The Future of Resident Evil 9: A Silent Hill Ascension (Note: Since the final output should not include quotation marks, please consider adding them to the title while using it)

Capcom has experienced tremendous success with its renowned Resident Evil franchise in recent years. The series was revitalized with the release of Resident Evil: Biohazard in 2017, and the recent remake of Resident Evil 4 was widely praised for its impressive reimagination of a beloved classic. Naturally, fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Resident Evil 9, with rumors suggesting that it is already in active development.

While the release date of Resident Evil 9 remains uncertain, there are several potential directions that Capcom can explore for the franchise, building upon the narrative threads introduced in Resident Evil Village. Rather than committing to a single creative path for the next installment, the team responsible for the Resident Evil series should look to another iconic horror franchise for inspiration on how to approach the game's storytelling and pacing.

Silent Hill Ascension's Interactive Drama Style

Silent Hill, one of the most popular survival horror franchises in the world of video games, shares a similar level of popularity with Resident Evil. Both series originated on the PS1 and played a significant role in shaping the genre. However, what sets Silent Hill apart is its focus on cerebral and thematic horrors, as opposed to the physical threats found in Resident Evil. As a result, Silent Hill is known for its intricate and plot-heavy storytelling, offering deeply psychological narratives that can be analyzed and interpreted layer by layer.

Building on the idea of storytelling possibilities, Silent Hill Ascensions, the upcoming installment in the series, aims to introduce a branching narrative system. Drawing inspiration from interactive drama games like Heavy Rain and The Quarry, Silent Hill Ascensions will empower players to make choices that have a profound impact on the story. These decisions, whether major or minor, will shape the course of the game, leading to entirely new paths and outcomes. While this approach poses a significant challenge for the writers, it also offers immense replayability and allows players to mold the plot according to their preferences.

Resident Evil 9 and the Power of Player Choice

Resident Evil 9 has yet to reveal its exact form, leaving Capcom with countless possibilities to consider. The franchise's extensive roster of characters, biohazard threats like the T-Virus, and iconic villains all present a challenge when deciding what to include. However, for Resident Evil 9 to truly shine as a culmination of the series' legacy, it would be wise to draw inspiration from Silent Hill's ability to strike a balance.

This doesn't mean that Resident Evil 9 should mimic an interactive drama, as its first-person and third-person gameplay styles have already been meticulously refined in recent years. Instead, this influence should be integrated into the concept of choice, granting players greater freedom. While Resident Evil 6 faced mixed reception, the ninth installment could take a similar approach by offering three distinct campaigns that follow different characters, ultimately intertwining their narratives.

Adding an extra option to directly shape the plot would not only be enticing but also bring a whole new level of depth to the Resident Evil series. Capcom has masterfully struck a perfect balance between action and horror in recent installments, and incorporating this feature in Resident Evil 9 would be a creative gamble worth taking. With rumors suggesting an epic scale for the game, providing fans with more choices on how to navigate the storyline would undoubtedly be an exhilarating and welcomed addition to the franchise.