Summary
WithResident Evil 9on the horizon, longtime fans of the seminal survival horror franchise are surely wondering how it will add to the already stellar lineup of modern Capcom games. Indeed, the studio behind IPs likeResident EvilandDevil May Cryhas been churning out hit after hit these past few years, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few rough areas that need to be sanded down.
Pretty mucheveryResident Evilgamemanages to set an enthralling stage. The convoluted, B-movie quality of the series' lore is propped up by unforgettable characters like Ada Wong, Leon Kennedy, and Chris Redfield (alongside some more milquetoast ones like Ethan Winters). What these characters lack in depth and complexity is made up for with campy charm and heroic antics, and the franchise has produced more than a few gaming icons during its nearly three-decade run. At the same time, the often surface-level portrayals of these characters can make it hard for them to connect with each other, which is a problem when the story seems to want them to.
Resident Evil 9 Has to Land Its Interpersonal Relationships
Resident Evil’s In-Game Friendships Are Often Weak
From hard-hittingdramatic series likeThe Last of Usto more light-hearted fare likeRatchet and Clank, plausible, captivating relationships abound in gaming. ButResident Evilcan sometimes feel behind the times in this regard, as the chemistry between many of its lead characters can often feel forced and awkward, even as the series grows more cinematic and high-fidelity.
In theResident Evil 2remake, for instance, Claire and Leon only cross paths a few times and only briefly, but the tone of their interactions seems to suggest that they care for each other the way close friends would—the game gestures towards bonds that haven’t been formed.Resident Evil 3’s Jill and Carloshave a similar dynamic, where their closeness feels a bit unnatural.
But nowhere is this befuddling approach to character interactions more apparent than in the Winters games. InResident Evil Village, Ethan meets a woman named Elena who, after less than 10 minutes of screen time, dies in a fire. This is tragic, of course, but Ethan acts personally affected by it, screaming “Why does everybody keep dying on me?” and the whole scene has the tone of a much more intimate, moving loss.
Though theirtime inResident Evilis brief, Mia and Ethanare fairly believable as husband and wife (if a bit underdeveloped), but the latter’s relationship with Zoe falls victim to the same pitfalls as the aforementioned bonds: it’s forced and not properly developed, which causes issues when the game wants players to be torn between saving her or Mia.
Building Better Relationships in Resident Evil 9
Resident Evilis not bereft of good character dynamics, despite some notable awkwardness.Leon and Ashley inResident Evil 4is probably the best relationship in the series, as their interactions feel natural and understandable, and they have a good bit of chemistry to boot. More importantly, they are given time to develop a relationship, as they are together for most of the game and rely on each other in clear, direct ways; when Ashley is worried about Leon and vice-versa, it’s palpable, as the game builds their connection over the course of several hours.
Last year’sResident Evil 4remake evolves Leon and Ashley’s relationship, making it even more relatable, natural, and balanced, so perhaps Capcom is moving in the right direction when it comes to character interactions. IfResident Evil 9can translate some ofRE4’s strong narrative qualities, giving in-game relationships room to grow naturally rather than asserting their importance, then its story could be all the better for it.
Resident Evil 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Survival is just the beginning.Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.
