WithResident Evil Requiem, developer Capcom is taking its flagship survival horror series once again into new territory. After its reveal at the Summer Game Fest and the latest update during Capcom’s Spotlight showcase, fans got a better idea of what to expect from the next upcoming mainline entry. Most notably,Requiemwill be embracing heavypsychological horroraspects and moving away from the more action-oriented designs of the previous few games. Back in 2009,Resident Evil 5marked another turning point in the series, specifically with its heavy emphasis on co-op play, something that proved a bit divisive and remains so for some fans.
Starting in 2019 and through 2023, the remakes ofRE2,3, and4have been overall quite successful.It was then assumed that a remake ofResident Evil 5would benext in line. However, previous leaks and rumors have suggested that Capcom is instead working on “less ambitious” remakes ofCode: VeronicaandRE Zero. Still, it’s nearly a guarantee that the studio will get around to remaking the fifth numbered entry eventually. And sinceRE Requiemseems to be dedicated to an isolating solo experience, this may mean that anRE5Remake might have to face some roadblocks in terms of the co-op experience if it’s going to include it, given that no modernREentry has done so yet.
Resident Evil Requiem Lacking Co-Cop Could Mean a Resident Evil 5 Remake Will Struggle to Bring the Feature Into the Modern Era
Resident Evil 5’s Co-Op Was One of its Major Defining Features
AfterRE4revolutionized the serieswith its game-changing switch to an over-the-shoulder third-person camera perspective and other changes, setting a new bar for the franchise in the process, expectations for the next entry were understandably high. For the followup, Capcom surprised fans by making the adventure a two-player experience.Resident Evil 5sees Chris Redfield partner up with BSAA agent Sheva Alomar, as the pair work to survive in a fictional African country where the fallout of Umbrella’s downfall has created another tense and dangerous situation.
Though this was certainly aninnovation forResident Evil’s core designs, the practical results were a little uneven. While it was enjoyable to have someone else along for the ride, if playing solo, Sheva’s AI behavior could be unpredictable and downright unhelpful at times. She would sometimes use healing items on the player unnecessarily, and trading ammo with her could be unwieldy, for example. The series has not featured co-op in any of the modern entries, either in the remakes orRE7andVillage, and this could mean anRE5remake might have some difficulty with it.
An RE5 Remake Needs to Make Sure Co-Op is Up to Snuff
While its initial reveal and trailer introduced Grace Ashcroft as the protagonist, there was still a lot of suspicion and speculation thatLeon Kennedy would be the second playable protagonist inResident Evil Requiem, as rumors and leaks had also pointed to this being the case. This opened the door to a potential co-op angle being included in it. But Capcom seemed to dispel this during the recent Spotlight, with Grace definitively stated to beRequiem’s main character due to her being a better fit for its pivot to psychological horror.
It’s also known thatResident Evil Requiemwill let fans switch between first and third-personviews at will, which will likely satisfy fans who prefer one over the other.
Co-op has yet to be seen and tested within the latest iteration of Capcom’s in-house RE Engine.A possibleResident Evil 5 Remake, assuming it will retain the focus on co-op design, will thus need to ensure that the feature functions smoothly. If it doesn’t feel improved, updated, or streamlined enough, this may cause frustrations in the way the original could, and risks devaluing the experience. Hopefully, Capcom takes the time and effort to ensure co-op is as good as it can be in anRE5 Remakeand is up to the other standards it has set with the modern installments.
