Capcom The Resident Evil Thread

[Joe Von Zombie]

Hopefully it's more 7 than 8. I've never seen a game cater so hard to RE4 dick riders in my life. Hopefully they don't copy past 7s story structure again either..

 

[Sithborg]

Makes sense, Capcom doesn't need RE next year. Monster Hunter will outsell any RE release.

 

[Zantera]

I installed RE7 last night and hoping to start it during the weekend. I do know some stuff from the game like the setting/characters/story (at least the setup) just that I picked up without playing it, but should still be good. I've heard mixed things on it - people either seem to really like it and say its the best since the early days, or they don't like the FPS vibe as much and prefer something similar to RE4R/RE Village.

On a personal note I kinda like both sides of the franchise so I'm curious to see how I feel about this. RE4R and RE2R are my two favorites but I still had a lot of fun with Village even if people seemed more mixed on it.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

I installed RE7 last night and hoping to start it during the weekend. I do know some stuff from the game like the setting/characters/story (at least the setup) just that I picked up without playing it, but should still be good. I've heard mixed things on it - people either seem to really like it and say its the best since the early days, or they don't like the FPS vibe as much and prefer something similar to RE4R/RE Village.

On a personal note I kinda like both sides of the franchise so I'm curious to see how I feel about this. RE4R and RE2R are my two favorites but I still had a lot of fun with Village even if people seemed more mixed on it.

7 is probably my second or third favorite game in the franchise after the remake of RE1. Its a better Texas Chainsaw game than the official game by a wide margin. The remake of 4 addressed damn near every complaint I had with the original release.

 

[psylockolussus]

There are rumours for RE9 being open world/semi world. But I hope they just feature 1 big location, and we are there from beginning to the end. Maybe a big mansion or a university or some gigantic airport or mall (kinda like Dead Rising)

From what I noticed from RE1 to RE8, we never really stick to 1 establishment
RE1: Mansion, guard house, underground facility
RE2: Streets, police station, sewers, underground facility
RE4: Town, castle, mines
RE7: Baker's house, old house, mines, ship

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

There are rumours for RE9 being open world/semi world. But I hope they just feature 1 big location, and we are there from beginning to the end. Maybe a big mansion or a university or some gigantic airport or mall (kinda like Dead Rising)

From what I noticed from RE1 to RE8, we never really stick to 1 establishment
RE1: Mansion, guard house, underground facility
RE2: Streets, police station, sewers, underground facility
RE4: Town, castle, mines
RE7: Baker's house, old house, mines, ship

I couldn't see them doing something truly open world. A large scale interconnected city ala Prague from Deus Ex MD would be interesting but I wouldn't call that open world in the traditional sense.

 

[psylockolussus]

An open world Resident Evil game is a believe when I see it, kind of thing. I guess an "open world RE game" could consist of ten wide streets, a dozen of buildings around it (some huge and some small) and drivable vehicles as an option to speed up navigation in the open world, with hundreds of collectibles. With the main story revolving around that whole area, and plenty of areas are accessible from the first hour.

 

[Zantera]

I just rolled credits on the main game (RE7) and here's some thoughts on the experience overall. (Sorry for long post)

The setting is great and there's a big Texas Chainsaw vibe right off the bat. The mansion/plantation house itself is a cool location and works well for a game like this. The return to more of a slow atmosphere tension building horror with puzzle solving works really well here and I think it was the smart choice for this story. Jack Baker and Marguerite are both great villains with memorable boss fights (for Jack Baker I'd say the chainsaw fight was the best one) even if Lucas sorta just vanishes from the main story? (Maybe TBC in DLC) I would say the first 60% or so of this game stands up really well against prior RE experiences I've had - though I have some mixed thoughts on the rest which I will get to.

While I do think FPS works for this game I think I still prefer my RE to be 3rd person just from my own preferences. Having played Village as 3rd person this is my first and only experience of FPS Resident Evil and I still think it worked well. I do think the big moral decision you make after offing Jack Baker falls a bit flat. Like is there really anyone who would pick the random daughter of the psychos over the woman you came to save (out of love)? Other than to get a slightly different ending. I guess my point is, the choice felt a bit flat. I would also say beyond this point is where the game started to fall off a bit for me. I was not a big fan of the ship segment. The idea is cool - a ship is a great setting for horror, but I found the layout and the 'puzzles' within it to feel a bit boring. This also felt like the one segment where the game went more action with a machine gun and I think I also felt less invested since we played as Mia. I also think the mines felt a bit boring and uninspiring. It was as if they figured we needed a new setting after so much of the marsh house but it just felt like some boring caves.

Overall I'm mostly very positive on this game though. The majority of this game up until you go on the boat is really strong in my opinion. I also wanted to mention that I did think the enemies felt a bit bland - they reminded me of Venom symbiote bros (for any Spider-Man fan) and just didn't leave much of an impact on me. However I do feel this game focused more on the puzzles and survival aspects over the combat so it gets away with it just slightly. I also hated the bug house with a passion but that's a personal thing where I don't like big monster bugs in any game haha.

Out of the games I have played I would put RE2R and RE4R in the top tier. I think both are pretty much perfect at doing slightly different things with the franchise. I also feel like neither will be topped (though one can dream). RE3R is my bottom tier, I still thought it was great but just too short, and the hospital part was really the only section I felt that lived up to the best parts of 2 and 4. That leaves 7 and 8 in a sort of middle tier. I think both 7 and 8 have their strengths and weaknesses. For me, I feel like 7 might be the better one and brings something different/more unique with the setting, compared to 8 which is vibing a lot off RE4. However 8 had some sections that are just ingrained into my brain. The doll part with the baby fetus (and the doll scene in the DLC) as well as the Heisenberg factory really stand out in my mind. I don't know if any section of 7 stands out like that to me, it was more of a consistently great atmosphere.

Might do the DLC next, other than that not sure what my next RE game would be. I tried RE1R but could not get into it because of the fixed camera angles and stiff movements. I could always try 5 or 6 but I might just wait for the next remake or main game whenever that is.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

I just rolled credits on the main game (RE7) and here's some thoughts on the experience overall. (Sorry for long post)

The setting is great and there's a big Texas Chainsaw vibe right off the bat. The mansion/plantation house itself is a cool location and works well for a game like this. The return to more of a slow atmosphere tension building horror with puzzle solving works really well here and I think it was the smart choice for this story. Jack Baker and Marguerite are both great villains with memorable boss fights (for Jack Baker I'd say the chainsaw fight was the best one) even if Lucas sorta just vanishes from the main story? (Maybe TBC in DLC) I would say the first 60% or so of this game stands up really well against prior RE experiences I've had - though I have some mixed thoughts on the rest which I will get to.

While I do think FPS works for this game I think I still prefer my RE to be 3rd person just from my own preferences. Having played Village as 3rd person this is my first and only experience of FPS Resident Evil and I still think it worked well. I do think the big moral decision you make after offing Jack Baker falls a bit flat. Like is there really anyone who would pick the random daughter of the psychos over the woman you came to save (out of love)? Other than to get a slightly different ending. I guess my point is, the choice felt a bit flat. I would also say beyond this point is where the game started to fall off a bit for me. I was not a big fan of the ship segment. The idea is cool - a ship is a great setting for horror, but I found the layout and the 'puzzles' within it to feel a bit boring. This also felt like the one segment where the game went more action with a machine gun and I think I also felt less invested since we played as Mia. I also think the mines felt a bit boring and uninspiring. It was as if they figured we needed a new setting after so much of the marsh house but it just felt like some boring caves.

Overall I'm mostly very positive on this game though. The majority of this game up until you go on the boat is really strong in my opinion. I also wanted to mention that I did think the enemies felt a bit bland - they reminded me of Venom symbiote bros (for any Spider-Man fan) and just didn't leave much of an impact on me. However I do feel this game focused more on the puzzles and survival aspects over the combat so it gets away with it just slightly. I also hated the bug house with a passion but that's a personal thing where I don't like big monster bugs in any game haha.

Out of the games I have played I would put RE2R and RE4R in the top tier. I think both are pretty much perfect at doing slightly different things with the franchise. I also feel like neither will be topped (though one can dream). RE3R is my bottom tier, I still thought it was great but just too short, and the hospital part was really the only section I felt that lived up to the best parts of 2 and 4. That leaves 7 and 8 in a sort of middle tier. I think both 7 and 8 have their strengths and weaknesses. For me, I feel like 7 might be the better one and brings something different/more unique with the setting, compared to 8 which is vibing a lot off RE4. However 8 had some sections that are just ingrained into my brain. The doll part with the baby fetus (and the doll scene in the DLC) as well as the Heisenberg factory really stand out in my mind. I don't know if any section of 7 stands out like that to me, it was more of a consistently great atmosphere.

Might do the DLC next, other than that not sure what my next RE game would be. I tried RE1R but could not get into it because of the fixed camera angles and stiff movements. I could always try 5 or 6 but I might just wait for the next remake or main game whenever that is.

The DLC addresses Lucas. The ship segment in 7 felt like the most cliche Resident Evil section out of 7. I would go ahead and play five and six if you intend to. I don't see those games getting remade honestly.

 

[psylockolussus]

I skipped the DLCs for Re7.

I'd suggest try RE6 next. There's some variety into the based game which I can't say to RE5, unless you play the DLCs as well.

 

[theastsunnn]

I wish they’d reboot the series

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

I wish they’d reboot the series

To what end?

 

[theastsunnn]

To what end?

Story is too convoluted. Strip it back down to small city, zombies and pistols/shotguns

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

Story is too convoluted. Strip it back down to small city, zombies and pistols/shotguns

The convoluted story is part of what makes it Resident Evil. Zombie games are a dime a dozen now. Soft reboots like VII are as close as you're going to get.

 

[psylockolussus]

They could move forward with new characters/protagonists and set several games in a city called Squirrel City.

There's really no need for a reboot especially after all these remakes.

 

[Zantera]

I decided to try RE1R again. Since my previous attempt when I stopped after about an hour (don't chase me with pitchforks please) I played both Village and Biohazard and my appreciation for the franchise has really grown a lot. Even though I had my issues with RE1R when I tried it, I do want to play it because it's the OG (even if it's the remake) and even if I end up having a tough time, I still want to be able to say I have played it.

Some of my beefs I had with this from before still stand - I find the fixed camera angles and the jerky controls to be a big negative and I think I would enjoy this a lot more in the style of the other remakes. However this time around I'm playing on my controller and I must say it's bothering me a lot less. Maybe playing this oldschool style of controls on a keyboard and mouse is like oil and water, at least on the controller it feels less distracting. I think item management will be my biggest boss in this game, already juggling items and trying to keep a few slots open. On one hand it is fun but I also know this game is the heaviest on puzzles/random items and I believe there's no bag upgrades or anything so I will have to play around it.

 

[psylockolussus]

Lisa Trevor, the Crimson Heads, the rooms/sections of the mansion that the original game didn't have and the undersaturated colors are taking me out of the RE1 remake. Fixed camera is too, but I played the ps1 RE1 games so its not more of an issue compare to the ones I said first.

I can just predict the second RE1 remake would have Lisa Trevor stalking in that mansion, that it would impossible to really explore the mansion without someone constantly tailing behind you. That was one of my irks with RE2R as once Mr. X showed up, there's only like 10 seconds of silence before he shows up and you have zero choice but to run or be killed. And I'm someone who likes to observe the room/surroundings and look at the details everywhere.

 

[Zantera]

I think the stalker element is interesting but I also agree that sometimes being able to just walk around and explore things is what you want.

As for my RE1R progress I think I'm about to face the big snake soon, I did mess up and got Richard killed (I didn't know you could save him, but sadly despite trying to get him the serum I guess I was just a little bit too slow). I do love the mansion overall. I will say my issue with the controls and how bad the shooting feels does mean the game feels scarier. Even the simple dogs are scary because I know if I face one I will likely take at least 1 hit and I'll end up using too many bullets.

 

[psylockolussus]

I think the stalker element is interesting but I also agree that sometimes being able to just walk around and explore things is what you want.

As for my RE1R progress I think I'm about to face the big snake soon, I did mess up and got Richard killed (I didn't know you could save him, but sadly despite trying to get him the serum I guess I was just a little bit too slow). I do love the mansion overall. I will say my issue with the controls and how bad the shooting feels does mean the game feels scarier. Even the simple dogs are scary because I know if I face one I will likely take at least 1 hit and I'll end up using too many bullets.

I feel like Capcom should give us a free roam version after we beat the game. Like no zombies and every corner of the locations like the mansion, the police station, those numerous laboratories are accessible without needing keys and items, and the bulbs in the room aren't broken.

In RE4R remake, I'm really wowed by the interior design of the castle but a lot of it are hard to observe because of the lack of light in the room.

In a lot of games I like, I really can spend a hour just looking the environment and appreciating the work put into it. With RE games, I sometimes forget to observe things because of the constant pressure with the enemies, and I'm always running into the next location and trying to survive the zombie apocalypse.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

The RE1 remake is still the goat for me. It's the game Mikami envisioned in his head but the tech hadn't caught up. The whole stalker element has been done to death and not just in RE so I would personally rather they leave it out of a second RE1 remake. Once you've figured out the rules of the stalker, they're easily broken. The only game that's ever done this effectively throughout the experience is Alien Isolation because it establishes the aliens rules early on and regularly breaks them so you don't know what to expect. Outlast went from a 9/10 to a 6/10 because I broke the game fairly early in my playthrough.

 

[Zantera]

I don't think another RE1 remake needs a stalker because so far there's enough tension coming from "is one of the bodies i didn't burn gonna become a crimson head if i go through here now?" and i also think it's good to keep the games a bit different to each other. If you start throwing in a stalker in every game because its part of the formula, then the series very quickly becomes "oh its the same thing just another environment".

I got past my first encounter with Yawn and i'm about to do the crimson head in the crypt (4th mask) but he kicked my ass for now but will pick up later. I think the locked camera angles and stiff controls will prevent me from putting this game among my favorites of the franchise but it is fun playing the OG. (even if remake)

 

[psylockolussus]

I would love if they cut Lisa Trevor in the 2nd remake... she is a literal nightmare in the game!

And a reimagined version of the Spencer Mansion in RE Engine would be haunting!

 

[Zantera]

Man this game (much like other games in the franchise) keeps me riding that line of being at the edge of my seat stressing out but also feeling really satisfied as I work my way through it. I'm about to go put the battery in and I believe I'm close to done in the mansion itself because there's really not much left in it in terms of unexplored rooms or anything.

The hunters definitely bumped up my stress factor quite a bit. I messed up slightly on my second encounter with Yawn and I missed a few grenade launcher shots due to the controls and being clumsy, and in hindsight I probably should have died to go again and try and save a few rounds. However I feel OK at the moment with 6 shotgun shells, maybe 30 ammo for the gun and I got 6 fire rounds and 6 acid rounds for the grenade launcher - though i'm trying to hold off on using that. The residence section was pretty chill honestly. Despite my arachnophobia I only had to kill 1 spider in there and while the aqua ring and the sharks got the heartrate up, being able to drain the water made that section fairly chill. I also appreciated that I ended up killing the plant without actually fighting it by making the chemical mix.

In terms of the horror aspect I would probably put this pretty high up. Like RE7 was pretty intense but I do think not being in control of the camera and barely being able to aim in RE1R makes it scary in a different way. I've kinda gotten used to the style (as much as one could I guess) and I'm happy I could give this game a second chance. I would still love to play this in the style of the other remakes (and would probably like that more) but I could see why people growing up on this style of Resident Evil are so protective and fond of it.

 

[psylockolussus]

Yes there is a sense of dread, with the fixed camera, as in the next scene, some zombie could already be there very close to you, and the fixed camera makes the running harder.

 

[Zantera]

Finished RE1R and thought I would write my final thoughts, sorry for long rambling (as usual with my RE posts I feel).

Starting with positives I'm probably echoing some widely popular opinions but the Spencer Mansion is a really cool location and great for this kind of game. Definitely slots in at the S-tier of RE locations for me together with other greats like the police station in 2, the castle in 4 and the Baker residence in 7. Even though with most RE games there's a big decline in some of the later areas, I actually didn't mind the tunnels or the laboratory that much. They weren't as good but didn't outstay their welcome. Even though I was familiar about Wesker and his role in this universe, I think they did a decent job at misdirecting you story-wise as to what was going on. The puzzles were overall good and I also have to mention Lisa Trevor who isn't in the original (or so I've heard) and she really made an impact. Thought she was well utilized at all, she only really stalks you in like one area, so it was good. Tragic backstory and a sad ending. I enjoyed playing as Jill and thought the side characters were fun. Not too many weapon choices but considering the limited inventory probably for the better. I liked what I got.

I don't really have any strong negatives. The fixed camera angles and the controls probably did lessen my enjoyment slightly as I've mentioned previously. I did get used to it and I finished the game, but I would be very hyped for another remake in the modern style. That would have the potential to really rival RE2R and RE4R for me. The enemies list is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked the zombies and the dogs but the hunters looked a bit goofy (like tiny frog men with claws) and I thought the weird bug creatures in the labs looked silly rather than scary. Bosses were also a little bit mixed for me. It's weird in a game like this to have basically 3 animal bosses but I didn't think they were bad or anything. I guess a game like this needs boss battles and the ideas for bosses maybe weren't as strong as their ideas for puzzles or map layout. I actually felt the inventory was somewhat frustrating at times and I heard that if you roll as Chris you have 2 slots less (?) which honestly sounds like a nightmare to me. I guess if you know the game by heart and can play it with a blindfold you don't need that many slots, but it's a lot of running back and forth and some of the inventory boxes are sometimes frustrating to get to because you left enemies alive or something.

Overall I had a good time with this and I feel happy to say that I have played the game/story that started it all. I was thinking of doing RE5 next. It feels weird to me seeing all these discussions about "favorite RE characters" and people's love for Chris. Because for me, he spent this game missing and then showed up in the last 3 minutes (different if I would have picked him ofc) and then you only see him cameo shortly in 7 and 8 basically. Even if I picked him in RE1 there really weren't enough cutscenes or personal character things that would make that big of a difference to me (i think). I have heard that 5 is kinda 'his' game though, so maybe playing that would make sense.