Long before remakes of AAA games were a surefire success, Capcom took a risk and remade the original Resident Evil for the GameCube. In the process, Capcom unexpectedly established a bar of quality for remakes moving forward, showing that it was possible to pay homage to the original title's mechanics and aesthetic while updating more than just graphical fidelity. After being rumored for nearly a decade, 2019 saw the anticipated release of the Resident Evil 2 remake.
The release and reception of Resident Evil 2 served to prove that Capcom had a winning formula on its hands, and it was one that the studio proceeded to run with over the last several years. While the remake of Resident Evil 3 was enjoyed by many, the recent remake of Resident Evil 4 shows that this formula continues to be successful for Capcom and that fans can't seem to get enough of the Resident Evil remake series. With so many options for where Capcom could apply the remake treatment, players are likely in store for a continued franchise renaissance.
The Success of Resident Evil 4's Remake Proves Capcom Has Hit Its Stride
Despite a gap of almost 20 years between the GameCube re-imagining of Resident Evil and the arrival of Resident Evil 2's remake, both Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4's remakes arrived in relatively rapid succession. What's admirable about Capcom's approach to each of the remakes in the Resident Evil franchise is their ability to maintain a consistently dark and foreboding tone, bringing the series firmly back into its horror roots.
With Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 being what many considered a bridge too far regarding those games' action film-inspired plots and gameplay, the series received a desperately needed shot in the arm with Resident Evil 7 and has arguably hit a franchise peak since. Some were concerned about Capcom's choice to remake Resident Evil 4 considering that it is held by many as the best entry in the series, but the critical and commercial reception of the game render those concerns unfounded.
Capcom has now established that its formula of releasing a remake of a classic Resident Evil title in-between releasing numbered sequels benefits both fans and Capcom itself. This is especially true of the recent Resident Evil 4 remake. There are plenty of different options for which game in the series Capcom may choose to remake next, but as long as that title adheres to the consistent tone, tight third-person gameplay, and reverence to the source material of the other Resident Evil remakes, it's safe to say it'll be another win for the studio.
Resident Evil's Future As a Franchise is Ripe With Opportunity
From the Arklay Mountains to Raccoon City and, eventually, to the snow-capped hills of dilapidated Eastern Europe, the Resident Evil franchise has taken players on an incredible series of journeys across almost 30 years. Now that the Resident Evil 4 remake has released, it's likely that players will see Capcom announce some information regarding the existence and development of Resident Evil 9. But the question remains as to which game in the series will receive the remake treatment after the eventual release of the next main series sequel.
No matter which Resident Evil Capcom chooses to remake next, the future of the series is clear for the first time since its genesis. Capcom's success in remaking beloved titles from Resident Evil's history has served to inspire other studios to take a crack at remaking their own classic games, and this year saw the release of a Dead Space remake as well as an upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2. It's now clear that Capcom can see greater success and goodwill by staying true to Resident Evil's horror roots.
Resident Evil 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
