Don’t get me wrong, Leon in Resident Evil 4 isn’t to be trifled with, but even as the game enters its final act, Capcom keeps finding new horrors to surprise you with. Upon entering Umbrella’s labs, we stumble upon the Regenedors for the first time. try these guys out horrific, grey-skinned beasts are initially unstoppable, marching slowly toward you as otherworldly growls leave their infected lips. The only option is to run, or open fire and pray there is some way to bring this thing down. There isn’t, not until you come across the thermal scope and uncover the secret behind its impossible power. Scares force you to think smartly and find immediate solutions, instead of pulling out your shotgun and blowing your problems a
No matter what happens, it remains important to consider the symbolism behind Zelda’s appearance, and how her luscious new hairstyle could be a sign of change for her character that allows her to abandon the shackles of royalty and strive for independence beyond grief and trauma. It’s a powerful message of perseverance for a woman who deserves agency, even more so when you consider the classics that inspired her and how female characters in the world of gaming are finally earning a similar level of respect to their male counterparts.
This didn’t feel the same in Resident Evil 3 or Village, due to a forgiving focus on action and campaigns that were so short that you never had enough time to feel overwhelmed. You’re on a relatively linear track of varying locations and setpieces, meaning Ethan Winters and Jill Valentine never feel lost or alone amidst foreign circumstances. They’re also armed to the teeth, so zombies and werewolves that would feel like the end of the world to a normal civilian are little more than pesky obstacles to our unstoppable her
Aside from this, the storytelling in Breath of the Wild is very much what you make of it. If you’ve played the game before, you’ll know that Link has access to a number of cryptic photographs on his Sheikah Slate that represent locations spread across the open world. You are given no map icons or hints as to where these places are, you simply need to look at the images and work things out for yourself. It’s a wondrous journey of discovery, and providing us with nuggets of narrative as opposed to temporary rewards makes seeking them out all the more satisfying. I love this approach, but mostly for what it represents as opposed to how it contributes to the game’s overall pacing.
Nintendo has built up a cast of beloved supporting characters, so expand upon them and make them matter. Age of Calamity did a solid job of this, although I wasn’t a fan of its more eccentric approach to storytelling – still, it’s a good blueprint to follow if the overall tone is given a few much-needed adjustments. Breath of the Wild was so compelling because of the mystery that defined it, each hesitant step into its sprawling world rewarding us with riches and a freeform experimentation in gameplay that nothing in the open world genre has been able to match since. It’s a marvel, and something the sequel should build upon as opposed to replicating with only a few key changes.
It would be interesting to have a sort of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes type of release for the remake in order to get players excited for it and to also set up Leon better. Maybe they could even include cut content like the ghost house or the Hook
I’ll likely write an article defending Breath of the Wild’s use of flashbacks one of these days, but for now I want to focus on the sequel and how it should do away with them. The first game’s ending sees us return to the present day, with Link and Zelda embarking on another trip across the land to reunite with friends and mourn the loss of their loved ones. Things are returning to normality, at least until another threat emerges in Breath of the Wild 2 and once again throws everything into disarray. So when Calamity Ganon (or whoever is in that spooky cave) rears its head once again, I want the narrative that follows to take full advantage of the present day.
Judging from the trailers we’ve seen thus far, Breath of the Wild 2 is going to be rather similar to its predecessor – at least in terms of moment-to-moment gameplay. The version of Hyrule we explored in the last game is making a return, with Link stumbling across familiar landmarks and enemies with an outfit and movements we recognise from the last game. I imagine towns have been rebuilt and the region is a little more alive now Calamity Ganon has been vanquished, but the layout is likely similar. Because of this, the way in which we explore this world should remain recognisable, so returning players feel welcome and newcomers aren’t alienated by a sequel that challenges some of its younger sibling’s most daring and creative ideas.
This train of thought originates from the remake of Resident Evil 3, which was a painfully underwhelming successor to the phenomenal remake of Resident Evil 2. The latter was one of Capcom’s best games in years, ushering in a new era of survival horror brilliance that I was confident it would build upon. With the arrival of Resident Evil 3 and Village, it seems it is opting for an action-oriented approach that won’t risk alienating those who aren’t willing to negotiate with horror. It’s the smart move, but creatively, it feels like a hollow one. Resident Evil is at its weakest when the action ramps up, giving way to adequate gunplay instead of allowing its atmosphere and monsters to do the heavy lift
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