Has The Resident Evil Franchise Been Overdone

Okay, confession time. I love Resident Evil. I really do. There’s just something so satisfying about blasting zombies and solving ridiculous puzzles.

But lately, I’ve been getting a weird feeling. A feeling that’s been creeping up on me like a… well, like a zombie. Is it possible? Are we… have we been… Resident Evil-ed to death?

Think about it. We’ve had so many games. And not just a few. We’re talking a whole buffet of biological horrors. From the mansion to the city, to a village, to a bloody space station (sort of).

And then there are the remakes. Oh, the remakes! They’re great, don't get me wrong. I’ve played Resident Evil 2 Remake about a million times. And Resident Evil 4 Remake? Chef’s kiss.

But is it possible that by re-making the classics so perfectly, they’re… well, reminding us of a time when things felt a little fresher? Like a perfectly aged cheese that’s so good, you forget about the new, questionable brie trying to take its place.

Let’s not forget the movies. The ones with Milla Jovovich. They’re… something. They’re definitely Resident Evil movies. Lots of running, lots of bullets, lots of slow-motion kicks.

Some people love them! And that’s cool. But for me, they always felt a bit like a slightly off-brand action flick with zombie vibes. A bit like when you try to make your favorite meal but run out of one crucial ingredient.

And the spin-offs! We’ve had fighting games, rail shooters, those creepy online ones where you’re just running around looking for people. Some were fun, some… less so. They’re like those weird appetizer samples you get at the grocery store. Some are surprisingly good, others make you question your life choices.

It feels like every time we blink, there’s a new announcement. “Resident Evil is coming to VR!” “Resident Evil is getting a new animated movie!” “Resident Evil is launching a line of branded zombie-repellent spray!” Okay, maybe not that last one. Yet.

The universe is huge, right? There are so many stories they could tell. So many new horrors they could unleash. But instead, it often feels like we’re just circling back. Retreading old ground. Like a lost tourist who keeps ending up back at the same landmark.

Remember the original Resident Evil? It was revolutionary. The tension! The tank controls! The door opening animations! It was pure, unadulterated terror.

And then Resident Evil 4 came along. Boom! A game-changer. A whole new perspective. It redefined the genre. It was like a breath of fresh, albeit slightly gassy, air.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m still excited for new Resident Evil games. I’ll probably pre-order the next one the second it’s announced. It’s an addiction at this point. A fun, zombie-filled addiction.

But there’s a part of me that misses that feeling of genuine surprise. That sense of stepping into something completely new and terrifying. Instead of knowing, deep down, that you’re probably going to find a shotgun in a slightly-too-small cupboard.

It's like rewatching your favorite movie for the tenth time. You know all the jokes, all the plot twists. It’s still enjoyable, but the magic of the first viewing is… different.

Maybe it’s just the nature of long-running franchises. They have to keep feeding the beast, so to speak. And sometimes, that means rehashing what worked before. Like a chef who’s famous for their amazing lasagna, and keeps making it, even if they secretly want to try making something completely different, like… escargot.

The characters are iconic. Leon S. Kennedy. Jill Valentine. Chris Redfield. We’ve seen them fight through more zombie outbreaks than most people have had hot dinners. They’re basically the Avengers of the undead world.

And they’re getting older. Or at least, their games are. Are we going to see Leon trying to dodge zombies with a walker soon? “Just need to reload my magnum… give me a sec, my hip is acting up.”

It's a tough line to walk for developers. How do you keep innovating without alienating your loyal fanbase? How do you make something feel fresh when you've already explored so many corners of the zombie apocalypse?

Perhaps the answer lies in embracing the absurdity. Lean into the over-the-top nature of it all. Give us a Resident Evil where the zombies are actually just really bad dancers, and the boss fights involve a giant disco ball.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a brief, well-deserved nap. A little break for the Umbrella Corporation to… reorganise. For the Spencer Mansion to have a good dusting.

Then, when we’re all nice and ready, they can come back with something truly unexpected. Something that makes us jump out of our skin again, not just because of a jump scare, but because it’s so wildly different.

Until then, I’ll be here, stocking up on herbs and probably yelling at my screen. Because despite my nagging suspicion, I’m not quite ready to hang up my combat knife just yet.

It’s a love-hate relationship, really. Like that one friend who always tells the same hilarious story, but you still laugh every time. You know it’s coming, but it’s still good.

So, have they overdone it? Maybe a little. Is it still fun? Absolutely. I guess the real question is, are we ever truly safe from Resident Evil? Probably not. And maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.

Because sometimes, a good old-fashioned zombie shoot-out is exactly what the doctor ordered. Even if that doctor is probably also a walking, talking bio-weapon.

We've seen so many iterations. Each game tries to bring something new to the table. New mechanics, new enemies, new characters. It’s a constant evolution, but also a familiar path.

The core loop of survival horror remains. Scavenge for resources, fight off monstrous threats, and try to survive the night. It's a formula that’s been perfected over decades.

But with every new installment, there's a whisper of "haven't we done this before?" It’s a testament to the franchise’s success, but also a potential pitfall.

The constant stream of content can lead to fatigue. Like eating the same amazing pizza every single day. Delicious at first, but eventually, you might crave a burger.

And let's be honest, some of the games have been more hits than misses. There have been entries that felt like they were stretching the formula a bit too thin. Like trying to make a tiny piece of cheese cover a whole cracker.

The remakes have been a brilliant way to revisit beloved classics. They breathe new life into old nightmares. But they also highlight the fact that we’re revisiting them.

So, yes, the Resident Evil franchise has certainly had a long and prolific run. Perhaps it’s time for a slightly longer breather between outbreaks. A chance for the spores to settle, so to speak.

But then again, when has a good zombie apocalypse ever really ended?

We’re likely to see more Resident Evil for a long, long time. And I, for one, will probably be there, ready with my shotgun and my questionable puzzle-solving skills.

It's a legacy that’s hard to escape. Like a particularly persistent infected creature. You think you've dealt with it, and then, BAM! It's back, looking a little different, but just as dangerous.

And that’s the magic, isn’t it? The ability to constantly reinvent itself, even while staying true to its core identity. It’s a balancing act, and Resident Evil has been doing it for a while.

So, overdone? Perhaps. But is it still a beloved and exciting franchise? For many of us, the answer is a resounding yes.