Resident Evil Producer "Survival horror isnt popular enough in America"

[Wrathborne]

The 2-3 puzzles were incredibly welcome to RE5s no puzzles.

[Dracarys]

RE5 had the sunlight beam puzzle, and it required no less thinking than the classics games excuses for puzzles.

[Darkmoon]

The sunlight beam puzzle, while feeling a bit out of place, was welcome.

[Det. Beauregard]

I didn't mind the sunlight beam puzzle; RE5's problem was that this was the only puzzle it had. My guess? Puzzles and co-op don't mix. And that's a bad thing for the future of the series, since I doubt we'll ever get a co-op-free RE game again.

At least RE4 had more than one puzzle. It actually had quite a few, and while they certainly weren't of RE3 difficulty, at least they were there.

[Pikminister]

I dunno about the whole co-op puzzles don't mix mantra.

The ones in RE Zero worked pretty good using two characters. Like one character would be trapped in one room and another character would have to wonder around trying to find something that would help said character to get out from that locked room.

There were some other stuff that both characters could do at the same time while trying to solve one single puzzle.

IMO, If done right, that could be done successfully in a RE game with two players helping each other solve a puzzle or any given situation that has them puzzled. By going in different areas to find items that are needed, to solve it. Instead of waiting until one item is found and then going out again to find the other and stuff.

The main problem with playing a RE game using co-op, is that the scare factor goes down. This can be solved if somehow, both characters are kept apart through most of the adventure. And only having them interact by radio communications and also by being able to send each other items by some sort of mechanism. Each player experiencing the game by themselves. Exploring the areas that only each player can explore on a first run. And fighting bosses by themselves.

With some imagination and dedication, it can work. I don't see why we should tag co-op as being totally negative, based on just that one game that did it wrong.

[Det. Beauregard]

I don't see why we should tag co-op as being totally negative, based on just that one game that did it wrong.

The main problem with playing a RE game using co-op, is that the scare factor goes down.

I like your idea, but at some point it becomes much less about traditional co-op and more about a single-player game with co-op elements in the distant background. I'm not sure if the mainstream co-op public would easily accept something that deviates so much from their norm. I do think it's an interesting idea, though, as long as there's a way to play the game as solely single-player and not suffer from any negative experiences.

It's been proven in the past with RE5 and Revelations - when you have AI partners that are able to defend themselves and are with you throughout most (or all) of the game, the scares go down. Whether it's through dialogue at inappropriate times, the lack of the "isolated and all alone" feeling, or them using a first-aid spray on you when you're at 90% health, it simply detracts from the experience. RE0 was different, since you directly controlled both characters.

I'm all for co-op if it won't detract from the single-player experience, but that is practically impossible to do. RE to me should cater to the single player, as it did from RE1 to RE4. Hell, all horror-based games should. There's plenty of other games that I can play with friends, but I don't want RE to be one of them. In side modes? Sure, but not in the main game.

[Pikminister]

Well I'm saying that maybe a game or two should be done that way. With restricted co-op the way I described in the previous post. It doesn't have to be done on the "mainstream" numbered series, though. Like you said, that would alienate the casuals and action fanatics. No doubt.

But that was part of what Kawata was trying to say when he said that aside from RE6, RE fans will have the chance to get other types of RE experiences. Presently, they have a more slower, adventure type of game like Revelations. And all-action shooters like ORC. And it's with such games (side-stories and spin-offs) that Capcom could experiment with co-op the way I described.

BTW, in Revelations the AI partner is just there to fit the plotline. Unlike with RE5, none of the Revelations AI partners get in the way or help you fight any of the enemies or bosses - their weapons are as dangerous as a water gun. So in the first 15 minutes with the game, you realize that you are actually playing ALONE. With a partner who is acting more like the fairy from The Legend of Zelda. Doing nothing at all while you do all the fighting. Besides, the parts where you got a AI partner are limited to a few sections of the whole game. Where you play alone most of the time.

[Det. Beauregard]

BTW, in Revelations the AI partner is just there to fit the plotline. Unlike with RE5, none of the Revelations AI partners get in the way or help you fight any of the enemies or bosses - their weapons are as dangerous as a water gun. So in the first 15 minutes with the game, you realize that you are actually playing ALONE. With a partner who is acting more like the fairy from The Legend of Zelda. Doing nothing at all while you do all the fighting. Besides, the parts where you got a AI partner are limited to a few sections of the whole game. Where you play alone most of the time.

Regardless of the fact that their weapons do almost no damage, they are still there. From an immersive point of view (or even an in-universe point of view), it is simply less frightening. The dialogue to "further the story" simply could have been included in files or cut scenes, just like in the original games. Could you imagine having AI Barry or Rebecca follow you around throughout the majority of Remake? Just their very presence as an AI lessens the scares.

I understand that they probably did this to make the player like the new characters more, but it still detracts from the actual gameplay. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm a gameplay-first kinda guy. By the way, you definitely don't play alone for most of Revelations - there's a few short Jill-only sections on the ship if I recall, but that's it.

[Pikminister]

Regardless of the fact that their weapons do almost no damage, they are still there. From an immersive point of view (or even an in-universe point of view), it is simply less frightening. The dialogue to "further the story" simply could have been included in files or cut scenes, just like in the original games. Could you imagine having AI Barry or Rebecca follow you around throughout the majority of Remake? Just their very presence as an AI lessens the scares.

That's exactly how it was in RE ZERO. In fact, the AI partner in Revelations acts almost like the ones in Zero. Billy and Rebecca had to be together because it was a major point of the plotline that they go through the game together. Same thing happens in Revelations. Jill and Parker go into the boat and you're always wondering if Parker will bite the big one or was going to end up like Steve Burnside (that Veltro trailer hinted that Parker died or had been infected). It was probably written that way by Dai Sato. It was a choice the director of the game made. I guess.

I understand that they probably did this to make the player like the new characters more, but it still detracts from the actual gameplay. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm a gameplay-first kinda guy. By the way, you definitely don't play alone for most of Revelations - there's a few short Jill-only sections on the ship if I recall, but that's it.

Yeah but like I said, the AI partner doesn't help you. Doesn't get stuck on the furniture or slows you down with damn glitches like in ORC. Doesn't grab important items before you do or annoys the hell out of you by doing incredibly stupid things. He or she just follow you like a shadow. They cannot die. They and their weapons are just for show and do not affect the GAMEPLAY in any major way (but only the plotline). And you learn that in the first 15 minutes with the game.

So you realize that even if you have a big fat Italian following you around with a shotgun, you're playing the whole game alone. Like in the old games.

And you're talking with someone that places gameplay over everything else. That's why I don't really bother with RE plotholes and similar stuff like some other users here do.

So when I realized that the AI partner in Revelations wasn't going to steal my thunder by helping me beat the game, I was quite happy with the whole thing. AI partners done right (on campaign mode, that is)

[The_15th]

The 2 player puzzles in Onimusha were great! I think FF Crystal Chronicles had multi player puzzles too. I don't mind Capcom selling out so thoroughly, but I would like for some other company to take their place. They used to pretty much be the only game company I liked. Their graphics are still very pretty and above everyone but their games are really not for me.