Is there such a thing as a horror game being too scary? Apparently, this was the case, according to a recent interview with RE9 director Koshi Nakanishi.
RE7 Was Too Scary
From a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Nakanishi spoke about Resident Evil 7 being “possibly too scary” and “some people couldn’t handle it,” which is among the few reasons why Resident Evil 9 has a third-person mode. Naturally, the horror genre thrives on several elements, one being perspective. The amount of immersion or fear factor can shift heavily depending on whether the player is watching things unfold in the first or third person.
For instance, navigating the Baker Ranch would be slightly less terrifying if you could shift your camera back to third person, making those sudden jump scares a little more manageable. Regarding this change for Resident Evil 9, Nakanishi said;
“I think some people couldn’t handle it, and either couldn’t finish or didn’t even start it. And that’s something that I look back on thinking that, you know, I want to make sure that people can enjoy this game. So if you started the game off in first-person perspective, and you’re finding it’s too much, then third person is almost a way to step slightly back from that level of horror and make it slightly easier to deal with by having the character on screen as a kind of Avatar of yourself.”
A Good Change for RE9
Despite what hardcore horror fans might say about lessening the level of horror, this change is, of course, entirely optional. Not everyone needs to play Resident Evil 9 in third person. So for those who want that level of tension and suspense, this change won’t impact your experience.
Honestly, with the way that RE9 is shaping up, this could be the scariest entry in the series yet, so perhaps it is the right course of action for future entries. After all, Nakanishi put it best: “I want to make sure that people can enjoy this game”. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. Everyone’s experience is different, so offering various ways for gamers to play is a win in my book.
But what do you think? Is this change enough for you to consider playing Resident Evil Requiem? Let us know and keep an eye on our latest news for more updates.
