A future Resident Evil game should give a spin-off idea another chance

While his recent contributions have demonstrated Capcom's ability to innovate in the field of survival horror, the Resident Evil The series also had several experimental releases over the years that have since fallen into oblivion. Published in the early 2000s, Epidemic of resident evil was a co-op title that was not only original as one of the first online gaming experiences, but also as a bold proof of concept for a prevalent infection mechanic that has yet to make a return.

Dealing with the T-virus problem that put a strain on the player was present as a fundamental aspect of the game Epidemicadding a layer of challenge through urgency that increases the stakes and replayability. Although that title may not have lived up to the status of most popular Resident Evil games, other prominent franchises in the subgenre have since proven that the value of contracting a zombie virus in this context should not be ignored moving forward.

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Resident Evil Outbreak's T-virus infection gimmick was a bold experiment that didn't have a lasting impact

Living up to its title with a time limit imposed on the player

While Epidemic maintains a style largely similar to the isometric format of the first series, what really sets it apart is the T-Virus percentage indicator always present on the HUD. This slowly increases over the course of a scenario. Constantly increasing, it ultimately results in death and resurrection as a Resident Evil zombies if the level cannot be completed in time. It's a challenging mechanic to incorporate in addition to the inherent intensity of the genre, but it has since become a symbol of nostalgia and an early example of what would become a more fleshed-out system in other franchises later.

Through a series of different playable characters in Epidemic of resident evilthe game's Viral Gauge has a larger role as an important source of variation between them. Given that Survivors have different rates of infection rate increase and healing ability, this system encourages a level of thought and planning that could easily continue to be rewarding into the next installment of the series.

Resident Evil's zombie game contemporaries show the potential for an infection mechanic in future titles

Harness the intensity of a zombie experience like Dead Rising 2

Several years later, Capcom was able to further explore the concept through the game loop of Dead man resurrected. Protagonist Chuck Greene is required to secure doses of the drug Zombrex to keep his daughter's infection at bay, facilitating a more subtly rooted sense of urgency than that of Epidemic'S. Making the effects of the T-virus a real threat in the near future Resident Evilthere is a possibility that this premise will work for the player character or a companion. This would not only elevate the stakes far beyond the militaristic power fantasy the series can sometimes become, but perhaps humanize and form a basis for connection with a newly introduced cast.

Left 4 Dead and Doom and pioneered the game as zombies

An equally important aspect of EpidemicViral Gauge's is the fact that failing to stop its progression does not end with the end of the game, as the player can continue to play as a zombie and harass his former allies. With the advent of Versus mode Left 4 DeadBattle mode active Eternal destinyand asymmetric horror games in their own right are a growing market, there may never have been a better time for Resident Evil 9 return to the concept of controlling an infected person. Whether it's similarly integrated into a multiplayer outing or taken seriously in the next mainline title, treating the T-Virus as a looming threat on a personal level might seem like a natural evolution of its role.

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