Capcom has been riding a wave of success in recent years thanks to its critically and commercially successfulResident Evilremakes. But the studio has another franchise that could benefit from a ground-upremake akin toResident Evil 4, one that could provide a wholly different experience. By remaking theDino Crisisgames, Capcom could deliver something that fans have been pleading for, and breathe new life into one of the company’s classic franchises.
Originally released on the Sony PlayStation in 1999,Dino Crisistook the survival-horror framework of theResident Evilgames and swapped out mindless zombies for sometimes frighteningly intelligent dinosaurs. The game’s sci-fi story saw special agent Regina infiltrating a mysterious research facility to uncover its secrets, ultimately having to outwit dinosaurs brought to the present day through a space-time portal. Although the series would go dark after its third entry,Dino Crisishad a lasting impact on Capcomand the franchise’s many fans that make it plenty worthy of being Capcom’s next remake project.
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Dino Crisis’s Prehistoric Foes Can Do Much More than Zombies
A remake of the cult-classic franchise wouldn’t be a new idea, as reports have revealed thatCapcom Japan shot down aDino Crisisreboot in the 2010s. But given the massive success of theResident Evilremakes and the abandoned series’ popularity with fans, the modern gaming landscape could provide a more receptive environment forDino Crisis.
Much like remakes of theResident Evilgames, an updatedDino Crisiscould keep some of the most memorable parts of the experience while smoothing over some of its rough edges. WhileDino Crisiswas praised upon release for the impressive AI of its prehistoric foes, creator Shinji Mikami has stated he hoped to include dinosaurs that were even more intelligent and intimidating. Advances in PC and console hardware in the nearly 25 years sinceDino Crisis’release could make this possible, allowing for dinosaursas ruthlessly intelligent as the Xenomorph fromAlien: Isolation.
Advances in technology could also let aDino Crisisremake take the game’s signature “panic horror” to new heights. By relying on the constantly escalating tension provided by speedy, intelligent foes as opposed to the slower pace of traditional survival-horror titles,Dino Crisisensured players were constantly on their guard. With improved AI and agraphical update forDino Crisis’dinosaursto bring them up to modern standards, a remake could make encountering prehistoric predators more terrifying than ever.
A Dino Crisis Remake Should Lean into the Series’ Campiness
Even if it refines the “panic horror” that made the franchise a hit, aDino Crisisremake wouldn’t have to abandon its campiness. While recentResident Evilremakes have toned down the series’ campy, even comedic atmosphere,Dino Crisiscould lean into the series’ more outlandish elements while ramping up the tension. By embracing the fairly absurd premise of the games, particularly dinosaurs-in-space withDino Crisis 3, Capcom could deliver a game that would have players chuckling when they aren’t fearing for their lives.
The success of theResident Evilremakes shows that there is still a lot of life left in Capcom’s classic franchises, andDino Crisiswould be the perfect game for it to revisit next. With its challenging gameplay and unique premise, not to mention the inherent thrill of coming face-to-face with some of the most terrifying creatures to ever exist, givingDino Crisisthe remake that fans have sought for decades seems like a winning proposition for Capcom.
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