Resident Evil has an identity crisis.

[Gvaedyn]

I haven't finished RE8 yet, so I'd like to keep this to a spoiler-free discussion.

Resident Evil has literally no idea what it wants to be. The series flitters between survival-horror to action-adventure, between having a semblance of realism to bizarre and surreal.

From a story perspective, It's all a matter of opinion I'm sure, but often times I cannot comprehend how the earlier titles even fit into the same universe as the latest. Resident Evil 1, 2 and 3 was basically a story about mutated creatures / humans that come about because of some evil corporation. It's not "realistic", certainly, but there was some element of it being believable. From those games onward, it entered into the realm of pure fantasy; sludge monsters, telekinesis, vampires. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I've never felt that the writers have been able to weave in a solid foundation as to how the later mutations (read: super powers) actually link in with what's came before, nor do I actually think it fits within it's own narrative.

Then there's the genre. Resident Evil 2 remake was very well received because it demonstrated the strength this franchise can possess; an environment where every resource matters, where taking on the enemy isn't always the best course of action, and there's jump / ambient scares a-plenty. RE8 seems to have gone back to an action focus which, whilst not a bad thing, I feel detracts from what could be a better experience.

Just my two cents.

EDIT:

Thanks for a good discussion, folks! It's always nice to see an intelligent, mature debate. However, for those of you who default to insults because an opinion is different to yours...please grow up.

[Chibi Life]

I stopped caring, RE 4-6 (and various spinoffs) basically set the stage for the franchise becoming a mindless action game, mind you 4 was pretty good but you could really feel the direction Capcom was going to go after that.

RE7 returned RE to its survival horror routes, albeit different, but you know I'd rather have Capcom continue making survival horror games, even under the RE franchise name, than go back to the utter trash they were pumping out before. So if Capcom wants to fill my RE world with werewolves, vampires and gargoyles then so be it as long as they're keeping it scary and keeping the survival horror elements intact.

[KripTed]

RE4 was the last good Resident Evil, after that, it just started getting bad. 7 and 8 don't look like Resident Evil at all. You're absolutely right. This game has an identity problem. To anyone who thinks RE7 went back to it's survival horror routes is obviously in denial and doesn't know what they're talking about. Resident Evil 7 is NOTHING compared to 1. No Resident Evil game was first person until the last 2 iterations and they clearly suck. I'm not buying RE games anymore until they make them like 1, 2 and 3. Until then, I'm out lol.

[Gracey Face]

Just throwing it out there but the RE 2 remake had you two shot MR X with the rocket launcher at the end, thereby removing the entire point of the section. The RE 2 remake is just as bad.

(If you don't know, in RE 1 and against the supertyrant in RE 2, the rocket launcher was a one hit kill. The whole point of the rocket launcher having two shots in RE 2 is so that you then shoot Birkin on the train with it and him not dying is supposed to be a "Oh ♥♥♥♥, this guy is indestructible!!" moment.)

[Greb]

Resident Evil should have been split into several new IPs a decade ago at this point. New IP for the over the shoulder action-horror genre stuff, new IP for the first person "late to the oversaturated first person horror walking sim" genre, even a new IP for the weird third person multiplayer and PvP game stuff.

Capcom, instead of being a master of various different survival horror franchises is now a jester dancing around on top of a huge mess of a franchise with no identity and a very confused and hostile fanbase. It sucks that new RE fans have to deal with the old fans and their dismissive nature, likewise it sucks that the old RE fans have to deal with the new fans and their dismissive nature as well.

Without the franchise name to fight over, you'd have smaller groups of happy fans sticking to their own franchises instead of what amounts to one giant awful family Christmas where no one is happy and everyone is fighting, lol.

There's an irony somewhere that the RE-Virus has mutated and evolved so much from its former self just like the enemies within the lore, l guess.

[Winblows]

classic resident evil is gone its all 7 universe stuff now, more people are into 456 and 7 then any of the classics

[76561197988918266]

is this about re6?

[EQOAnostalgia]

They abandoned their core fans a long time ago for the shooter crap, but then started to throw us a bone... just to turn around and make this abomination that is RE in name only. Should be titled Bram Strokers: Village

[Tr0w]

Originally posted by KripTed:

RE4 was the last good Resident Evil, after that, it just started getting bad. 7 and 8 don't look like Resident Evil at all. You're absolutely right. This game has an identity problem. To anyone who thinks RE7 went back to it's survival horror routes is obviously in denial and doesn't know what they're talking about. Resident Evil 7 is NOTHING compared to 1. No Resident Evil game was first person until the last 2 iterations and they clearly suck. I'm not buying RE games anymore until they make them like 1, 2 and 3. Until then, I'm out lol.

RE1 was originally going to be first person but changed to third. Also the type of perspective used is a terrible point to make in regards to whether 7 went back to survival horror roots or not. In terms of mechanics, backtracking, puzzles, and item management, it very much did. And in terms of atmosphere, sound design, visuals, etc, it did it better than any of the original 3.

Originally posted by Shided pants man:

classic resident evil is gone its all 7 universe stuff now, more people are into 456 and 7 then any of the classics

Yes because RE2 2019 wasn't popular at all...

[aplethoraof]

When has RE ever been consistent in gameplay tone?

RE 1 was different from RE2/RE3. RE4/5 were different from RE2/RE3. RE6 was different from RE4/5. RE7 was different from RE6. RE8 was different from RE7.

Not to mention all the spin-offs and the REmakes - which are also different from each-other.

Really the thing that stays constant is the universe. And even that is toyed with, with the REmakes and with RE7/RE8.

Though TBF, RE6 didn't leave many places for the universe to go. Just like what happens when comic books lose a lot of their main cast - it didn't take a genius to see a reboot was in order.

[Winblows]

Originally posted by aplethoraof:

When has RE ever been consistent?

RE 1 was different from RE2/RE3. RE4/5 were different from RE2/RE3. RE6 was different from RE4/5. RE7 was different from RE6. RE8 was different from RE7.

Not to mention all the spin-offs and the REmakes - which are also different from each-other.

the mutant junk was all there from the start too

[Chibi Life]

Originally posted by aplethoraof:

When has RE ever been consistent?

RE 1 was different from RE2/RE3. RE4/5 were different from RE2/RE3. RE6 was different from RE4/5. RE7 was different from RE6. RE8 was different from RE7.

Not to mention all the spin-offs and the REmakes - which are also different from each-other.

Remember the guy in RE 0 who can literally turn his body into mutant leeches and control mutant leeches? Nobody was questioning that. But vampires and werewolves?? What happened to Resident Evil?!

At the end of the day, all I care about is it feels like a horror game still instead of an action game. RE has always been off the wall and ludicrous but I thought that was the charm?

[Newbie Moontee Mk.I]

i'm glad most people here do keep RE4/5 together or RE4~6
since they pretty much alike

[Winblows]

Originally posted by Newbie Moontee Mk.I:

i'm glad most people here do keep RE4/5 together or RE4~6
since they pretty much alike

naw 4-5-6, 5s controls werent ♥♥♥♥ enough to be good

[Biebs 3D]

Village is garbage. Capcom doesn't know what to do with this franchise. Last year it's remaking old classics for the original fans... next year it's call of duty: van helsing with tomb raider crafting lite... They need to fire these random producer/director idiots and reboot the franchise with strong focus on core survival horror. Learn to take risks again. Nobody wants a mc.donalds resident call of helsing with lite horror elements so little timmy doesn't get too scared

[Winblows]

Originally posted by Master Baggins:

Village is garbage. Capcom doesn't know what to do with this franchise. Last year it's remaking old classics for the original fans... next year it's call of duty: van helsing with tomb raider crafting lite... They need to fire these random producer/director idiots and reboot the franchise with strong focus on core survival horror. Learn to take risks again. Nobody wants a mc.donalds resident call of helsing with lite horror elements so little timmy doesn't get too scared

none of the resident evil games were scary especially after 1