While the Resident Evil fanbase waits for a remake of the fourth main game, Resident Evil 4 VR is here to satiate them. The game is currently exclusive to Oculus Quest 2, and it’s unclear whether it will reach other VR platforms. Hopefully it will in the near future, as the game has received a lot of praise. Serving as a reinterpretation of Resident Evil 4 in virtual reality, RE4 VR recreates many of its iconic scenarios and mechanics. It even had the ingenious idea to cut to a third-person view when Leon performs a roundhouse kick or other knockdown move.
With such a well-executed VR remake, it’s easy to imagine other Resident Evil games could benefit from the same treatment. Both of Resident Evil’s outings in VR have gone well, with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s optional VR often cited as one of the PlayStation VR’s best exclusives. Fans have been asking for more Resident Evil VR for a while, and there was disappointment around Resident Evil 8 for dropping the feature. Capcom and Armature Studio ought to take what they learned with RE4 VR and bring more Resident Evil games to VR platforms.
Old Resident Evil Games Would Be Great in VR
The successful adaptation of a GameCube and PlayStation 2 game into VR inspires confidence for the same to be done to most other Resident Evil games. VR shouuld enhance the horror aspects of each game, as well as add additional skill-based elements to positioning, aiming, reloading, and using items. The PS1 and older PS2 entries would be tough sells in this respect, especially considering part of their inherent tension stems from cramped environments, fixed cameras, and unwieldy controls. Letting a VR player headshot their way through RE1 would feel rote after a while, and that’s not getting into how the pre-rendered backgrounds would need to be completely remade.
Still, a lot of the games in the series will work with their assets slotted in and mechanics copied. Resident Evil has always been about exploring and shooting, and if those both work in virtual reality for RE4 and RE7, they can work in other games. For the older mainline games, it may be best to adapt their remakes into VR. That would mean parts of the original RE3 are still lost, and the remake of 1 would have to be overhauled again, but it’s still best to go with whatever has the most assets to work with. Resident Evil 5 and Village could be reenvisioned in the same way as 4 and 7, and RE5 VR with co-op would be great. The one wrinkle in the mainline games is RE6, which involves so many mobile combat options that it may be difficult to adapt.
The Future of Resident Evil VR
With two successful VR conversions under its belt and the potential for more to follow, Resident Evil 9 feels poised to bring back VR support as a recurring feature. If Capcom intends to stick with first-person gameplay for at least one more title, VR is a must. RE9 is expected to wrap up the trilogy concerning the Winters family, as well as show what’s been going on in the wider Resident Evil universe after the events of 6. It will be a major entry, and giving fans the chance to experience that in VR will make it even more special.
This is a long shot, but Resident Evil Village still has the chance to get VR support while its DLC is in development. One of the content updates could include a full VR mode, or a smaller VR-compatible experience. The game would work perfectly with one, especially considering its increased emphasis on horror and action in different sections. VR has a way of emphasising all that Resident Evil is, and the series would be a leader in the field of VR horror if it adopts the format more often going forward.
Resident Evil 4 VR is available exclusively on Oculus Quest 2.