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Resident Evil Requiem director redefines survival horror genre
Director Koshi Nakanishi notes significant challenge in balancing action and horror in game
Three decades ago, Resident Evil emerged as a groundbreaking game that defined the survival horror genre—a combination of spine-tingling suspense, complex puzzles, and detailed inventory management.
The series quickly became the top-selling franchise for the Japanese developer Capcom, leading to an array of books, films, TV shows, and additional games.
With Resident Evil Requiem hitting stores globally on Friday, how has this latest installment managed to surprise its fan base, keeping the fear factor fresh after 30 years?
The director of the new release, Koshi Nakanishi, shared with the BBC that balancing "familiarity with novelty" posed a "significant challenge."
He expressed hopes that the new title would "innovatively redefine survival horror," yet remain "true to the essence of the series."
Throughout its history, the franchise has oscillated between emphasizing horror and adrenaline-pumping action, sometimes yielding mixed outcomes.
Upon learning that the new game would try to integrate both elements, some fans worried it might feel too "disconnected."
Nevertheless, producer Masato Kumazawa reassured the BBC that the team is deeply committed to maintaining the distinct atmosphere of Requiem and Resident Evil: fear.
"Fear is inherently human," he noted.
"Through entertainment, we find ways to experience fear as a thrill, but positively."
"Even after 30 years, the game's legacy continues to satisfy people's craving for those exhilarating moments, because that experience truly resonates with human nature."
With these enigmatic opening words, Resident Evil pioneered a new style of gameplay.
Although some view 1989's Sweet Home, another Capcom creation, as the first real survival horror, the term was officially used to market the 1996 release of Resident Evil by its director, Shinji Mikami.
This description was meant to capture the game's intense atmosphere, created by fixed camera angles, ever-present zombies, and a limited cache of ammunition to fend them off.