Capcom Shocked Resident Evil Fans With Its Most Divisive Game 13 Years Ago

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The *Resident Evil* series has seen its share of successes and failures, but *Resident Evil 6* remains a particularly difficult game for many fans to look back on. As the eighth main installment, *Resident Evil 6* brought together storylines that followed the survivors of the S.T.A.R.S. team and what was left of the Umbrella Corporation, all after a new virus outbreak began.

The *Resident Evil* series had been moving towards more action, but *Resident Evil 6* really pushed it to the extreme—too much for many fans. It’s often considered a low point in the series because it prioritized over-the-top action and dramatic storylines over the suspense that made earlier games so effective. Even for a series known for being over-the-top, *Resident Evil 6* went too far, ultimately leading to a major change in direction with the next installment.

Resident Evil 6 Is Too Much Of A Good Thing

Look, Resident Evil didn’t just *become* an action series overnight. It was a gradual thing, and honestly, it started with one of the best games – Resident Evil 4. After the GameCube reboot, RE4 was huge, but it changed things up. We went from spooky mansions and uncovering conspiracies to a full-on action movie with Leon Kennedy rescuing the President’s daughter from a crazy village. Because RE4 did so well, Capcom doubled down on that action focus with Resident Evil 5, and things just kept going in that direction.

Despite some criticism that *Resident Evil 5* moved away from horror and focused too much on action and boss fights, it was still a critical and commercial success, becoming the best-selling game in the *Resident Evil* series. *Resident Evil 6* took this approach even further, fully committing to fast-paced action across multiple storylines. The game features four main characters – Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, and new character Jake Muller – each facing unique, powerful enemies and plenty of shooting.

As a long-time Resident Evil fan, I have to say the story in the latest installment just felt…much more extreme than anything we’ve seen before, and that’s saying something! The whole game really struggled with its tone compared to the others. Even when the series started leaning more into action, it always managed to balance that with the creepy horror elements – even when things got totally over-the-top with characters doing crazy stunts like jumping from planes or punching rocks, it still *felt* right. But in Resident Evil 6, that balance is just gone. It lost what made the series so gripping.

The Tonal Problem With Resident Evil 6

A frustrating part of *Resident Evil 6* is how it attempts to wrap up the decades-long story of the Umbrella Corporation. It raises the stakes so high that they lose their impact. Previous *Resident Evil* games were mostly self-contained stories, linked only by familiar characters and a general, underlying threat.

As a gamer, I always loved how *Resident Evil* originally nailed the horror vibe. Seriously, just hearing a window break or seeing a zombie slowly walk down a hallway was enough to freak me out! It really focused on what was happening *right now* – every corner could hide something deadly. The bigger story stuff was there, but it didn’t matter when you were just trying to survive. Honestly, I think the series lost some of that magic when it started focusing more on action and less on that tense, scary exploration.

Although games like *Resident Evil 3* and *Resident Evil 5* kept the tension high with scary monsters and enemies, *Resident Evil 6* relied too much on large-scale action sequences. While it gave players more combat abilities, it lost the quieter, creepier moments that made earlier games so effective. *Resident Evil 4* excelled at balancing intense action with genuine horror, something *Resident Evil 6* failed to do. The game is essentially non-stop fighting with very little actual horror, which disappointed many fans of the series.

Okay, so look, everyone calls *Resident Evil 6* a horror game, but honestly, it’s way more action-focused. They even added a stamina bar, not to scare you, but to stop you from just spamming headshots! In older *Resident Evil* games, things started small, building up the tension so when the action *did* hit, it really got you. But *RE6*? The President turns into a zombie and gets blown up like, super early on. It throws so much at you so fast that any sense of dread just disappears. It’s got all the characters and monsters we love, but without that core horror feeling, it doesn’t really *feel* like a proper *Resident Evil* game to me.

Why Resident Evil 7 Had To Be Such A Departure From 6

Despite disappointing many fans and receiving mixed reviews, *Resident Evil 6* still sold a significant number of copies, largely thanks to the strength of the *Resident Evil* name. While critics were somewhat positive, the game faced much harsher criticism from its fanbase. *Resident Evil 6* essentially concluded the storyline involving the Umbrella Corporation, potentially allowing for future games with the same characters. However, players weren’t eager for more, particularly since *Resident Evil 6* had dramatically changed the direction of the series.

Initial reactions to the game’s title were underwhelming. To address this, the developers dramatically changed direction, focusing on rebuilding the horror elements and returning to the series’ original style. This involved a complete overhaul of the game’s atmosphere, characters, and story, ultimately resulting in *Resident Evil 7: Biohazard*. The game switched to a first-person perspective and prioritized survival horror, while still delivering exciting boss battles. *Resident Evil 7* was quickly hailed as one of the best games in the series, marking a successful return to form for a franchise that had drifted away from its horror roots with its emphasis on action.

The mixed reaction to *Resident Evil 6* thirteen years ago taught us that taking risks is important, but there’s a limit. *Resident Evil 4* successfully expanded the action elements while maintaining the series’ suspense, and *Resident Evil 7* found success by focusing on horror but still including action. *Resident Evil 6*, however, demonstrates what happens when a game relies too heavily on past successes instead of finding its own unique balance.

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2025-10-08 20:41