Resident Evil is at it's best when it's folk horror

[CenturionNami]

Whether that be Gothic Horror or Southern Horror; I find Resident Evil to be the most appealing when you have locations filled with tons of cultures and folk horror tropes.

From the sprawling, gothic Spencer Mansion, with it's elaborate secret passageways and beautiful elaborate decorations

To the Baker Ranch's homely, cluttered, but still dripping with character, hallways and crudely put together expansions.

These two locations have so much character, and when you add the labyrinth, Metroidvania-esque level design, there probably the most memorable character of these games. When you compare them to Resident Evil 5 and 6's boring streets, skyscrapers, and industrial complexes, you can see why those game are considered such horrible regressions in terms of level design. And even to there forefather, Resident Evil 4, it's first two locations were dripping with atmosphere and character (with the gothic horror influence nailed to a tee)

It's one of the reasons i'm so excited for Village; it's absolutely teeming with moody Gothic Horror goodness.

 

[Khanimus]

Okay, sure....

But...

Zombie Shark

 

[Doomguy Fieri]

Every RE should spend about 2/3rds in a creepy mansion, then the final third in a high tech laboratory. That is the way.

 

[Yuntu]

This is absolutly true.

Village looks like RE4 fused with RE7 and I am sooooooooooooooooooooo excited for that combo.

 

[Host Samurai]

Yeah, but Raccoon City is its best location

 

[CenturionNami]

It's another reason why the RCPD is so memorable compared to the second half of the game in both versions of Resident Evil 2.

 

[DarkSora]

Every RE should spend about 2/3rds in a creepy mansion, then the final third in a high tech laboratory. That is the way.

Click to shrink...

My man!! Gotta have a lab as a final level in a resident evil game.

 

[Asbsand]

You're on to something.

But honestly it is the city-horror that evoked the biggest impression in me.

 

[Huey]

Agreed OP, that's a good way of putting it. RE7 is so goddamn amazing when you're in the house(s) that even if the stuff after you leave them is still a perfectly competent game, it loses some of its luster. But man, when you're in the house, it has that classic RE atmosphere just nailed to the walls.

Absolutely can't wait for Village.

 

[discotheque]

Agreed- I think you could throw the RCPD in there as well even though it's a slightly different aesthetic

 

[KhandoleezzaRice]

Resident Evil has tried a lot of different things and many of them really work with the franchise in interesting, cool ways. I love what they did in 7 and I'm really excited to see how they expand on it in 8, but I also want them to keep experiences like 6 and Revelations going. I don't care what they label it as, but I love horror RE and I love arcadey RE.

 

[Firebricks]

Agreed, and also the reason why I think DMC1 is my favorite DMC game. The mood is lifted from RE and it's perfect.

 

[DarkSora]

Playing through RE5 for the first time at the moment and it feels so off playing the entire game during daytime. It removes the horror element completely.

 

[ClickyCal']

The rpd is still the best apsect of the series overall.

 

[Gunny T Highway]

Every RE should spend about 2/3rds in a creepy mansion, then the final third in a high tech laboratory. That is the way.

Click to shrink...

 

[Elyian]

Give me zombie city infestation or give me death. Ain't nothing like creeping through city streets and subways with the looming threat of zombies popping up at every corner.

 

[TheIdiot]

Welp, you've just hyped me up for RE8.

 

[TreIII]

Agreed, and also the reason why I think DMC1 is my favorite DMC game. The mood is lifted from RE and it's perfect.

Click to shrink...

Yep.

Horror doesn't really work for DMC, after Itsuno firmly chose the "misadventures of wacky-wahoo-pizzaman and friends", but I still would like to see actual gothic ambiance and level design return again.

 

[Thrill_house]

I still think the city was more interesting. RE 2 is still the best game in the series for me so I may be biased.

 

[monmagman]

Yea,I fully agree OP......Village is looking like it could be a very memorable setting!

 

[Whipwhopper]

But...but what about shooting tribal warriors on a river in Africa?

 

[Deleted member 5127]

I've only played RE5, recently bought the remakes of 1, 2 and 3, curious how they compare to 5. It's a shame the new ones are first person, that always seems to give me a headache.

 

[Stencil]

Whoa, wait are those last screenshots in your post from RE8???

 

[Solid SOAP]

Gothic town/city horror is the best. I feel like RE4 flies off the rails at the end when you have to deal with a fucking gigantic statue and then the game turns into COD.

 

[CenturionNami]

Gothic town/city horror is the best. I feel like RE4 flies off the rails at the end when you have to deal with a fucking gigantic statue and then the game turns into COD.

Click to shrink...

The final part of the game is a military complex with enemies like this. It was certainly...something.

 

[Solid SOAP]

The final part of the game is a military complex with enemies like this. It was certainly...something.

Click to shrink...

Cray. I stand that the beginning of the game is awesome and it takes a dip once you get to the castle.

 

[ciddative]

I like the spooky mansion vibe, the city streets, even the village in 4.

I have ZERO interest in RE: Village; it's setting, the witches and werewolf shit, and to top it all off, Ethan, Mia and nuChris

Loved the fairytale stuff in the Witcher, keep it out of RE please

 

[nachum00]

I just think it's best when it has tightly crafted Metroidvania-esque level design.

 

[Son of Liberty]

Agreed, I found RE1 and RE7 to be among the creepier games in the series for those reasons. I'm excited to see what they do in Village.

 

[CenturionNami]

I like the spooky mansion vibe, the city streets, even the village in 4.

I have ZERO interest in RE: Village; it's setting, the witches and werewolf shit, and to top it all off, Ethan, Mia and nuChris

Loved the fairytale stuff in the Witcher, keep it out of RE please

Click to shrink...

LOL WTF does "fairytale Witcher stuff" even mean?

 

[Joaum_Boladaum]

I just think it's best when it has tightly crafted Metroidvania-esque level design.

Click to shrink...

this is the final take

 

[Deleted member 16876]

While I like them as well my favorite is still RE3 (the original).

Racoon City in that game was really cool. It had a more familiar setting but it also had the clocktower which was very gothic looking. Then the game ends in the Dead Factory which is still the best final area in the series.

The variety is unparalleled. You have the city (with it's own fair share of unique locations like gas station, the townhall, the garage and more), the police station, graveyards, parks, hospitals, heck it even had sewers but they weren't that big and of course the dead factory which is so disgusting and dark compared to the many labs in the series.

It is one of the reasons I dislike the remake. The original had it all.

 

[VanDoughnut]

These games benefit from a couple tea spoons of conspiracy/spy shenanigans too along with an intimate setting but they can sometimes go overboard with it.

The common thread between all of my favorite REs is level design that has you backtracking, planning routes, and exploring. And an intimate location that has a lot of mystery.

But RE2's (original and remake) crazy lab stuff in the final stretch was cool, I think because the police station is a pretty spooky environment.

 

[CenturionNami]

These games benefit from a couple tea spoons of conspiracy/spy shenanigans too along with an intimate setting but they can sometimes go overboard with it.

The common thread between all of my favorite REs is level design that has you backtracking, planning routes, and exploring. And an intimate location that has a lot of mystery.

But RE2's (original and remake) crazy lab stuff in the final stretch was cool, I think because the police station is a pretty spooky environment.

Click to shrink...

I always thought the NEST was the weakest part of both games, but to each there own.

 

[nachum00]

I always thought the NEST was the weakest part of both games, but to each there own.

Click to shrink...

Weakest part in the original RE2 but I think in the remake the weakest part is the sewers.

 

[carlsojo]

Every RE should spend about 2/3rds in a creepy mansion, then the final third in a high tech laboratory. That is the way.

Click to shrink...

Mix it up. Start in a lab, break out, haunted mansion, and the final bit is an escape from the city/town.

 

[Rover_]

agreed! i hope they go hard in Village, something like Rural Yharnam

 

[ciddative]

LOL WTF does "fairytale Witcher stuff" even mean?

Click to shrink...

Thats not what I said, but I won't get mad over it. You try and have a good day now friend

 

[CenturionNami]

agreed! i hope they go hard in Village, something like Rural Yharnam

Click to shrink...

Looks alot like Bloodborne which is fantastic, that was basically a Survival Horror game too.

 

[My Blue Heaven]

resident evil is best when it's not the 6th game or code veronica or zero

 

[CenturionNami]

resident evil is best when it's not the 6th game or code veronica or zero

Click to shrink...

0 still has the Survival Horror DNA. It's...experimental, but still fun. It's basically the equivalent of Silent Hill 4 the Room.

 

[WGMBY]

I agree. Resident Evil has always had schlocky elements (Giant Snake and Killer Plants are both in the first game), but it works best when paired with some subtler settings and atmosphere. RE6 has a lot of problems, but the biggest is that it is never scary, even for a moment.

 

[dunkzilla]

You're on to something.

But honestly it is the city-horror that evoked the biggest impression in me.

Click to shrink...

Same. The lack of city horror in games is annoying for me.

 

[Sargerus]

Gothic town/city horror is the best. I feel like RE4 flies off the rails at the end when you have to deal with a fucking gigantic statue and then the game turns into COD.

Click to shrink...

If there is one thing i hope REmake 4 does is to cut the Island entirely or vastly rework it to fit the more horror aspects of previous settings.

 

[Kaguya]

These two locations have so much character, and when you add the labyrinth, Metroidvania-esque level design, there probably the most memorable character of these games. When you compare them to Resident Evil 5 and 6's boring streets, skyscrapers, and industrial complexes, you can see why those game are considered such horrible regressions in terms of level design. And even to there forefather, Resident Evil 4, it's first two locations were dripping with atmosphere and character (with the gothic horror influence nailed to a tee)

Click to shrink...

The village was great, the castle was garbage. RE5 was very similar to RE4 in locations, weird grouping that with 6 when it's by far the most similar game to RE4 in the whole series when it comes to locations!

 

[IrishNinja]

i don't disagree...i loved the house/adjascent outhouse of RE7 so much, that i felt brokenhearted to leave (even with that asshole chasing all the time) for the submarine or whatever RE revelations setting that final act when down in

 

[gnarlyxcharlie]

I'd be more excited if they would show literally anything from Village.
I agree. Aside from RE2. I love that setting

 

[closer]

yeh i agree

 

[wafflebrain]

Gothic and folk horror will always be the best for these kind of games, 100%

I routinely think of just how insanely atmospheric and well realized REmake's environments are. Truly one of the GOAT.

The game itself isn't great but I do love some of Outlast II's whole cult hiding out in the deep forest theme, with all the witchcraft undertones. The beginning hour or two is pretty strong with the attention to detail put into the settlement and some of its inhabitants. Creepy af. Shame the core loop ended up sucking all the tension out of it.

Another thing that makes the RE games stand out are the great soundtracks, especially the various battle themes as enemies are hunting you. RE4 in particular has this sort of heartbeat rhythm thing going on during the village portions, it feels dangerous and oppressive. Those composers are some of the best in the business imo 👍

 

[closer]

if there was a scene in re8 where they were doing that goth rave thing thatd be sick