Capcom can make the Resident Evil games infinitely replayable by adding a singular and simple new mechanic that's already been made popular through mods - the randomizer. While recreating a player’s first experience with the game is effectively impossible, a randomizer mode or difficulty selection can help it continue to surprise fans in an intriguing way. With this feature, Capcom can create new challenges for even the most experienced of long-time players. And this can make the next Resident Evil game highly entertaining to replay.
Randomizers for certain events and mechanics are a feature that has been explored in both newer releases and some of the most classic Resident Evil games. A modder for Resident Evil 4 developed a popular randomizer mode for the title, and several others have been developed for other games in the series. Capcom even implemented features similar to this in newer releases. Resident Evil 7’s Madhouse difficulty had items and enemies placed in different locations, which was later repeated in the RE3 remake and Resident Evil Village. And even though things weren’t completely unpredictable, there was already the added challenge of learning this specific difficulty.
However, the appeal of a new randomizing feature is more than just adding a harder difficulty setting for players to complete. By making every single run through the main story different than the last one, this type of mechanic rewards fans for their time spent deeply learning different aspects of the game. Not only that, but ridiculous, unpredictable scenarios allow for brand-new fun that makes a whole playthrough feel fresh, even for more experienced players.
Resident Evil Needs An Official Randomizer Mode
Firstly, a randomizer mode can make Resident Evil bosses even better, as well as other monsters and locations. When playing any RE title for the first time, players learn about the existence of a variety of dangerous monsters, from regular zombies to villains, that will face their characters. As they progress, they become accustomed to their mechanics, animations and fighting styles, accumulating experience in fighting. In regular gameplay, this knowledge about enemies is mostly used for speedruns and time-limited challenges. However, it becomes more useful when enemy locations are random, because players must rely more on learned skill to survive dangerous situations.
Not only that, but making certain aspects of the game random allows for more ridiculous situations during playthroughs, since a randomizer subverts player expectations about certain locations. For example, they can find themselves in a room that was supposed to be completely empty that's suddenly filled with some of the worst monsters of Resident Evil. Or they might find themselves looking for an important item to the story in one place, only to discover that it's been moved to a completely different location. This would encourage players to explore areas they already know to find new items and make new strategies.
With comfortable controls, good graphics, and an already strong baseline experience, the Resident Evil franchise made a well-received return in 2017, and recent releases promise even more. But by adding a custom difficulty setting that allows players to randomize various aspects of the game, Capcom has the potential to make the next Resident Evil game infinitely replayable for a long time to come.
