What The Involvement of Resident Evil 7’s Director Could Mean For RE9

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What The Involvement of Resident Evil 7's Director Could Mean For RE9

As a huge fan of the Resident Evil franchise, I’m thrilled to see that Koshi Nakanishi is returning to direct the next mainline installment, Resident Evil 9. Nakanishi has a rich history with the series, having directed three previous titles: Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, and Resident Evil: Revelations. Each of these games brought something unique to the franchise while staying true to its roots.

The Resident Evil series has had a steady stream of skilled developers join and depart throughout its history. Notably, some of the most revered Resident Evil developers are those who helmed the creation of fan-favorite entries in the franchise. For instance, Shinji Mikami, the director of Resident Evil 1 and 4, and Hideki Kamiya, the director of Resident Evil 2, continue to be highly respected figures in the gaming world even decades later.

Since the initial release of “Resident Evil” in 1996, a total of eight primary editions have been unveiled, accompanied by more than 20 spin-offs or remakes. The majority of these projects have seen new leadership. However, in an unexpected twist, it’s been announced that Koshi Nakanishi, the director behind “Resident Evil 7,” will helm the next major installment in the franchise. Nakanishi has previously worked on several “Resident Evil” titles, and these previous works could offer fans some insights into what they might anticipate from “Resident Evil 9.”

What Koshi Nakanishi Can Bring to Resident Evil 9

Koshi Nakanishi’s Past Work on the Resident Evil Franchise

In the realm of “Resident Evil” directors, Koshi Nakanishi stands out for his remarkable productivity. Most “Resident Evil” directors are associated with just one or two titles. In contrast, Koshi Nakanishi has already taken the helm for a total of three “Resident Evil” games. It’s now officially announced that he is working on his fourth project in this series. The first “Resident Evil” game under Koshi Nakanishi’s direction was 2009’s “Resident Evil 5,” where he made significant contributions as a designer.

Two years after his first assignment, Koshi Nakanishi took over as the main lead for a new installment in the “Resident Evil” series. This time it was “Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D,” an exclusive title for Nintendo 3DS. Although not a fully-fledged “RE” game, it showcased impressive capabilities on the platform and marked a strong debut for Nakanishi as a director. However, only two years later, he was entrusted with more authority, directing “Resident Evil: Revelations,” a game that received critical acclaim and paid homage to the original series during a period when the franchise was drifting away from its roots with each subsequent release.

Following his successful work on “Mercenaries 3D” and “Revelations,” Koshi Nakanishi was granted the opportunity to lead the development of the next major installment in the Resident Evil series. In the wake of the disappointing response to “Resident Evil 6,” there was significant anticipation for Nakanishi to revitalize the franchise. With “Resident Evil 7,” he accomplished this feat by returning the series to its horror foundations while incorporating an innovative first-person perspective and a chilling new antagonist.

How Resident Evil 9 Could Be Influenced by Koshi Nakanishi’s Past Work

With three successful Resident Evil projects to his name, Koshi Nakanishi brings valuable experience to the table as he takes the helm of the next major Resident Evil installment. In a recent statement, Nakanishi shared that he faced a challenge in determining the direction for the series following Resident Evil 7. However, he has since discovered a path, describing it as “meaningful.” While this comment should not be taken as definitive evidence, it hints at the possibility of an innovative new direction for the franchise, while some of Nakanishi’s signature elements are expected to remain.

One of the most common praises of both Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil 7 was the games’ excellent use of claustrophobic spaces, capturing the oppressive atmosphere of the original games and emphasizing the survival part of “survival horror.” According to some recent rumors, Resident Evil 9 could be going open-world, which would be antithetical to Nakashini’s previous game structures, though fans can probably still expect RE9 to embrace the series’ roots just as Nakanishi’s past games have.

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2024-07-14 15:04