Resident Evil 9 Could Change the Franchise Forever – Will It Follow Star Wars’ Legacy?

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Two key factors contributing to the enduring allure of the survival-horror series, Resident Evil, are its longevity and adaptability over almost 30 years. For quite some time, it has maintained a strong connection with Umbrella’s shady pharmaceutical corporation, but with its latest release, Resident Evil Village, it has demonstrated that its creative reservoir is far from empty.

It’s unavoidable for players to prefer certain games or parts of a series over others, given how significantly the franchise has progressed and redefined its established norms since 1996.

Star Wars’ extensive intellectual property primarily revolves around the Skywalker saga, which serves as its foundation, with other Star Wars projects fitting somewhere within the timeline that the original three trilogies have set up. These trilogies include the originals, prequels, and sequels, covering a significant timeframe from Episode 1: The Phantom Menace to Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars is known for its distinct eras, and similarly, Resident Evil will also have its own unique periods once Resident Evil 9 comes out. Consequently, Resident Evil 9 might aim to maintain continuity rather than causing as much controversy as The Rise of Skywalker did, to prevent damaging the trilogy it completes.

Resident Evil’s Eras Illustrate the Franchise’s Adaptability

The Resident Evil series doesn’t fit neatly into a single category. On a larger scale, it spans approximately three trilogies, and within these trilogies, there are numerous side stories that are both minor and major, like Resident Evil Survivor, Resident Evil Outbreak, and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles.

As a dedicated fan, I’m currently immersed in the intriguing chronology of the “Resident Evil” series, which is divided into two distinct eras prior to the release of “Resident Evil 9”. The classic trilogy, reminiscent of retro gaming, features games with tank controls and fixed camera angles, while the subsequent trilogy leans more towards action-packed gameplay, showcasing over-the-top characters and dialogues along with cinematic flair.

Instead of traditional three-part series, these aren’t that either, but they do maintain connections across them, although these links could be as simple as a shared atmosphere or gameplay style. The third main phase of the Resident Evil series, depending on how Resident Evil 9 chooses to proceed, can be described as a horror-focused trilogy that infuses modern elements into the Resident Evil franchise’s original survival-horror design with puzzle elements.

Resident Evil 9 Has the Honor of Crowning Three Trilogy Eras

Concluding the storyline of Resident Evil with Village and its Shadows of Rose DLC, it’s hard to predict exactly what awaits players in Resident Evil 9 or if this ninth installment will resemble its predecessors at all. Resident Evil 9 doesn’t necessarily have to be a direct continuation of Resident Evil 7 or Village, much like the transition from the original Resident Evil to Resident Evil 2 was quite dramatic. However, focusing on Chris Redfield and his adventures at the BSAA headquarters in Europe could create a strong connection between the seventh, eighth, and ninth games in the series.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but anticipate that just like Star Wars, Resident Evil will also be characterized by its distinct eras, and the release of its ninth mainline installment will only solidify this.

It seems unlikely that Capcom would have left the story in Village hanging so dramatically if they were not planning to continue with Resident Evil 9. However, this theory about a trilogy would be disproven if Resident Evil 9 departs from the horror genre or deviates significantly from the shared tone of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village. It remains to be seen whether Resident Evil 9 will continue the dark fantasy elements introduced in Village, or if it will take a different direction. Only time will reveal its intentions.

In essence, following its ninth primary series release, the “Resident Evil” franchise will primarily be recognized by three trilogies, which serve as a supportive structure for every other “Resident Evil” game, much like a spine of lore. Given the wild and extravagant narratives in “Resident Evil” games, this structure plays a crucial role in helping players understand the current state of the world and the past ordeals experienced by characters.

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2025-05-17 03:35