TheResident Evilfranchise is paradoxically in its best position ever and at a crossroads. Capcom has already crafted remakes of the most beloved entries in the series, leaving the polarizingResident Evil 0andResident Evil 5as the next most likely candidates to get the remake treatment, in addition to the anticipated reveal of the series' next mainline entry withResident Evil 9. ShouldResident Evil 5be the next game in the series to get a remake, it stands to improve upon the original in many key ways, one of which could potentially be how it handles co-op and inventory management.
The early years of theResident Evilfranchise were built around each game having two protagonists, whichResident Evil 0would expand upon by having the player control them both simultaneously. This approach was somewhat cumbersome in practice, leading Capcom to go back to the drawing board and make its next duo of protagonists a co-op-focused team inResident Evil 5. Being able to swap items and ammunition on the fly was a major element that madeResident Evil 5’s co-opso seamless for its time, and a remake needs to find ways to innovate without attempting to fix what isn’t broken.
What Elements of Inventory Sharing Would Need to Stay in a Resident Evil 5 Remake?
Player perception towardResident Evil 5has shifted a bit in the years since the game’s release, but one element that still stands tall is the game’s implementation of co-op. Compared to the cumbersome nature of shifting between twoprotagonists inResident Evil 0,Resident Evil 5felt like a breath of fresh air whether playing solo or with a partner, and it’s surprising how well the game still holds up even in a modern context. One of the things that helps makeResident Evil 5’s co-op gameplay remain timeless is how the game seamlessly handles inventory management and item sharing.
Playing solo inResident Evil 5gave players the benefit of tweakingSheva’s AI settings to have her only use items necessary for her survival, effectively allowing them to double their inventory. But in co-op, players' ability to seamlessly swap items with one another and share all treasures accrued in each Chapter allowed for balanced progression and varied approaches to combat. Regardless of what changes aResident Evil 5remake implements, it would do well to leave these elements intact.
How Resident Evil 5’s Remake Could Improve on the Original’s Co-Op Progress and Inventory Sharing
One area where the potentialResident Evil 5remake could improve co-op inventory management is with the actual mechanics of sharing items between players. In the original, bothChris and Shevawould need to be within proximity to one another to both get the benefit of using healing items or quickly swapping ammo boxes. A remake should take advantage of advancements in technology and give players the option to drop items on the ground for retrieval, either extending or outright eliminating the invisible tether between the game’s protagonists.
Sharing of progress is another potential minefield for aResident Evil 5remake to navigate, especially if players match up with random co-op partners online rather than playing through the campaign consistently with a single friend. While the originalRE5allowed for all progress to be saved as if playing in single-player, this meant that all unlocks were also saved specifically to that file. One way that aResident Evil 5remakecould improve this system is by tying progression to the player’s profile rather than the specific save, allowing players to bring in their favorite upgraded gear into new sessions with different players.
Resident Evil 5
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The Umbrella Corporation and its crop of lethal viruses have been destroyed and contained. But a new, more dangerous threat has emerged. Years after surviving the events in Raccoon City, Chris Redfield has been fighting the scourge of bio-organic weapons all over the world. Now a member of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), Chris is sent to Africa to investigate a biological agent that is transforming the populace into aggressive and disturbing creatures. Joined by another local BSAA agent, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to solve the truth behind the disturbing turn of events.
