If fans look back at the last severalResident Evilinstallments, they can see a pattern forming with regard to how Capcom designs its games. Starting with theResident Evil 2remake, there were obvious designs or assets that inspired the subsequentResident Eviltitle. This makes sense from a design perspective because it allows for a foundation for future installments to be built upon, instead of having to start from scratch on newer entries likeResident Evil 4- especially ifResident Evil’s modern remakes share a narrative throughline.
The clearest example of how Capcom designs its modernResident Evilgames isResident Evil Village, which shares an unabashed relationship withResident Evil 4in terms of its remote European landscape that features a village and castle as its primary environments.Villageserved as a design and aesthetic template for what theResident Evil 4remake would be, andResident Evil 4’s remake now serves as a way to design the gameplay formula for a potentialResident Evil 5remake.
RELATED:Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Krauser Duel is the Culmination of Its New Parry Mechanic
Resident Evil 4 Remake Makes Interesting Changes to NPCs
HowtheResident Evil 4remakehandles its new companion AI for Ashley and Luis could potentially influence how Sheva would be designed in aResident Evil 5remake. Ashley is more particularly niche as a companion who players must defend given she cannot defend herself, which is unique toResident Evil 4but could have some bearing inResident Evil 5.
The bigger question is whether aResident Evil 5remake would include co-op, but Sheva would still need to have NPC AI designed for her as a companion whether fans want to play in single-player or not. The only characteristic of Ashley’s AI that Capcom might want to include is how players can pick them back up after being incapacitated.Resident Evil 4’s remake allows players to hoist Ashley up wallsand pick her up from an incapacitated state, though players must usually do so with urgency if they are in the middle of an encroaching mob.
Resident Evil 5needs players to heal their co-op partner with a first-aid spray or herb if they are downed, and that would likely be carried over to a potential remake. Rather, the more influential NPC that aResident Evil 5remake would look to is Luis.
A Resident Evil 5 Remake Could Be Single-Player with Sheva as an NPC
Luis and Ashley’s emphasized roles as NPCs in theResident Evil 4remake could demonstrate that Capcom can forgo designing co-op and instead stick to an NPC companion system. Co-op gameplay would mark another huge overhaul for the remakes, but it is an big part ofwhat makesResident Evil 5andResident Evil 6special.
If co-op was to be truly abandoned in the remakes, that would dilute a lot of what fans find fun about them. Luis is a great template for Sheva though, with only a shared inventory missing from whatResident Evil 5’s AI could achieve. Luis is incredibly helpful and intuitive when it comes to combat, as he interrupts enemy attacks and quickly frees Leon from command grabs. Becauseplayers spend more time with Luis in theResident Evil 4remake, it would only make sense that Capcom is developing updated companion AI for its nextResident Evilgame as well.
Resident Evil 4is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
