Highlights
- Some fans were divided on Resident Evil 5's more action-oriented direction, but a potential remake could rework moments to please a wider audience.
- Sheva's introduction as a secondary protagonist could benefit from a modern take that invests more in her character development and emotional depth.
- The infamous boulder punch moment in the game may need to be either changed or embraced further in a remake to better align with the series' overall tone.
Resident Evil 5 may just be next in line for one of the remakes Capcom has been putting out for the iconic horror franchise in recent years. The latest remake for Resident Evil 4 continued the impressive sales streak for these games, and the game that followed up Leon Kennedy's solo adventure in El Pueblo is likely what's getting a modern upgrade next.
Resident Evil 5 is where the series broke its hot streak a bit and began to polarize the fans. Some were appreciative of the more action-oriented direction that this installment took, and some felt that RE5 lost a lot of what made the series so renowned up to that point. The reception to this game and its follow-up Resident Evil 6 are large parts of what inspired the new approach that was taken to the series beginning with Resident Evil 7. Regardless of any personal feelings on this game, there are certainly moments that can be reworked in a potential remake to ensure that Resident Evil 5 pleases even more people this time around.
Sheva's Introduction to Resident Evil
Sheva's inclusion in Resident Evil 5 feels very rooted in the trends of 2000s gaming, a time when the innovations that led to the first era of video games with fairly realistic character models were utilized to put a lot more focus on female characters' bodies rather than their personalities. Sheva still manages to hold her own as a secondary protagonist, though, especially as a new character to the franchise paired with its most frequented legacy character.
However, Sheva is still not as well-rounded as she could have been, with many arguing that she is made more two-dimensional than she deserved to be. A modern take on the game would likely benefit from giving the player more of a reason to invest in Sheva on an emotional level, and hopefully the character will finally make another Resident Evil appearance outside just this game.
The Notorious Redfield Boulder Punch
It may be impossible to mention Resident Evil 5 without saying something about the boulder punch. It's just too flagrantly strange and out of place for a franchise that, up until Resident Evil 4, had protagonists that seldom felt like anything other than vulnerable humans just barely capable enough to handle the legions of horrifying threats in front of them.
This game takes a character who was hard-pressed to take on a couple of mutant dogs outside the Spencer Mansion in the first Resident Evil and beefs him up with little explanation as to how he's achieved this herculean level of strength. It is one of the most memorable moments from the entire Resident Evil series, but not for the right reasons, and thus the remake may benefit from changing it in some way—or leaning into it further, particularly with Heisenberg referring to it in Resident Evil Village​​​​​​.
A Different Approach To Jill Valentine
Even the most staunch Resident Evil 5 defenders tend to agree that the way this game handles Jill Valentine is just not necessary. Jill is one of the most iconic video game heroines of all time and this game essentially throws everything about her character away in favor of a cheap plot twist.
Similar to the Chris Redfield moment, the major Jill Valentine reveal moment in this game is such a stark leap from the character in the first game, as well as Jill's subsequent appearances between RE1 and RE5, that to many it just feels like an entirely different character. It may be best if a Resident Evil 5 remake simply gets rid of this moment altogether or allows her to have more screen time after she is rehabilitated. Either option would also better open the door for future Jill Valentine appearances in Resident Evil 9 or beyond.
A Resident Evil 5 remake is rumored to be in development.