Capcom has found a seemingly effective strategy for dealing with theirResident Evilfranchise. The publisher has been alternating new releases with remakes of classic titles likeResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3.A lot of excitement has built up around the upcomingResident Evil Villageand simultaneously around the seemingly-accurate rumors around a remake ofResident Evil 4. While not officially confirmed, it seems likely that a remake is coming, and with that Capcom should take one factor into consideration.
Resident Evilreally solidified the survival-horror genre, and with that has certain responsibilities to the format it pioneered. One issue that some players have had with the series as a whole has been the slow transition from a survival-horror title. into a much more action-oriented experience. This, throughout the franchise, can feel much more like Capcom’s other supernatural franchiseDevil May Crythan a realistic horror game like whatResident Evilbegan life as. But with aResident Evil 4remake likely on the horizon, it may be good for Capcom to avoid some of the visual changes it’s made with otherResident Evilcharacters like Chris Redfield.
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Avoiding the Chris Redfield Effect for Leon S. Kennedy in a Resident Evil 4 Remake
Now thatResident Evilis reaching its 25th anniversary, a remake ofRE4seems more and more likely as time goes by. The pivotal entry in the franchise introduced elements that are now not just franchise but industry standard like the over-the-shoulder camera angle and its “realistic” inventory system. The originally GameCube exclusive title is still lauded by many as the best game in the franchise, but with an incipient remake seeming more and more likely, Capcom needs to doing to Leon what it’s done to Chris.
One thing that has madeRE5andRE6controversial amongst fans was the move from a more traditionally horror setting and gameplay format to something more closely resembling popcorn flick superhero movies. WhileRE5andRE6definitely have merits upon which to stand, many veteran fans were upset with the direction the games had taken. A physical and visual representation of this shift is obvious in the character models designed for Chris Redfield, a series staple even more long relevant thanRE4protagonist Leon S. Kennedy. With development of anRE4remake reportedly years in the making, it’s hopeful that Capcom has considered the ramifications of visually altering one of its most iconic characters.
Resident Evilfans are very familiar with Chris Redfield, and one thing that has irked some long-time players has been the changes between his character from the original to his appearance in the remake of the originalResident Evil. While not adhering to the same rules as many survival-horror games likeSilent Hill,Resident Evilhas taken the concept of a “normal” special forces agent to near-superhuman levels. In the remake of the originalResident Evilis where this is most evident. The original PS1 classic saw Chris as a well-trained but still human law enforcement agent turned into a near Captain America level supersoldier who would later be able to punch boulders to pieces inResident Evil 5.
While a seemingly small detail in the visual choices made for the firstREremake, this has implications on later games as Chris evolved from a normal law enforcement agent into a nearly Tyrant-sized figure in the recent trailers forResident Evil Village. Hopefully though, as excitement builds for a remake of the classicRE4which has clearly had an impacton the upcoming new game, Leon will be exempt from such a massive change to his character design. So much of what made Leon compelling was the move from a fledgling police officer inRE2to a Secret Service agent inRE4.
Excitement about theResident Evilfranchise in general is at a fever pitch, partly because of Capcom’s commitment to both new and reimagined IPs within the series. And with obvious parallels being drawn betweenRE VillageandRE 4being drawn, many fans are hoping that Capcom learns from arguably small visual discrepancies and are able to keep Leon S. Kennedy a more humanistic figure inside of a superhuman storyline.
