There’s no denying it. Capcom is killing it this gen. Their business approach, so far, has been nothing short of exceptional. They’ve been dishing out games like there’s no tomorrow, and this year is already looking to follow suit. Capcom is responsible for some of the gen’s biggest hitting titles, such as Monster Hunter World and Resident Evil VII, with highly anticipated games soon to arrive, including the likes of Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5. That being said, it’s their constant flow of remasters that has kept them going so strong.
Capcom announced a few years back that they’re planning on revisiting their IPs and bringing them back for another chance to shine in the proverbial spotlight. Since then, we’ve seen a steady chain of diverse classics hitting storefronts left, right, and center. Whether it’s polished versions of classic Resident Evil games, chunky Mega Man compilations, another chance to take to the lush world of Okami, or even a trip back to Dragon’s Dogma, Capcom hasn’t held back. Furthermore, they don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, either.
Onimusha: Warlords is the next Capcom classic to come back with some shine, launching across multiple platforms tomorrow, January 15th. Say what you will, you’ve got to respect their catalog of interesting IPs. It helps that they’re all so varying and unique, but, there’s one heavily demanded gem that’s yet to surface with the same treatment. Dino Crisis. Would you believe that Dino Crisis is twenty years old this year? That’s right! Dino Crisis first touched down way back in 1999, launching to critical acclaim on the exceptional PlayStation.
The game was later ported to the Dreamcast and the PC in 2000, before enjoying a handful of sequel releases for the next few years. Despite wildly different concepts, gameplay similarities between Dino Crisis and Resident Evil were pulled into question. Though, that really didn’t matter at the time, because, let’s face it, Resident Evil was survival horror in its purest form. The fact that Capcom were able to imitate that model through the use of swapping the undead for the extinct, was clearly a formula that worked in their favor.
Back to the point. Dino Crisis is soon to enjoy its twentieth anniversary. In fact, its twentieth anniversary almost perfectly lines up with the time in which E3 2019 will take place. What’s the likeliness that we’ll hear of a remaster around that time? Possibly even the release of a remaster to celebrate its milestone? Personally, I certainly hope that we do. Though, there’s really two ways that Capcom can go with this, and they’re uniquely positioned to achieve a result either way. So, let’s take a step back and look at this from a smarter perspective.
Dino Crisis has, much like Resident Evil 2 was, been heavily demanded by a strong following of fans for a long time now. Capcom could either play it safe and see what feedback they generate from a simple HD remaster, or, they could evaluate the performance of Resident Evil 2’s remake and, if it succeeds, green-light a full-on remake of Dino Crisis. Perhaps even both. Rumors of a new Dino Crisis game have been popping up for a number of years now, the majority of which have been nearly instantly debunked by an official body of some sort.
However, back in December 2017, the official Capcom Twitter account responded to a fan’s question about the possibility of a new game, by replying with “if a lot of people wish for it”, sparking some enthusiasm. Now, is as good a time as any, taking the aforementioned position into account, for Capcom to finally get their hands dirty. It’s a no-brainer. Capcom know that there’s a lot of interest in the IP, and now, more than ever, is the perfect time to measure exactly how much interest that amounts to. That said, it needs to be done right.
To those of you that are unaware, Dino Crisis follows a similar path to that of Resident Evil. Special forces are sent to a desolate island to recover an asset, only to find themselves isolated and in the midst of the titular prehistoric threat. What follows is a remarkably well paced, thoroughly scary game of cat-and-mouse. Dino Crisis 2 was equally as well received as its predecessor, but come the third installment, well, much like Resident Evil 6, that can sod off entirely. Should Capcom revisit the IP, they’ll need to do it wisely and respectfully.
That said, they’ve made more than their fair share of errors with the Resident Evil franchise, so once again, they’re uniquely positioned. They now know what fans want, and what they don’t want, what works in the world of survival horror, and what doesn’t. More importantly, they’ve learned through Resident Evil not to step too far away from the core concept. We only need to look at Resident Evil VII and Resident Evil 2, whilst comparing them to Resident Evil 6, to see that. Myself, I would simply settle for a Dino Crisis announcement this year.
I don’t care if it’s a remaster of the first two games, or a full-on remake. Dino Crisis needs, and deserves, a comeback. I wouldn’t even rule out a reboot if that’s what it takes. The fact, once again, is this; Dino Crisis is turning twenty. Capcom knows that they have dedicated fans that have been screaming for some activity from the IP for years. Marry that with their business plan this gen, and their unique position with their other IPs, and it all just fits. What about you? Would you like to see some activity from the IP? Hit the comment section.
Want to keep up to date with the latest Xt reviews, Xt opinions and Xt content? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
gen
I saw this game as a weird RE clone when I first played it. LOL.
Anyway, I agree that Capcom is doing a great job.
I wish Square would have this “remake impetus” demonstrated by Capcom. I would love to play “updated” versions of Vagrant Story and Parasite Eve.
cloudtavern
You’re not alone there. Many folks said the same, but then again, it was pretty much RE with dinos lol.
Square would be EPIC with this business model. Hopefully the legacy FF releases encourages them to bring back more from their catalog. Myself, I really, really, REALLY, hope we see a Phantasy Star Online comeback in time for its 20th anniversary next year.
gen
I’ve never played Phantasy star. Actually, I have not played any game of the sixth generation, except for some PC ports or some remaster/remake. After selling my play station (1) the only console I bought was the xbox one I have now.
cloudtavern
Oh wow that was quite a leap! Did you stop gaming for a while then?
Barry
Yes, I to would love for Square to do a remake of Parasite Eve. But as for Dino Crisis I played 1 and 2 loved them, but like others have said it is pretty much Resident Evil with dinosaurs. The Resident Evil 2 remake is fantastic, with great reviews, and great sales, and all the buzz now is that Capcom is talking about remaking Resident Evil 3 Nemesis. So I don’t know if we will ever get a Dino Crisis remake.
cloudtavern
Honestly… I would probably take a Nem remake over a DC remake. Simply because of how great the RE2 remake is. That said, I totally need a DC remake at some point… it just has to happen! Surely!
Darian Hines
I remember playing Dino Crisis 3 as a kid and it was one of the scariest games I had ever played. I was obsessed with dinosaurs and still kinda am to some extent. Now that I am an adult, I total agree that I would absolutely love if Capcom remade this game because as scary as it was back then, I can only imagine how scary it would be no with the graphics technology that has grown so much in the last 20 years.
Nathan Mikel Allingham
I would love a Dino Crisis reboot,remake. But I would want the difficult task of something that is respectful to the first game. (Hell I’d be happy with the first two games combined. Mildly or not.) Like Regina is a weapons expert. But that was hardly touched on. I do not want Dino Crisis to be a resident Evil clone with Dino’s. But the horror aspect can be there without it with smart AI. For example a dark area with only a flashlight to light the area. While Raptor’s or even other Dino’s are using that darkness to hunt you. With maybe the odd sound effects of claws hitting the ground/floor. Or the occasional snarls. Topped off with the fact that they are coordinating their attacks. Like one is silently closer while the snarling one is further away, trying to distract you. Now think about that with maybe jungle foliage, pitch black darkness, hell even ventilation systems. Never scripted completely. One playthrough could be different to another. Like a raptor or another dino waiting for you in a area you need to go through at one point. But not be there keeping you guessing, while giving a sense of dread and anxiety. Your death could be around the corner. Or it could be stalking you from behind while you are trying to scavenge supplies to survive. Using everything against you. How is that for a horror experience? As for features I would like a crafting system and upgrade system. But not drifting from any horror experience. So like RE2 Or even Resident Evil VII and revelations series, where you find extra inventory and ammo pouch upgrades. And have potential to unlock different weapons either through gameplay, bonus content or a mix of the two. And because Devil May Cry series has Bloody Palace. And Resident Evil Series has Mercenaries in some instalments. Dino Crisis could have a bonus mode called Extinction Event. But if there is anything I don’t want is unnecessary changes to characters. Or pointless respawning enemies in the story just to give action. A crafting System similar to Resident Evil VII Or RE2 would be great though. Not to upgrade inventory space. But to craft healing items, and ammunition.