a little bit of a missed opportunity, especially given the flawed yet interesting premise expressed by the Outbreak series some years previously. The idea of ditching the standard deathmatch set-up and replacing it with a fully-revamped version of the Outbreak format is tantalizing; scouring the cityscape for provisions, rounding up online survivors into a makeshift base camp, battling rival factions for supplies and attempting to escape the horror is a concept which would induce feverish excitement in even the most reserved of Resi fans. The standard gunplay fodder is still present with the aforementioned factional warfare, but the focus would be shifted to that of survival, rather than just simply totting up as many bodies as possible in an allotted time. Players could select from a set amount of meagre loadouts and attempt to join up with a number of other survivors or instead go it alone against near insurmountable odds, staving off rival players as well as hordes of the undead.



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It’s not all doom and gloom



Let’s us not forget the advancements present in the more recent Resident Evil games, however minimal it’s been. All things considered, they’re very competent action games which do serve a purpose, insofar as they continue the ever-expanding narrative arch and provide blasts and thrills in equal measure. The issue lies with the fact that from an objective standpoint, they’re simply not great Resident Evil games. That said, in more than one way they’ve improved on the shortcomings which had plagued the series’ PS2 transition back in the early ‘00s. The over-the-shoulder camera angle has been a revelation since its deployment in Resident Evil 4 and should rightly continue its stay, as should the character and creature design which has hit new heights, too. The fluid controls found in Resident Evil 6 would serve well in a more fear-induced, claustrophobic environment – albeit without the excessive melee capabilities and some of the pace. So it makes sense for Capcom to take its spruced-up gameplay back to the more atmospheric setting of yesteryear so that it can really thrive in its optimal condition.

Do you agree with the above points or have any thoughts of your own? Give us your views on what you want to see in Resident Evil 7 below.