The Resident Evil games have portrayed many different styles and overall themes, with the identity of the IP being an ever-shifting one. While the franchise has always maintained its horror elements, the way in which they are delivered has changed between the mediums of both third-person and first-person gameplay over its many installments.
These two gameplay avenues are apparent in Resident Evil now more than ever, with many fans arguing over which perspective is a better fit for the franchise. While both perspectives have their pros and cons, there is one not so obvious element of third-person Resident Evil games that offers a huge advantage over their first-person counterparts: easily viewable cosmetics.
Cosmetics in Resident Evil
Of course, the primary difference between third-person and first-person perspectives is the level of immersion they both foster. While third-person modes can be immersive, they give the player character a standalone feel where the player is simply watching their story unfold. On the other hand, first-person offers a perspective that puts the player at the forefront of the action at the cost of making the main character less of an on-screen presence.
This has led to fiery debate regarding the impact these perspectives have on gameplay, with fans arguing how each perspective changes the effectiveness of horror and atmosphere within a given title. Despite this common point of debate, the biggest benefit of third-person installments to the franchise actually stems from the in-game cosmetics that they foster. With the player being able to physically see their character at all times, third-person Resident Evil games are renowned for the often wacky costumes that can be equipped to both the protagonists and support characters.
The Benefits of Resident Evil Cosmetics
The benefits of third-person Resident Evil cosmetics was recently highlighted with the March release of the Resident Evil 4 remake. There are fourteen outfits that players can choose for Leon and Ashley within the game, with many being tied to optional objectives and requiring in-game currency to unlock. Many of these outfits relate to completing the game on certain difficulties, giving huge appeal to the replayability of the title and encouraging numerous New Game+ playthroughs.
These outfits allow the player to re-experience the game from a whole new perspective, with the most eccentric outfits usually being locked behind the highest difficulties. This directly contrasts more recent first-person franchise titles, such as 2021's Resident Evil Village. Although the game showcases memorable characters, there is no available cosmetic changes for the title. Village makes a point of never showing its protagonist's face, yet its many supporting characters are also locked to their default skins.
The available cosmetics within the Resident Evil 4 remake were one of the biggest talking points behind the well-received title. Some cosmetics even have in-game benefits, such as Ashley's suit of armor, which makes Ashley invulnerable to attacks when worn. This makes unlocking the cosmetics an even more attractive prospect, and offers an entirely new gameplay element that is not available within the franchise's first-person counterparts.
It remains that the Resident Evil franchise could add cosmetics to the supporting characters of its first-person games, though Capcom seems to be keeping cosmetics exclusively to third-person installments. While it is undeniable that the constant protagonist visual of third-person perspectives is a much better fit for cosmetics, the benefits behind these costumes means it would be good to see them extended to first-person releases in the future.
Resident Evil 4 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.