Summary
Capcom has been keeping fans waiting for firm news about what it has planned forResident Evilfor some time now. Last year’s remake ofResident Evil 4was a resounding success, expanding on and modernizing the groundbreaking original to create an experience that captured its essence while moving things forward. After theRE4remake, there were expectations that the studio would quickly follow up and capitalize on this by revealing what it had in store forResident Evilnext.
Earlier this year, the studio did finally officially confirm that the long-assumed ninth mainline title is in the works, withRE: Villagedirector Koshi Nakanishi taking charge of the project. Beyond that, however, it offered little else. Even before this, though, there were variousrumors swirling aboutResident Evil 9. One that has been consistently in this conversation is thatRE 9might be pivoting to an open world design. This would mark a first for the long-running series, but as Capcom has shown, it is willing to experiment with its formula. And ifResident Evil 9does end up being the first fully open world entry, it comes with great potential to feature one ofRE’s most effectively nerve-racking elements in the form of an indomitable stalker foe.
Another leak previously claimed thatremakes ofResident Evil 0andCode: Veronicaare next in line, withResident Evil 9possibly being delayed.
If Resident Evil 9 Goes Open World, It Opens the Door For a Pursuer Enemy to Naturally Follow
The Potential of Resident Evil 9 Possibly Being Open World
There are certainly somepros and cons to consider ifResident Evil 9embraces an open world structure. As it would be a big break from the claustrophobic, linear style thatResident Evilhelped invent and has been part of its identity over the course of decades, an open world title risks eroding some of that edge. On the other hand,Resident Evil VillageandRE 4, (more so in the remake) were both as close as the series has come to dabbling with an open world approach.
Both titles hinted at how an open world could work while keeping much of what makesREexciting and enjoyable intact. So long as Capcom is able to strike a balance betweenRE’s integrating roots into an open world design, this could result in a whole new experience that pushes the series once again into the future, especially regarding a stalker enemy.
How Resident Evil 9 Could Incorporate Stalkers Into An Open World
Relentless pursuers are a staple of the series, andResident Evil 9having a stalker enemyin the vein of Nemesis or Mr. X would help bridge the gap betweenRE’s recognizable elements and its possible new direction. One of the criticisms of theRE 3remake was that Nemesis encounters were more scripted than organic, which deflated some of the tension.Resident Evil 9could address this by incorporating a stalker in ways that feel less stilted and constrained, and makes informed use of an open world design.
Someleaks already point toResident Evil 9having a stalker-like foe, and while it’s best to take these with a dose of skepticism, it does seem reasonable to assume one will appear in some form. If so, then a good reference point for working one in might be a title likeAlien: Isolation, where the pursuer’s AI analyzes the player’s actions and location to menace them dynamically and unpredictably. This would keep tensions high and fans on their toes even in less traditionally cramped levels.
Perhaps with much larger areas,Resident Evil 9could even have multiple pursuers, each that “rule” over a region, akin to the four villains inRE Village.It could then greatly expand on this, with them being able to appear anywhere within a given domain depending on players' positions and decisions.Resident Evil 9being open worldmay be a bold move, but it would also provide plenty of room to evolve the classic stalker enemy in a way that fits within a more freeform structure while maintaining the scares that the series is well-known for.
