It’s Time for Resident Evil to Reprise a Long-Forgotten Feature

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It's Time for Resident Evil to Reprise a Long-Forgotten Feature

As a dedicated fan who has spent countless hours navigating through the terrifying landscapes of Raccoon City and beyond, I firmly believe that co-op campaigns should make a triumphant return to the Resident Evil franchise. Having experienced the thrill of battling hordes of undead monstrosities alongside fellow survivors in games like Resident Evil 5 and 6, I can attest to the unique camaraderie and tension that these experiences bring.

The Resident Evil franchise has undergone a series of permutations over the course of its decades-long tenure. From the early days of tank controls and crude graphics all the way to the photorealistic and action-movie qualities of the modern games and remakes, the franchise has exhibited a surprising degree of flexibility, shifting and reforming in whatever manner is necessary for success and innovation. Now, with Resident Evil 9 expected to take things in a new direction yet again, it will be interesting to see what else comes along to transform the series’ identity.

It’s no surprise that certain aspects of the Resident Evil series have garnered more popularity than others. During the eighth console generation, the series experienced a sort of ‘dark age’, moving away from survival horror towards more action-packed adventure games. However, Capcom showed flexibility and respect for its roots with the release of Resident Evil 7, demonstrating that the series can still be terrifying, suspenseful, and genuinely unsettling. It’s great that the franchise is returning to its scary roots, but perhaps not everything from its past needs to be discarded. Instead, a balance could be struck between innovation and reverence for the series’ history.

Resident Evil Ought to Bring Back Co-Op Campaigns

Proper Resident Evil Co-Op Is Surprisingly Rare

While many Resident Evil games offer multiplayer options, only a handful of titles within the franchise boast complete and well-designed cooperative campaigns. These include:

  • Resident Evil Outbreak
  • Resident Evil Outbreak 2
  • Resident Evil 5
  • Resident Evil 6

Despite not always being the fan favorites within the Resident Evil series, many players fondly recall the cooperative multiplayer features of games like Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6. These games’ cooperative modes are often seen as what saves them. After RE6, Capcom seemed to move away from fully integrated cooperative play in the main series, focusing instead on competitive multiplayer spin-offs like Resistance and Re:Verse. Going forward, it may be beneficial for Capcom to reconsider this approach and embrace more cooperative gameplay.

Campaign Co-Op Is a Great Fit for Resident Evil‘s Gameplay

Playing horror games like Resident Evil alone might be frightening, but the cooperative multiplayer aspect aligns perfectly with the core mechanics of the series. This is noticeable in RE5 and RE6 where players often face swarms of enemies that are more manageable with help, fostering chances for collaboration and strategic planning. Interestingly, these games can provide equally exhilarating and nerve-wracking experiences when played together with a friend, as the fear is distributed instead of being a solo endeavor.

In Resident Evil, fundamental elements such as resource management become richer with cooperative play. One player might have surplus ammo or healing supplies that another is short on, or may be full while the other has no space left. Conversely, the decision to risk everything and return to battle to aid a downed teammate introduces an extra dimension to gameplay. This dynamic enables players to create their unique stories during gameplay, which is one of the most enjoyable aspects of playing Resident Evil or any classic survival horror game in general.

It’s worth noting that the action-focused Resident Evil series tends to excel with this approach; it might seem challenging to envision the intense psychological horror of games like Resident Evil 7 thriving in a multiplayer setting. However, if Resident Evil 9 manages to blend horror and action effectively, similar to the best Resident Evil games, then cooperative multiplayer, whether online or local, could prove beneficial.

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2024-09-09 00:06