Unlocking the Mysteries: How Resident Evil Could Embrace Soulslike Gameplay

Highlights

Resident Evil should introduce Soulslike boss battles to offer more unique and engaging challenges, moving away from gimmicks and promoting player expression.

Introducing a Dark Souls-inspired economy, whereby players are at risk of losing resources upon death, would heighten the game's tension and strategic choices.

Drawing inspiration from FromSoftware's musical compositions and adopting a more somber tone can amplify the horror and emotional aspects of Resident Evil.

Resident Evil has regained its position as the dominant force in the survival horror genre through its remakes and new mainline entries. Capcom has breathed new life into the franchise's older games by updating them for modern audiences. These remakes incorporate modern game design elements, such as player-controlled cameras and the ability to move and shoot simultaneously, which were once unheard of in the Resident Evil series. Capcom has also ventured into new territory by introducing first-person gameplay in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil 8: Village. This experimentation has proven to be successful both critically and commercially. However, the franchise could further enhance its gameplay by adopting features typical of Soulslike games.

Resident Evil Should Have Soulslike Bosses

Resident Evil may have improved in recent years, but the series still has flaws. One area that needs work is the way bosses are handled in both the first-person mainline games and third-person remakes. While these bosses can provide thrilling moments, they often rely on gimmicks and feel somewhat scripted.

To address this issue, the franchise could learn from FromSoftware's modern games and make bosses more similar to those found in them. Rather than relying on obvious weak spots and predetermined actions, these boss battles could offer players more flexibility and freedom by allowing them to damage the bosses in a more traditional manner. This approach would be particularly effective in the third-person Resident Evil games, which prioritize movement over precision unlike their first-person counterparts. Essentially, by introducing Souls-style bosses to Resident Evil, the series could offer more unique and engaging challenges that encourage player expression, elevating the boss encounters to a higher level compared to the current games.

A Soulslike Economy Could Provide an Extra Challenge in Resident Evil

One of the most notable aspects that has had a significant impact on the Dark Souls series is its approach to in-game currency. When a player loses their life, they forfeit all the resources that can be utilized for leveling up and purchasing new items. However, they are granted a solitary opportunity to retrieve these resources. Implementing a similar system in Resident Evil could prove beneficial as it would introduce heightened tension throughout the gameplay. Considering that finding money in Resident Evil games can be relatively effortless, this system would present players with an additional challenge, compelling them to contemplate whether to spend or save their funds. Introducing this feature to in-game items may also be feasible, although it could potentially be overly vexing within the traditional survival-horror framework.

Resident Evil Should Take Cues from FromSoftware's Soundtracks

While not primarily a gameplay feature, the music in the Souls games has played a crucial role in molding the series' identity and setting its tone. The tracks within the games are especially known for their subtle touch of melancholy, intensifying the intended emotions that FromSoftware aims to elicit in specific environments or encounters with enemies. Though Resident Evil boasts its own impressive music, it lacks these underlying notes of sadness and intricate emotional depth, often resembling the soundtrack of an extravagant blockbuster action film. This disparity can sometimes detract from the intended horror or narrative elements.

Resident Evil Could Benefit From Soulslike Storytelling

Resident Evil games can be frightening, but the excessive dialogue and cutscenes often diminish the tension and horror that build up during gameplay. These moments provide relief and create a more passive experience. By reducing the use of these narrative devices and embracing obscurity, the stories in Resident Evil games can become more intriguing and unsettling.

Soulslike Level Design Is a Perfect Match for Resident Evil

In addition to their challenging difficulty and rich storytelling, Soulslike games are renowned for their intricate and interconnected world design. The placement of levels is carefully thought out in relation to the overall map, often resulting in surprising moments when players rediscover forgotten areas. While Resident Evil's levels are well-designed in many aspects, they can further elevate their game by taking inspiration from FromSoftware.

Resident Evil games do have elements of interconnected maps, but these are usually limited to specific areas rather than the entire game experience. A notable example is the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil 2, which features intertwined paths that cleverly overlap and lead back to a central hub area. However, the game later transitions into a more linear sequence of locations. This pattern can also be observed in other games within the series.

Resident Evil has its own distinct elements and characteristics, which have become iconic over time. Recent additions to the franchise have successfully built upon its original concepts while maintaining its unique identity, a vital factor for its success. Nevertheless, Resident Evil has the potential to incorporate elements from other franchises without compromising its individuality.