Resident Evil Should Give an Oversaturated Horror Tradition a Rest

Resident Evil Should Give an Oversaturated Horror Tradition a Rest

As a seasoned gamer with decades worth of experience under my belt, I must admit that I have witnessed the evolution of Resident Evil from its humble beginnings to the behemoth it is today. While I appreciate the tradition and formulaic nature of the franchise, there’s one trend that has worn thin over time: the relentless use of scary pursuer enemies.


Among all franchises, Resident Evil has run for so long that its patterns and conventions are highly predictable and repetitive. Yet, this predictability has often benefited Resident Evil, as it enables Capcom to recycle assets that carry a distinct personality and introduce new mechanics in subsequent games to maximize their potential.

In other words, the genre of each title typically hints at what elements Capcom might revisit for that series, whether it leans more towards action or horror. One recurring element from the horror genre could use a break in the next game, such as the pursuer enemy. It’s exciting to note that the remake of Resident Evil 4 introduced a parry mechanic effectively, but it might be beneficial for Resident Evil 9 to avoid using a pursuer unless they have an exceptional encounter planned for it, as its consistent appearance in new or remade Resident Evil games since the remake of Resident Evil 2 five years ago has started to feel repetitive.

Scary Pursuer Enemies Have Fallen Far from Resident Evil’s Fruitful Tree

In essence, throughout the Resident Evil series, there have been enemies that chase or follow the player, and these pursuers come in different forms of quality and importance. This is the reason why the trench coat-wearing antagonist stands out as a significant pursuer in the remake of Resident Evil 2.

In essence, the remake of Resident Evil 2 appears to have significantly enhanced and reinvented the terror potential of a certain enemy type in contemporary horror games. This concept seems to have served as inspiration for the remakes of Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, and even the upcoming remake of Resident Evil 4. Remarkably, while no pursuer since Mr. X in the Resident Evil 2 remake has been as impactful or intimidating, this emphasis on terror continues unabated.

In the original Resident Evil series, the main antagonist of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was known for being a relentless pursuer and earned the nickname “The Pursuer.” However, the heavily scripted Nemesis in the Resident Evil 3 remake might not evoke the same level of fear or awe as its earlier counterpart or even the Mr. X character from the Resident Evil 2 remake. Therefore, some argue that it has lost some of the prestige it once held over two decades ago.

Resident Evil’s Pursuers Have Lost Their Sheen and Deserve a Break

The matriarch of Castle Dimitrescu doesn’t pose the same threat to players as Mr. X does, and she isn’t conventionally scary. Similarly, Jack and Marguerite Baker can be evaded in creative ways throughout their estate patrols, even though encounters with them can feel suspenseful due to their ability to corner players in tight spaces like hallways or stairwell corners. This suggests how effectively the estate is designed to create a sense of claustrophobia rather than anything else about the characters themselves.

In the game “Resident Evil Village,” titled “Shadows of Rose,” one of the franchise’s top pursuers is found in the form of numerous lifelike Mia dolls that chase Rosemary Winters. These dolls move slowly and only hasten their mechanical limbs towards her when the players are not looking directly at them with the game’s camera.

In the updated version of Resident Evil 4, a scene similar to an adversary chase is when players find themselves cornered in a hallway with a Verdugo. However, this remake also included a swift, pre-scripted sequence where Mendez pursues the players alongside a horde of ganados. This indicates that Capcom has sought to repeat its pursuer trend in many Resident Evil games since the remake of Resident Evil 2. Given that not all of these have been executed effectively, it seems the studio could take a break from this type of enemy for now, focusing instead on exploring fresh gameplay ideas in Resident Evil 9 and beyond.

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2024-09-27 21:53