Jun Takeuchi Unlikely to Return for Resident Evil 6

[Beanovsky Durst]

I find it funny that people blame Takeuchi for the story aspect when he's not the writter... Anyway, whoever's in charge for RE6 that game needs atmosphere and isolation back. LiN was a step in the right direction IMO.

Well he gets part of the blame because being the producer he has to oversight the whole creative process; so if I get the chance I'll slap him in the face because of his decisions, but I WILL KILL with an impale punch Kenichi Ueda the moment I see him

No but seriously 5 wasn't a bad game... I do like it and I've played it a lot, but I think that it wasn't refreshing for the series at all. 6 should at least try to blend the survival horror and the action elements from all the series past titles, and I think Inafune could do it.

[SNPAL21]

People mught have their criticisms of Resi 5, but I loved it when it came out and I'm still playing it a vast amount now. It's been a long time since i've played a game as much as this, over and over, with friends on co-op or the new difficulties or even just blasting around on Mercs.

same here in my opinion Res5 is the best game in the series so far.

[Bianca]

I’m not sure how I feel about this, because after RE4, I had really lost my faith that anyone would ever design another Resident Evil game that stayed faithful to the history while exploring the characters and their purpose. I think with RE5, there was a lot to appreciate about its goals and ambitions, but the execution was flaky and underwhelming. Storyline-wise, RE5 is not a complete disaster, but my biggest gripe is still Jill’s role. I truly believe we would've received a more stellar game had Jill been Chris’ partner and not Sheva. As much as I love Sheva, I do not think she was ever a necessary character. Her exclusion would’ve allowed much more time for a solid storyline while also feeding into the nostalgia for the original Chris+Jill partnership. Chris’ aspiration to “find Jill” throughout RE5 was hardly something I found inspiring. Jill’s disappearance was thrown at us in a sloppy fashion and it never fed into years’ worth of history, as opposed to Sherry’s fate, which had been a concern since the release of CVX. I also still cannot fathom why Spencer did not receive the climatic reveal that was in the making for over a decade. Characters like Irving and Excella were not a necessity, either. Even in areas where we saw potential with them, it was ignored.

This reminds me of a point several of the THIA members made while recording the podcast for RE5. I remember them discussing Mikami’s absence and Takeuchi’s choice of storyline but debating whether anything with Spencer really would’ve been different with Mikami at the helm, given his decisions in RE4. I still go back and forth, debating what could’ve been, and this is why I’m more inclined to lean towards something like this:

Personally, I'd like to see Capcom hand over the next game to a Western developer and give them free reign to do what they want how they want. At the very least, if it's an internal Capcom team, it should be one that is willing to take risks and isn't afraid to veer off into completely new territory for the franchise.

Without making moves that would be considered jumping the shark, I do believe this could work and perhaps be what the series need to find fresh ground.

[Smiley]

Lukewarm reception? Where is that coming from. Most of the reviews from the media have been good and the sales speak for themself. On both fronts RE5 might not be the "game of the year" success that RE4 brought, but what other game in the series offered that same impact besides RE2? However, financially it goes without saying that it's done very well. Way more so than the recent Darkside Chronicles.

I think it's a disappointment to lose another member who worked on the original.

Sure RE5 had its faults to add to ones picked out from the previous games, but at the end of the day he did make a good game. The pressure for being in "Mikami's shadow" will ease with time. Not sure how Lost Planet 2 is doing, but even if the game does suck he can still improve and learn from it. If we lead by example we have Mikami directing a remake of RE1 and then we have P.N.03 for gamecube. The latter recieved less good reviews in the long run, but then he goes on to direct RE4....changes things that even REmake never sought to change. And look what happens? Some classic fans might have preferred the original format, but RE4 was still successful regardless. So I'm sure Takeuchi will be fine.

I hope that whoever tackles the difficult challenge of making the next RE game offers a new experience.

My hopes are for the atmosphere to take on a grimy and gritty horror setting again. I think RE5 showed co-op in a main title can work, but I would prefer a one player game this time around. Co-op is fun, but a solo experience is more frightening than the idea of two players looking out for each other's backs.

[BrionIrons]

i agree.it should go back to just to one character.

[Handsome Rob]

Thanks god!

I can't say that RE5 is a bad game, indeed it's a good game....BUT...

I'm sure that RE5 was certainly the biggest dissapointments I had in the RE Series...I'll tell you why

1) No Run & Gun was OK for RE4 but not for RE5 (Dead Space which was released earlier punchs RE5 in the face!)

2) Sheva appearence was certainly unnecessary...Jill could have been the partner of Chris

3) The return of old BOW's was certainly below the expectations

4) The DLC is too short and unchallenging

5) The innovations are so few....come on, RE5 really needed 4 years of development? I think Mikami could have it done in 2 years with better results.

Takeuchi, please stay far away from RE like...forever

[Rombie]

Big disappoint to me. I'm a fan of Takeuchi, and think the effort and devotion to he had (originally) put into Resident Evil 5 was far impressive than any other RE title developed (aside from REmake and CVX).

Umm... and Resident Evil 4, which is mostly what the backbone of RE5 is anyway. Sans co-op.

Takeuchi's view on the series is questionable these days, even before saying he wont be doing it, he wasn't sure if he wanted to be. RE5 was a difficult title for him without Mikami around anymore to at least advise him it seemed, he's constantly been lost at where he wants to go with his games in his own discussion of them. I kinda get the feeling he really doesn't actually like being a producer all that much.

People making the "RE5 got sales" thing have to remember that the game suffered from the MGS effect, which is that the game before it was so loved over a wide spread time (look at the countless sales over all the platforms RE4 was on) that RE5 was going to be a sure fire sales hit no matter what. But based entirely on the critical background, it's of question where the next game would sell as much because there was more complaining about RE5's actual gameplay/content. This is the pressure that Takeuchi doesn't want, because he don't know how to follow this game up.

Same thing happened on the Wii with Umbrella/Darkside Chronicles. Capcom hyped and sold Umbrella Chronicles well, the thing sold an enormous amount for a mature on-rails shooter. Critically though it got middling comments. But then Darkside came out and because the mainstream buyers didn't like Umbrella Chronicles as much as Capcom made out they would, it looked like more of the same and most didn't feel like being fooled a second time around.

[CRedfield98]

yeah this game wont be out till 2013 the earliest, i dont even want to speculate about RE6 right now lol

[Vector]

Am I the only person who genuinely doesn't give a shit?

[Rombie]

^ Makes a change ;)

j/k

[Gideon Quinn]

I didn't realise RE5 got a 'lukewarm reception'. 85/100 on Metacritic...

[Zombie]

I like Takeuchi, but the main guys that worked on RE5 should be replaced to make a fresh start with RE6.

[Zombie Fred]

I wonder where Kawata stands in all this.

[aris13]

^
This comes from an inteview with Takeuchi back in July

Capcom’s Jun Takeuchi has admitted that he doesn’t expect to head a possible sixth installment in the popular survival horror franchise, a sentiment also shared by his fellow Resident Evil 5 co-producer, Masachika Kawata.

Speaking at the San Diego Comic Con this week, Takeuchi said, “it doesn't appear as though either of us is going to be in charge,” before humorously remarking that both he and Kawata were "playing blackjack to decide who is going to be stuck with the responsibility".

Maybe Kawata won't be involved either.

[chris_survivor]

I think RE5 is one of the best RE i played so far; I do agree that some things could been done alot better; like Jill been your partner and not Sheva. I guess RE6 will be a fresh start, or maybe even RE Portable.