In recent years, survival horror has seen quite the return to form in a number of ways, from franchises both big and small. Survival horror games have simultaneously veered between heavy action elements and limited and vulnerable experiences. Very few franchises have attempted both styles, but one of the biggest survival horror franchises has done both to varying degrees of success. Resident Evil has ebbed and flowed between action and atmospheric horror over the last few decades, through what many described as an identity crisis.

More recently the series has been able to find its footing in its roots, especially with Resident Evil 2/3 Remake receiving great praise. The general consensus of Resident Evil horror fans believe bringing the series back to its atmospheric and vulnerable origins makes for better games. Games like Resident Evil 4/5/6 have received overall mixed reception for how it significantly changed the franchise's trajectory from subtle horror to straight-up action games. Now, presumably with a Resident Evil 8 on the horizon, there's a lot riding on this game's reception, as it may mark the next generation of Resident Evil games to come.

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Highest Highs, Lowest Lows

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The reason the eighth mainline Resident Evil entry has a lot to live down is mostly because of the evolution that began with Resident Evil 4. Even though in a lot of ways Resident Evil 4 had a heavy influence on third-person shooter games as a whole, the fourth game was the progenitor for some of Resident Evil's least favorable games. Resident Evil 6 in particular was middling at best, with all of its action-oriented gameplay reflecting a total disconnect from atmospheric horror in favor of thrilling and gorey horror. Every game since Resident Evil 6 has made great strides to distance the series from this image, and for good reason.

Capcom and the Resident Evil development team recognized that fans did not resonate with this version of horror games, so the series made yet another big change. Despite the seventh entry being very different from other games in the series in many ways, Resident Evil 7 notably brought Resident Evil back to its core values of vulnerable and terrifying horror. The remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis further emphasized the franchise's desire to return to form, whilst retaining the familiar third-person camera pioneered in Resident Evil 4Resident Evil 8 may draw more from its predecessor, and that's not necessarily a bad thing per se.

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Keeping the Spirit of Resident Evil

So long as Resident Evil 8 continues championing the revived spirit of horror from Resident Evil 7, the series will be in a good place. There's been plenty of wild rumors about this next game changing Resident Evil in strange and potentially mythical ways. Numerous rumors about the next Resident Evil game have detailed werewolves, witches, vampires, medieval castles, and numerous other unusual elements. At least on their own, these concepts aren't too radical for Resident Evil, so long as their inclusion doesn't unnaturally shift the game's tone from impactful, long-lasting horror. Previous Resident Evil games have had monsters like mutated alligators, giant mechatronic statues of Spanish princes, towering "Tyrant" soldiers sporting trench coats, medieval suits of armor, and a number of other strange monsters or experiments.

Even if the game retains the first person perspective pioneered in Resident Evil 7, it harkens back to the same argument. Traditional Resident Evil games have either featured fixed camera angles or an over-the-shoulder third person perspective. Resident Evil 7  was the first to pioneer the perspective for the franchise, and that shouldn't turn away fans of the series either. It's the perfect way for the series to experiment with its signature atmospheric horror whilst also developing a world from a completely different view. If there's any valid credit that can collectively be given to all Resident Evil titles, it's that the franchise is not afraid to experiment with its mechanics and gameplay.

That being said, Resident Evil 8 will ultimately solidify Resident Evil's creative direction heading into the new console generation. Fans appreciated Resident Evil 7's changes to a solid degree, but how far can the franchise can stray away from its core designs before its fanbase loses interest? Resident Evil 8 will inevitably answer that question, assuming the variety of rumors does ring true in some fashion.

Resident Evil 8 is reportedly in development.

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