Resident Evil 9 is on the horizon with Resident Evil 7 director Koshi Nakanishi returning to helm the project. Since so few details have been made public about this upcoming entry, the rumor mill has been churning. Besides Resident Evil 9 supposedly shifting to an open-world structure for the first time in the series, another highly speculated aspect of the game has been its protagonist.
With Resident Evil Village wrapping up Ethan Winters' narrative in a fairly definitive manner, Resident Evil 9 will almost certainly move on to a different protagonist — but not necessarily a new one. Many players are theorizing that this upcoming entry could see multiple fan favorite characters coming back into the fold. Alongside demand for characters like Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield to return to the series, one supposed leak suggested that Leon Kennedy is a playable protagonist in Resident Evil 9. A comeback for these iconic characters could provide the perfect opportunity for a popular feature from two of the franchise's more unpopular games to also return: co-op.
Resident Evil 9 Shouldn't Miss The Chance to Revive a Satisfying RE7 Mechanic
Resident Evil 9 is largely shrouded in mystery so far, but it has an excellent opportunity to bring back a great element from RE7.
If Legacy Resident Evil Characters Return, Co-op Should Too
Though the franchise has tried to produce fully multiplayer experiences with 2016's Umbrella Corps and 2022's Resident Evil RE:Verse, Resident Evil has proven time and time again that narrative campaigns are both a strength and a necessity for this series. However, Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 — despite being critically unpopular — proved that an engaging middle ground could exist. Both games were buoyed by story modes that could be played entirely solo or as a two-player cooperative experience. Having multiple returning characters in the next mainline entry might give this co-op functionality a satisfying venue for redemption.
Why Co-op is a Valid Route for Resident Evil 9
A campaign with co-op integration could absolutely work for Resident Evil 9 from a gameplay perspective. A slower, more atmospheric game like Resident Evil 7 might not make as much sense for a social experience. However, the faster pacing and combat mechanics of Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake are incorporated in such a way that would allow for a second player to be thrown into the mix without being disruptive.
Even when taking the inherent horror of these games into consideration, Resident Evil 5 proved that two players fighting for their lives against infected hordes can certainly rack up some tension. As was the case with Resident Evil 5's co-op campaign, single-player would still be an option for those looking for a more immersive experience. The other co-op character could become a companion NPC. Though Resident Evil 5 struggled with its companion AI, the Resident Evil 4 remake proved Capcom could successfully implement sidekick followers like Ashley and Luis.
How Returning RE Characters Could Benefit From Co-op
If Resident Evil 9 does indeed bring back multiple fan favorite characters, a cooperative campaign would be an engaging way to do so. Seeing two previous protagonists team up for a new story lays the groundwork for some excellent fan service. Having characters like Leon and Jill working together, for example — not just in a cutscene but across an entire narrative — could provide unique character interactions, fun banter, and higher stakes for the plot. It also opens the door for a deeper exploration of previous games by allowing two characters with traumatic connections to the Raccoon City saga to dredge up and compare their experiences.
Additionally, by having the game be co-op, it ensures that fans get a satisfying and equitable amount of screentime for both characters. Not only that, but fans would then get to share in this experience by playing with each other. As a culmination of both the newest entries and the recent wave of remakes, Resident Evil 9 has the chance to give players that Infinity War-esque crossover that Resident Evil 6 attempted but failed to provide.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- May 7, 2021
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- RE Engine
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
Experience survival horror like never before in the eighth major installment in the storied Resident Evil franchise - Resident Evil Village.
Set a few years after the horrifying events in the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 7 biohazard, the all-new storyline begins with Ethan Winters and his wife Mia living peacefully in a new location, free from their past nightmares. Just as they are building their new life together, tragedy befalls them once again.
First-Person Action – Players will assume the role of Ethan Winters and experience every up-close battle and terrifying pursuit through a first-person perspective.
Familiar Faces and New Foes – Chris Redfield has typically been a hero in the Resident Evil series, but his appearance in Resident Evil Village seemingly shrouds him in sinister motives. A host of new adversaries inhabiting the village will relentlessly hunt Ethan and hinder his every move as he attempts to make sense of the new nightmare he finds himself in.
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
