Summary
Resident Evil 9has officially been confirmed, and although there aren’t many details known at the moment, it’s at least certain thatResident Evil 7’s director will be returning. Koshi Nakanishi helped bring a terrifying new chapter in the long-running horror series to life, and his return is exciting news. WithResident Evil 9’s story being kept in the dark, there is a lot of speculation about where the franchise will go.
Despite Koshi Nakanishi’s return being a good sign, there is one notorious moment fromResident Evil 7that will need to be examined going forward withResident Evil 9. The Wrecked Ship section fromResident Evil 7is a divisive moment in the game, as the major change of scenery and overall tone derail the story for some players. Now thatResident Evil 9will have Nakanishi’s direction, another Wrecked Ship moment needs to be avoided.
Resident Evil 9 Atoning For RE7’s Mistakes
A Jarring Change in Tone
Wrecked Ship tasks players with playing as Mia as she’s now looking for Ethan in an abandoned ship. During the search,pieces of Mia’s storybegin to come together, finally explaining exactly how she ended up at the Baker family’s house. Although Wrecked Ship brings some closure to the game’s overarching mystery, the change in tone throughout the level is quite jarring. Throughout the game, players spend hours with the Baker family in their house of horrors, only for the scenery to drastically change. The claustrophobia felt throughout the Baker house is palpable, but the ship setting doesn’t hit the same note.
The scares also seem to lose their effectiveness.Resident Evil 7is one of the scariest horror games in recent memory, thanks to its intensity. However, Wrecked Ship begins to lean closer to action than horror at this point in the game. Throughout the level, Mia becomes armed with a machine gun, and there is a heavy reliance on remote bombs. Of course, this is hardly the mostaction-packedResident Eviltitle, but it’s a major pivot from the previous tone the game established leading up to the Wrecked Ship level.
This level’s use of remote bombs to deal with the Molded and the exposition detailing Mia’s relationship with Eveline take the wind out of the story’s sails a little bit.Every corner of the Baker housecreated serious tension, as a run-in felt like it could happen at any moment, but the recycling of Mold creatures and scripted Eveline moments slowed the game’s pace when it should have felt like it was beginning to amp up.
Building a Satisfying Finale For Resident Evil 9
to giveResident Evil 9an ending that pays off, any focus on more action-based mechanics should be saved for the very end.Resident Evil 7’s final bossis definitely filled with a fun blend of action and horror, but it could have been nailed much better if it was the only section of the game that brought action into the mix. Introducing an action-heavy section at the end of a knuckle-clenching horror game makes more sense overall. Saving all action for the finale can bring catharsis after so many hours of trying to keep one’s nerves at bay.
The Wrecked Ship level may offer interesting explanations for Mia’s involvement with The Connections, but it can also feel out of place.Expectations forResident Evil 9will be high, and Wrecked Ship is a moment that still divides players. For some, the use of remote bombs and story-closing exposition is satisfying, but it can also be a letdown for those who preferResident Evil 7’s hardcore horror. TheResident Evilfranchise has always featured both action and horror elements, but hopefully,Resident Evil 9can balance it better thanResident Evil 7did.
