Capcom has been on a roll with its iconic Resident Evil franchise these past few years. In 2017, Resident Evil: Biohazard relaunched the series to new heights, and the recent Resident Evil 4 remake was critically acclaimed as a stunning reinvention of a beloved classic. Naturally, it's expected that the mainline series will eventually release Resident Evil 9, with rumors mounting that it's already in active development.
It remains to be seen when Resident Evil 9 sees the light of day, but there are multiple avenues in which Capcom can take the franchise based on plot threads set up in Resident Evil Village. Instead of simply choosing one creative direction for this inevitable next installment, the team behind the Resident Evil series should look to another iconic horror franchise for inspiration in how to tackle the story and pacing of the game.
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When it comes to the most popular survival horror franchises in video games, few others can rival Resident Evil as closely as Silent Hill. Both of these series began on the PS1 and set several foundations for the genre going forward. The main difference between the two is that Resident Evil features more physical threats whereas Silent Hill haunts the player with cerebral and thematic horrors. Because of this, the latter series tends to be far more plot heavy, with deeply psychological tales that can be dissected to understand every terrifying layer.
Taking this concept of having so many storytelling possibilities literally, the upcoming Silent Hill Ascensions looks to tackle providing players with a branching narrative. Similar to other interactive drama games like Heavy Rain and The Quarry, Silent Hill Ascension will put the choices in the hands of the player, with decisions both big and small affecting the story and creating entirely new avenues for how the rest of the game will unfold. This style of game is ambitious and a huge undertaking writing-wise, but if pulled off correctly always gives the title a ton of replayability and allows players to shape the plot however they choose.
Turning attention to Resident Evil 9, it's unclear exactly what form the game will take but Capcom has a lot of opportunities on the table. With so many characters, biohazard threats like the T-Virus, and villains all introduced over the franchise's storied history, it may appear daunting for choosing what to include. However, if Resident Evil 9 chooses to be a grand culmination of everything established so far, it would be wise to take a page from Silent Hill's book in terms of balancing things out.
This is not to suggest that Resident Evil 9 should play like an interactive drama, as both its first-person and third-person gameplay styles have been fine-tuned to perfection over the last few years. This inspiration should instead be incorporated into the concept of choice and give more freedom to the player. Although a divisive entry in the series, the ninth game could make another attempt at what Resident Evil 6 attempted a decade ago, with three different campaigns that follow different characters that all somehow interconnect by the end.
Capcom has nailed down a perfect tone and balance between action and horror with the Resident Evil series lately. Tossing in that extra option to directly influence the direction of the plot would be enticing and give Resident Evil 9 a whole new layer of depth not seen in previous entries in the series. It would be a creative gamble, but if rumors about the epic scale of Resident Evil 9 prove to be true, giving fans more options for how to experience the storyline would be an exciting new addition to the franchise.
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