Capcom’s Greatest Resident Evil Game Almost Didn’t Exist

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For me, when I think of Capcom, Resident Evil immediately comes to mind – it’s right up there with Street Fighter and Monster Hunter as their most iconic series. Games like Resident Evil 2, 4, and the newer ones, RE 7: Biohazard and RE 8: Village, have been huge hits. Some people even consider RE4 one of the greatest games of all time! But even with how successful RE4 was, making it actually led to something totally unexpected.

Compared to previous Resident Evil games, RE4 represented a significant shift in style. It moved away from the series’ traditional fixed camera angles and instead used an over-the-shoulder perspective – a viewpoint that would become common in later installments. While this change brought more action to the gameplay, RE4 still managed to maintain the series’ signature tense and claustrophobic atmosphere by limiting the player’s field of vision. Fans greatly enjoyed this new approach, and it was later revisited in the remakes of Resident Evil 2, 3, and even Resident Evil 4 itself.

Devil May Cry Was Originally Supposed To Be Resident Evil 4

Many fans of Capcom’s Devil May Cry might not know that the game originally started as an early version of Resident Evil 4. It was almost like a first draft for the next Resident Evil game, and it even included features from earlier survival horror games, like the fixed camera angles.

The game that would eventually become Devil May Cry started as a sequel to Resident Evil, envisioning a protagonist named Tony Redgrave battling the undead and virus-infected in a dark, gothic world with more action. However, as the game developed, it moved away from the Resident Evil formula and began to evolve into something unique. During the lengthy and groundbreaking development of Resident Evil 4, the Devil May Cry project was put aside, but ultimately allowed to become its own separate game.

Honestly, Devil May Cry was just bursting with cool ideas, so Capcom started thinking it deserved its own series. The gameplay was a blast – being able to launch enemies into the air and pull off these crazy, supernatural combos was something totally new. It was a huge departure from Resident Evil, where things were always a bit more grounded. Looking back, I even think Leon in RE 4 took some inspiration from the early DMC stuff, especially the character who eventually became Dante. He could do things that just weren’t possible for previous RE heroes!

Resident Evil 4’s Development Ended Up Going In A Completely Different Direction

If Resident Evil 4 hadn’t switched from the game engine originally planned for Devil May Cry, it would have been a very different experience. Shifting to a darker, more fantastical style might not have pleased long-time Resident Evil fans, who preferred the series’ focus on suspense and horror. Originally, the character Leon was envisioned with superpowers as Tony Redgrave, and that change could have caused a significant backlash from players.

It probably worked out best that Devil May Cry and Resident Evil 4 were distinct games. While Resident Evil 4 added more action to its horror elements, it didn’t change the game’s core genre. However, both series have influenced each other in later installments, ultimately leading to stronger games from Capcom.

Horror Roots Are Clear To See In Devil May Cry Throughout The Series

The original Devil May Cry was more playful than some Resident Evil games, but it still maintained a surprising amount of its horror influence. The first DMC creates a genuinely gothic and eerie atmosphere, largely thanks to its setting: a huge, medieval castle. In fact, this castle feels like it could easily fit into a Resident Evil game, simply swapping zombies for demons and replacing safe rooms with action-packed encounters.

Although the Devil May Cry series became more playful starting with Devil May Cry 3, traces of Resident Evil still appear in later games. For instance, Dante’s brother Vergil shares a similar, serious personality with Wesker, a villain from Resident Evil. Similarly, the monster designs in Devil May Cry evoke the terrifying creatures from Resident Evil, like Nemesis, and this is even noticeable in some of the boss battles. While the original Devil May Cry was most strongly influenced by Resident Evil, the two series have always felt subtly connected.

Capcom’s ability to transform an initial unsuccessful idea for Resident Evil 4 into a hugely popular action series highlights why so many people still love the company. While Devil May Cry wouldn’t have been possible without Resident Evil, the creation of DMC also influenced the way future Resident Evil games were developed.

What are your thoughts on how the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry series are connected? Share your opinions in the comments or discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-20 22:14