This Resident Evil Spin-Off Deserves a Second Chance, But With a Big Change

This Resident Evil Spin-Off Deserves a Second Chance, But With a Big Change

As a die-hard Resident Evil fan who’s survived countless zombie apocalypses and Biohazard incidents, I can confidently say that Umbrella Corps was a missed opportunity. It had potential to be a great spin-off, but unfortunately, it fell short in many aspects. However, with a few tweaks and a fresh perspective, this concept could very well become the game we’ve all been waiting for.


The Resident Evil series, initially launched in 1996, has produced over 16 spin-off titles. Regrettably, many of these spin-offs haven’t enjoyed the same level of success as the main series installments. Games such as Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles garnered positive reviews, but a majority of Resident Evil spin-offs have been met with criticism from both critics and fans.

Spin-offs from the Resident Evil series often face criticism because they tend to veer away from the fundamental aspects that make the franchise appealing to fans. A prime example is 2016’s Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps, which ranks among the weakest spin-offs in the series. However, even this game had some interesting concepts that could be improved upon with significant modifications, potentially leading to a successful revival.

Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps Could Work With a Major Change

Umbrella Corps Was a Panned Spin-Off

In June 2016, sandwiched between “Resident Evil: Revelations 2” and “Resident Evil 7,” “Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps” is often remembered as one of the most notorious spin-offs in the long-running horror series. One of Capcom’s many endeavors to transform the “Resident Evil” series into a multiplayer format, “Umbrella Corps” was a rather fundamental competitive shooter game where players fought each other on dull maps inspired by some of the most iconic locations in the series.

In summary, the video game titled “Umbrella Corps” has received largely unfavorable reviews, with scores of 38 for its PlayStation 4 version and 36 for its PC counterpart on Metacritic. The highest rating it managed to secure was a 61 from one review, while an overwhelming 78% of the 55 reviews gave it a score below 50. Critics often pointed out that Umbrella Corps lacked content, depth, had stiff shooting controls, weapons were unbalanced, there was minimal progression, and it fell short in terms of overall quality and presentation, especially for a AAA game.

Umbrella Corps’ Concept Could Work in a New Gameplay Setting

Although the gameplay and visuals of Umbrella Corps were not up to par, the underlying concept wasn’t fundamentally flawed. The game is set 13 years after the downfall of the pharmaceutical corporation Umbrella, where players assume control of a mercenary working for one of ten organizations seeking Umbrella’s remaining research. This idea aligns well with Resident Evil’s timeline and backstory, offering a premise that could be worth revisiting.

Capcom’s remakes of the Resident Evil series have been among its biggest hits, but for those who joined the franchise with these reboots, there are significant gaps in the timeline. It could be intriguing to explore the concept of Umbrella Corps in a future installment of Resident Evil, providing context about Umbrella’s decline and the subsequent consequences for newcomers.

Another intriguing option for a spin-off could be a reinterpretation focusing on the decline of Umbrella, a theme that’s hinted at in the light gun game titled “Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles“.

Absolutely, to ensure success in a revamped version of the game called “Umbrella Corps“, some significant alterations are necessary. Primarily, the multiplayer aspect should be replaced. A refreshed take on “Umbrella Corps” could offer players an immersive single-player experience lasting around 4 to 6 hours. In this narrative, players would assume the role of a mercenary in search of Umbrella’s remaining research. This pursuit leads them to encounter long-abandoned Bio-Organic-Weapons.

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2024-10-06 01:35