Resident Evil Series Criticized for Strong Starts, Weak Endings
The Gamer’s lead features editor Jade King has published an analysis of the Resident Evil series, highlighting what she describes as a recurring pattern of “strong starts and weak endings” across many titles. As a long-time fan of the survival horror franchise, King notes that while each game has distinct characteristics and styles, numerous entries reach their peak experience well before the conclusion. This observation has sparked considerable discussion among players who have noticed similar trends in their gameplay experiences. The critique focuses on how the series’ horror elements diminish as players progress and gain more powerful equipment.
King points to Resident Evil 8: Village as a prime example, where many players felt the experience noticeably declined after leaving Lady Dimitrescu’s castle, with subsequent swamp and werewolf areas failing to maintain the same level of engagement. Similarly, Resident Evil 4 serves as a classic case where the opening village sequence remains the most memorable moment in both original and remake versions. The initial encounter features Leon Kennedy unprepared, sudden hostile outbreaks, and environmental pressure that leaves players disoriented within unfamiliar mechanics. These strong openings create lasting impressions that later sections struggle to match.
As a horror series, Resident Evil needs to quickly engage players at the beginning, typically placing them in unfamiliar environments with new characters facing unknown threats. However, as players progress, they gradually master game mechanics and acquire stronger weapons, transforming the initial fear and uncertainty into a sense of control and power. While the games remain entertaining, the focus shifts from tension and the unknown to efficiency and firepower suppression. King observes that this transition is nearly unavoidable as player skills improve and enemies become more challenging, though the series maintains strong narrative and environmental design throughout.
King suggests that future Resident Evil titles could experiment with breaking this established pattern, perhaps by starting with high-intensity action sequences before stripping players of their firepower to recreate feelings of vulnerability and helplessness. She emphasizes that the “peak early” phenomenon isn’t necessarily a fatal flaw—it demonstrates the series’ strong ability to create compelling characters and environments. However, after decades of following this rhythm, she believes it might be time for the franchise to explore new approaches to horror game pacing and player progression. While the series continues to deliver memorable experiences, this analysis suggests room for evolution in how it maintains tension throughout entire playthroughs.
