Survival Horror Leading us into the New Year

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Capcom releases new footage for the highly anticipated Resident Evil 4 Remake. Photo Courtesy of Rock Paper Shotgun

Brianna Sandoval, Interim Editor-in-Chief

From “Resident Evil” to “Silent Hill,” survival horror was a genre that scared young kids to the point of completely shutting off their Gamecube or Playstation. These were the days that were most enjoyed by many and many yearn to return to. Being able to pick up a controller and start up the game for the very first time is something that we all dream of. Now, that dream has become a reality and it’s not stopping anytime.

Twitch Streamer playing video game Tormented Souls
Emsbird playing survival horror game Tormented Souls. Photo Courtesy of Emsbird/Twitch

In 2015, Capcom announced the remake of “Resident Evil 2,” a trailer with gameplay footage was then released three years later at E3 2018. Once released, the game was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews which then sped up the process of the “Resident Evil 3 Remake.” Many fans of the franchise were glad to see their favorite characters return to their screens in an updated engine. However, with this process being rushed, many loyal fans were upset because they felt that a majority of content was cut from the game. 

Capcom among many others have decided to take their time with further releases and have announced new projects to look forward to in 2023.  Alongside Capcom’s “Resident Evil 4 Remake,” Electronic Arts and Motive Studio are planning on releasing a revival of survival horror favorite “Dead Space.” Set in a futuristic, space mining ship called the USG Ishimura and follows engineer Isaac Clarke who is sent to repair the ship but soon discovers something terrible has happened aboard it. This game released in 2008 will see a revamped setting with newer engines and a more immersive horror experience for both old and new players to enjoy.

Just recently, Konami released a trailer with a character walking in the middle of the street in the midst of what seems to be fog. This was soon realized to be James Sutherland, the main protagonist from “Silent Hill 2.” This was the announcement many have been waiting for. There had been debate previously going on as to when the Silent Hill franchise would have its time for remaster. Although no release date has been announced, this is another survival horror classic that fans will be looking forward to. 

With many big titles releasing in 2023, there is much for survival horror fans to look forward to. There may also be more to look forward to as remakes continue to be announced and released. Many are calling for titles such as “Dino Crisis” and “Resident Evil: Code Veronica.” Although it may be a while before any news is released for others, there is hope that the creators that jump started this genre continue to update their classics into newer engines for not only their fans but to introduce a new generation to the experience that is entering the world of survival horror.