Summary
As great as Chris Redfield is,Resident Evil 9should shift the focus to a different character from the classic games. Ideally, this character should be either Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine as, on top of being two of thebest characters inResident Evil, they would help to further connect the newer games to the older ones while providing unique storytelling opportunities.
The current state ofResident Evilis a bit strange. There are essentially two different “strains” of modern releases in the series: the first-person Winters family games and the ground-up remakes of the older titles. While the remakes and Winters games can be wildly different in many ways, they ostensibly take place on the same timeline, as evidenced by the different temporal settings (the remakes are still set in the years they were released) and the appearance of characters like Chris Redfield inResident Evil 7andVillage. Although it doesn’t look likeResident Evil 9will feature Ethan or Rose, it might still follow a new character in an effort to keep the series moving forward. Even if this is the case, there are many benefits to bringing back iconic characters like Leon or Jill.
Why Resident Evil 9 Should Favor Leon or Jill Over Chris
Resident Evil 9 Needs to Give Players Updates on Leon and Jill
While the last two (non-remake)Resident Evilgames make it clear that Chris is a highly active BSAA operative, it doesn’t give any insight into the lives of the other characters, which seems a bit odd. Jill and Leon are both alive intheResident Evilcanon, with the former not being seen in-game sinceResident Evil 5.Resident Evil 9has a chance to show how Jill has managed to recover from Wesker’s mind control and the events in Kijuju.
Leon Kennedy’s status is also unknown. His last in-game appearance, aside from remakes, was inResident Evil 6, which saw him going through a series of traumatic events, including being forced to kill the President of the United States. He is safe and cleared for duty at the end of the game, however, and it doesn’t seem like he is considering leaving the Division of Security Operations any time soon. Considering everything the character has been through over the course of the series, it could be rewarding and entertaining to see him older and wiser in a newResident Eviltitle.
Technically, the last canon appearance of both Jill and Leon was in theResident Evil: Death Islandmovie, which takes place in 2015 and shows Jill fully recovered from Wesker’s control. The animatedResident Evilfilms are generally considered canon, but due to their poor critical reception and general lack of impact on the in-game narrative, Capcom may choose to either retconDeath Islandor simply ignore its events inResident Evil 9.
The Resident Evil Remakes Revitalized Leon and Jill
SeveralResident Evilcharacters were fleshed outthrough Capcom’s recent remakes, with Leon and Jill being notable examples. This is especially true for Leon, as his appearances in theResident Evil 2andResident Evil 4remakes made him considerably more believable, likable, and multidimensional, toning down his cheesy, action-star persona just the right amount. Jill, despite only showing up in one remake so far, has also been portrayed as more multifaceted, something that is achieved in great part by improved voice acting and less objectification.
If one or both of these characters show up inResident Evil 9, the series could cement their more polished representations while showing fans what they’ve been up to. It’s important to note that, while manyResident Evilfans enjoy Chris, the remakes have allowed Jill and especially Leon to supersede him as the faces of the franchise, for better or worse. This could change if Capcom reveals anewResident Evilremake this year, but regardless,Resident Evil 9should fold in Leon or Jill.
Resident Evil Village
WHERE TO PLAY
Ethan Winters finds himself in an entirely new nightmare in Capcom’s latest installment of the acclaimed Resident Evil franchise. Whether you’re defending against Lycans in the grim dwellings of the village or exploring the lavish Castle Dimitrescu, the meticulously designed environments immerse you in this eerie world, powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Run from, hide or face off against a diverse cast of terrifying village inhabitants in dream-like - no, nightmarish - situations and fight your instincts to push through classic horror-based sequences. Also, be sure to check out “The Mercenaries” that unlocks once you’ve finished the campaign, a fast-paced and arcade-like game mode which challenges players to blast away enemies against the clock.
