Here's what we want to see from Resident Evil 9
Capcom has finally given a morsel of flesh to feast on when it comes to the next Resident Evil, with July 1's showcase confirming that the legendary Koshi Nakanishi returning to direct. Those familiar with the franchise will know Nakanishi took the series back to its horror roots with Resident Evil 7.
While we were originally told there was going to be a Winters Triogy, it looks like at least some of that story has been polished off in the Shadows of Rose DLC. Meanwhile Nakanishi announcing he's working on the 'next' Resi game rather than RE9 means he's not fooling anyone. So, what do we want to see in Resident Evil 9?
A dystopian future
Click to enlargeThe end of Resident Evil Village gave us a 16-year time jump and picked up with an older Rose Winters. Although Chris Redfield doesn't appear, it's implied that he's the superpowered teenager's handler. The ever-complicated Resident Evil timeline starts with James Marcus discovering the Progenitor's ability back in 1967, but that seems like a distant dream.
Shadows of Rose put us firmly in 2037 (with Village's main story taking place in 2021). We already got a more mature Chris in the main game, but we want to see how the world's gone to sh*t with the various Umbrella/BSAA organisations fighting for power.
Capcom might be tempted to stick with putting RE9 in the present day, but we'd argue a technological jump to the future of bioweapons would be more interesting. Age is just a number, and with the series already cleverly navigating why Jill Valentine seemingly hasn't aged a day, our heroes don't all have to be nearing retirement.
Ada and Jill
Click to enlargeWith Ethan Winters seemingly out for the count, the question of Resident Evil 9's protagonists is the big one. Will we stick with just one lead, or will we return to the tried-and-tested idea of pairing two together? It seems more likely that two fan-favourites will step up, presumably splitting the campaign or getting us to pick between male and female.
Unspecified rumours claimed Jill Valentine and Leon S. Kennedy would be coming together for the first time, and if there's even a slither of truth to that, there's someone else we need to see in the mix. After being unceremoniously cut from Village's original concept, Ada Wong more than deserves a reprieve.
Fresh blood
Click to enlargeFamiliar faces are all well and good, but we also need some newcomers to the mix. Village did a decent job of putting The Duke in as a helping hand, but it was the heads of the Four Houses that really shone. Resident Evil 9 needs to give us some more protagonists to get behind, and while we wouldn't be against seeing Rose again, someone new could take the reins.
Importantly, it felt like Village was missing those side characters we love. Barry, Luis, Sheva, (not) you, Steve, Carlos, and the rest help bring this depressing world alive. Even if we expect the usual shock character departures, it's time to breathe some new life into the sometimes stale character roster. Still, just don't overdo it like RE6.
Less action
Click to enlargeWhile we're big fans of Village and its RE4-inspired gothic locale, it all felt like we rattled through it a bit quickly. Capcom presumably didn't realise it was onto a winner with Lady Dimitrescu, and arguably, the Castle Dimitrescu level was its best.
Things quickly went off the boil with reservoir and Moreau sections, while we fell into the ol' RE6 trap of putting action over scares for the Heisenberg finale. The problem with Resident Evil is that it tends to lose its way when it steps outside the claustrophobic confines of the Spencer Mansion or Baker Ranch.
More horror
Click to enlargeThere's new hope for RE9 in the form of Nakanishi's involvement. Given that he directed the acclaimed RE7, he should be able to continue its legacy. Village had moments of horror like the pant-wetting House Benevieto moments, but on the whole, it dialled back the beloved horror that RE7 brought back to the series.
Whatever direction RE9 goes in, we need more of that pulse-pounding terror that we first experienced in 1996 and was resurrected for RE7. The Baker Ranch is one of the most terrifying locales to grace a horror game, and for those who've played the seventh mainline game in VR, you'll know there's a reason most haven't.
An open world
Click to enlargeOne thing Resident Evil has yet to capitalise on (but is rumoured to) is an open world. The hub of Village lets you wander off the beaten track a bit, but with most of the story locked to a linear path, there wasn't much room for exploration. If RE9 wants to feel like a truly new-gen game, it needs to go open-world.
We know this will be a lot more work for the devs, but with Tears of the Kingdom, Cyberpunk 2077, and Jedi: Survivor being just some of the critical and commercial smashes that have gone open-world, Capcom needs to follow suit. There are rumours that Monster Hunter Wilds will be open-world, so we'll have to see how that fares before we can judge.
Wesker
Click to enlargeDon't ask us how, but the franchise's de facto big bad has to return. Turning into a giant tentacled monster and being dumped into a volcano means nothing in the Resiverse, and if we really want RE9 to feel like a continuation of the story, we need a villain we can really get behind.
Despite masquerading as one of the good guys in 1996's original, Wesker's villain turn remains one of the franchise's best twists. He's since had starring roles in Code: Veronica and RE5, but like Jill's extended absence, we feel he's been out of our lives for too long. Namely, we just want him to chew the scenery with his cheesy dialogue.
Final thoughts
Click to enlargeIt's been a while, but with Capcom finally confirming the next Resident Evil is finally making some headway, those whispers of a 2025 release might not be as fanciful as they once seemed. The Resiverse has been on an upward trajectory since Nakanishi took us back to basics with RE7, so let's hope it continues.
With a beefy Capcom roadmap hopefully pencilling in a few more remakes of classic entries (we're looking at you, Code: Veronica), this drought could soon be over. Whether going in a bold new direction or harking back to those crumbling confines of the Spencer Mansion, we've got confidence that the team will nail it.
