Summary
There’s no question thatResident Evil 9is coming. It probably won’t use a numbered title, likeResident Evil BiohazardandResident Evil Villagebefore it, but a new mainline title is certainly on its way. WithResident Evil 4’s remake getting fleshed out across 2023 with Ada DLC, a full The Mercenaries mode, and an entire VR conversion, the series has had time to plan its next move in the background. There are countless directions thatResident Evil 9could take, giving it more than enough potential to be a huge success when it’s ready.
Resident Evil BiohazardandVillagecompleted a duology covering Ethan and Mia Winters’ story, with the Shadows of Rose DLC seemingly tying up the family’s plot for good. How the series will follow this up has been the topic of much speculation, with many wondering if it’s time for Chris Redfield and possibly even Albert Wesker to return asResident Evil’s leads.Chris coming back asResident Evil 9’s protagonistwould be welcomed by many, not to mention giveRE9a chance to execute a conceptResident Evil Villageproposed but never used.
Resident Evil Village’s “Werewolf Chris” Explained
One piece ofResident Evil Villagekey art gained prominence in the game’s marketing, even appearing as box art in some instances, but it wasn’t what it seemed. It displayed Chris Redfield’s face melded to the shadowed visage of a wolf, synergizing withResident Evil Village’s trailers in portraying Chrisas an antagonist. Many players quickly picked up on this being a misdirect in the game itself, with Chris eventually proving to be Ethan’s staunchest ally. However, narrative roles were not the only expectations this art set up.
Werewolves Were Less Relevant Than Resident Evil Village’s Other Monsters
Unlike mostResident Eviltitles,Resident Evil Villageportrayed its monsters in a more supernatural light, with Mold-infested mutants demonstrating far more variance than past viruses and parasites. The main villains are even themed after classic movie monsters, though a werewolf is noticeably missing from the set.Resident Evil Village’s werewolvesare limited to common enemies and the occasional miniboss, often appearing as bestial villagers comparable to the Ganado ofResident Evil 4. Implications from the key art of werewolves holding special value or even Chris Redfield becoming one are seemingly incidental, though that doesn’t mean they don’t have merits.
How Resident Evil 9 Could Capitalize On The Werewolf Chris Idea
WhileResident Evil Villagedidn’t do anything with the idea of Chris Redfield as a werewolf, even metaphorically,Resident Evil 9could pick up its slack. Going intoRE Village, there were speculations about Chris being potentially infected, even if it’s temporary thanks to a cure for the Mold existing, or Ethan Winters himself gaining a lycanthropic transformation. It would be ironically fitting if both of these conceptsapplied to Chris Redfield asResident Evil 9’s twist, with his line of work finally resulting in him becoming one of the biohazards he’d normally suppress.
The Werewolf Form Could Be The Highlight of Resident Evil 9’s Combat
A conventional werewolf transformation would probably look more heroic than the grotesque flesh blobs that manyResident Evilvillains transform into, but it could take many forms. The Mold’s animal and fantasy-inspired monsters might have run their course for now, soResident Evil 9can use any genre themeit pleases for an infected super mode. This would skewRE9in an action-oriented direction, but may only be available in certain stretches of gameplay to maintain a sense of tension. It could also be a limited power-up like Krauser and Wesker’s melee-oriented Mayhem Modes inRE4remake’s The Mercenaries. Ultimately, seeing Chris Redfield as a werewolf would just be fun, and would fast-trackResident Evil 9towards the series' usual levels of camp.
