Capcom’s High-Wire Act: How Resident Evil 9 Aims to Reconcile Two Decades of Horror

Popular Now

CarX Street CarX Street R.E.P.O R.E.P.O Candy Crush Saga Candy Crush Saga FIFA 23 FIFA 23 Rust Rust Brawl Stars Brawl Stars Sonic the Hedgehog™ Classic Sonic the Hedgehog™ Classic Grand Theft Auto V Grand Theft Auto V Black Myth: Wukong Black Myth: Wukong Poppy Playtime Poppy Playtime

The Resident Evil franchise has always been a series of contradictions. It’s a hallmark of survival horror, yet it has also embraced the explosive action genre. It has scared players with claustrophobic, first-person terror and thrilled them with over-the-shoulder,third-person combat. With Resident Evil 9: Requiem, Capcom is attempting to not only merge these disparate styles but also make them a central, dynamic part of the gameplay experience. While the studio has repeatedly stated its commitment to a “so-called ‘old school Resident Evil'” feel, the game’s director, Koshi Nakanishi, has teased a “new system” that promises a “complete roller coaster ride between the different aspects of the series.”

This tantalizing tease, coupled with a recent gameplay demo and interviews at Gamescom 2025, provides a clearer picture of what this new system entails. It’s a daring move that aims to satisfy both fans of the modern remakes and those who were first introduced to the series with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

The “Old School” Return:Resource Management and Puzzles

In a recent interview, Nakanishi confirmed that Resident Evil 9 will return to the core pillars of the classic franchise. This means players can expect a strong emphasis on resource management, puzzle-solving, and a tense, exploration-heavy atmosphere. Gone are the wide-open, action-oriented spaces of Resident Evil Village.Instead, the game’s setting—a new area connected to the original Raccoon City—is an interconnected environment that encourages backtracking and meticulous exploration, much like the iconic Spencer Mansion or the Raccoon City Police Department.

The limited inventory space and scarcity of ammunition and healing items will force players to make strategic decisions, creating that familiar sense of vulnerability that defined the series’ early entries. This return to form is a direct response to player feedback and an acknowledgement of the success of the recent remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4, which masterfully blended modern controls with classic survival horror tension.

The “New System”: A Dual-Perspective Nightmare

The heart of Resident Evil 9‘s new system lies in its dual-perspective gameplay. For the first time in a mainline title, players can freely switch between a first-person and third-person camera perspective on the fly. This is a revolutionary design choice that addresses a long-standing debate within the fan community and serves as the director’s key to creating a “roller coaster ride.”

According to Nakanishi, the first-person perspective is designed for maximum horror and immersion, a direct continuation of the style of Resident Evil 7 and Village. This is where the game’s most terrifying moments and claustrophobic encounters will shine. However, Nakanishi also admitted that Resident Evil 7 was “possibly too scary” for some players, which is why the third-person camera was included. This perspective, a nod to the recent, highly-acclaimed remakes, allows players to “step back slightly from that level of horror,” offering a sense of control and a different tactical view during combat and exploration. This flexibility is a game-changer, allowing players to tailor the experience to their personal comfort level and preferred playstyle. It also allows Capcom to combine the best of both worlds, with some segments of the game being designed specifically to be more effective in one perspective over the other, forcing players to adapt and switch to survive.

The Stalker, The Story, and The Future

Adding to this terrifying new dynamic is the presence of a relentless “stalker” enemy, a feature that has become a staple of modern Resident Evil. Unlike past pursuers like Mr. X or Nemesis, the director hinted that players will be given a “method to overcome” this threat in a way they haven’t been able to before. This suggests a new, more interactive dynamic with the stalker, one that could involve environmental puzzles or new combat mechanics to temporarily neutralize them. The game will also star a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of a character from the spin-off Resident Evil Outbreak, and will revisit the fallout from the Raccoon City incident decades later. By marrying a familiar, classic-style core with an innovative, modern gameplay system, Resident Evil 9: Requiem is shaping up to be a true evolution of the franchise, a game that honors its past while boldly embracing a new, terrifying future.

Scroll to Top