Summary
- A remake of Resident Evil 5 could reach new heights for the franchise if it learns from the successful previous remakes and stays true to the original's foundations.
- Capcom has made significant changes to the gameplay and combat mechanics of the Resident Evil series over time, with the recent remakes showcasing the most drastic improvements.
- Chris Redfield could be perfected in a Resident Evil 5 remake, offering players a chance to fully experience his skills and strength in the revamped combat system.
Given the astounding critical and commercial success of the previous remakes in the series, it seems like only a matter of time until Resident Evil 5 gets a remake of its own. If and when this eventual game comes out, assuming that it learns from the previous Resident Evil remakes while staying true to the foundations laid by the original, filling the shoes of Chris Redfield could be a peak for the franchise.
Although some fans tend to think of Resident Evil as having a specific and consistent gameplay style, the series has seen numerous transitions, remixes, and refreshes when it comes to movement and combat. A major leap can be observed between the original Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4, and then again with Resident Evil 6. Resident Evil 7 and the recent collection of remakes have brought the most drastic changes to gameplay, though, with last year's Resident Evil 4 remake arguably featuring the pinnacle of the series' combat. Taking these changes and improvements into consideration, Capcom could kick things up another notch with a Resident Evil 5 remake.
Chris Redfield Could Be Perfected in a Remake of Resident Evil 5
As one of the faces of Resident Evil, Chris Redfield has been a consistent and powerful presence throughout the franchise. Despite this, players haven't gotten a full game based around him since the original Resident Evil 5 in 2009. The character's absence from the main stage feels particularly poignant in Resident Evil Village, where he stands in contrast with the comparatively bland Ethan Winters, leaving many to wonder why Redfield wasn't more prominently featured.
Redfield is playable in one short section near the end of Resident Evil Village, as well as in the Not a Hero DLC for Resident Evil 7. However, these moments are too brief to be representative of a full game with Chris at the helm.
A game with Resident Evil's modern survival horror combat, which has been polished to a brilliant shine thanks to the third-person remakes, would be a great fit for Chris Redfield. Fans of the franchise got to enjoy the bevy of improvements brought to Leon's gameplay in the Resident Evil 4 remake, and there's no reason this couldn't be replicated with Resident Evil 5.
Resident Evil 5 Remake: Recapturing the Success of Leon Kennedy's Combat
Resident Evil 4's remake was the result of the perfect storm, one that was created by both the circumstances of the Resident Evil narrative and the advancements in Capcom's gaming technology and design. At the time that RE4 takes place in the series' timeline, Leon Kennedy has received copious amounts of training, which is reflected in how he controls; he is much more fluid and tactical, with more skills at his disposal. Couple this with the smooth and satisfying third-person shooting Capcom perfected in the previous two RE remakes, and players get a version of Leon Kennedy that is more fun to control than ever.
This exact cocktail of game design and narrative premise could benefit Chris in an RE5 remake. In RE5, Chris has become stronger and more skilled, moving on from STARS and into the BSAA, with years of experience under his belt. His training, coupled with his seemingly superhuman strength and athleticism, could make him a joy to control, while offering a welcome alternative to Leon's more slick, versatile gameplay. Capcom doesn't have to have Chris punching boulders left and right, but his heft and brute force would be more than satisfying in Resident Evil's revamped combat system.
Resident Evil 4 managed to recapture the essence of the original's gameplay while keeping things fresh, fluid, and exciting. The end result is arguably one of the best combat and movement systems of any survival horror game, period. If Capcom can pull off a similar feat in a Resident Evil 5 remake, then the series could be all the better for it.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 62%
WHERE TO PLAY
The Umbrella Corporation and its crop of lethal viruses have been destroyed and contained. But a new, more dangerous threat has emerged. Years after surviving the events in Raccoon City, Chris Redfield has been fighting the scourge of bio-organic weapons all over the world. Now a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), Chris is sent to Africa to investigate a biological agent that is transforming the populace into aggressive and disturbing creatures. Joined by another local BSAA agent, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to solve the truth behind the disturbing turn of events.
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Number of Players
- 2
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium (PS3 Version)
