Highlights
- The success of the Resident Evil 4 Remake suggests that a Resident Evil 5 Remake is likely in the works, given its unique features and action-packed gameplay.
- The original Resident Evil 5 shifted the franchise towards an action-shooter focus, which may pose a challenge for the remake to balance the series' past and present while modernizing its gameplay.
- The remake of Resident Evil 5 will have to live up to the high standard set by the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes, which redefined their respective titles for a modern generation.
Following the immense success of the Resident Evil 4 Remake, the stage appears set for a Resident Evil 5 Remake to be right around the corner. The original Resident Evil 5 was a turning point for the survival-horror franchise, introducing a series of unique features and action-focused setpieces. However, its role in the overall shift of the Resident Evil franchise has led the title to acquire a somewhat infamous reputation. Resident Evil 2 Remake and Resident Evil 4 Remake have set a high bar for developer Capcom's modern re-imaginings, doubling down on the horror that made them so popular in their heyday.
Resident Evil 5's expected remake has yet to be officially announced, but the title is a natural choice for Capcom's next endeavor. The original title is infamous for shifting the Resident Evil franchise towards an action-shooter focus, a focus that progressed to the extreme in Resident Evil 6. In the years since, the Resident Evil franchise has doubled down on its survival horror roots, with the recent remakes and the Ethan Winters saga celebrated as a return to form for the series. Resident Evil 5 Remake has a tough task ahead, as it must balance the series' past and present while modernizing the original's unique gameplay elements.
Resident Evil 5 Remake Must Contend with the Original Title's Reputation
The Resident Evil 5 Remake may have trouble overcoming the original's reputation as it marked a dramatic shift in nearly every aspect of gameplay. Rather than a slow and cautious journey through a horror-infused laboratory or dark and mysterious village, Resident Evil 5 took returning protagonist Chris Redfield and BSAA Operative Sheva Alomar through a guns-blazing, cinematically-charged adventure through Kijuju, a fictional West African region. While the series' trademark viruses and genetically engineered bioweapons were once again featured, the title valued quantity over quality. Instead of strategically facing their foes, Chris and Sheva were often tasked with defeating waves of enemies in mob ambush setpieces.
Resident Evil 5 was not without its strengths, as the title's co-op gameplay and late-game narrative offered a compelling Resident Evil experience. Fan-favorite characters like Jill Valentine and Albert Wesker are featured heavily in the game's plot, which also elaborated on Project W and a prior encounter in which Chris and Jill faced Wesker during a raid on the Spencer Estate. Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition featured an additional scenario, Lost in Nightmares, that allowed players to experience this raid first-hand, discovering the fate of Umbrella Co-Founder and President Oswell E. Spencer and the detailed events leading to Jill's disappearance.
The Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 Remakes Have Set A Nearly Impossible Standard
Reputation aside, the Resident Evil 5 Remake has a high bar to live up to, as both the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes re-defined their respective titles for a modern generation. Both received critical and commercial acclaim for their distinct brand of balancing gameplay and horror, with the Resident Evil 4 Remake being heralded by some as one of the greatest survival horror titles of all time. This success may set a standard that Resident Evil 5 Remake finds impossible to meet. With the original's focus on action-based horror and cooperative combat, the remake will need to redefine its strengths to carve out its own identity.
While the Resident Evil 5 Remake has yet to be announced, Capcom has announced an appearance at Tokyo Game Show 2023. Some fans believe that the presentation will see the reveal of both Resident Evil 9 and the series' next big remake. However, old rumors suggest that a Resident Evil Code: Veronica remake may be the developer's next big project. With less than a month until the Resident Evil Showcase, fans don't have long to wait until the series' future is possibly revealed.
A Resident Evil 5 remake is rumored to be in development.
