As the wait forResident Evil 9continues, many fans are speculating about what kind of game it’s going to be. TheResident Evilfranchise has undergone a number of dramatic transformations over the course of its decades-long life, ultimately settling into a comfortable balance of action-survival horror. But there are hopes (and concerns) thatResident Evil 9will shake up the series formulaonce again, possibly implementing major new features like an open-world.
Indeed, the open-world question has dominated discussion surroundingResident Evil 9, but there’s one odd franchise mechanic that could make a return, especially given an open-world framework: merchants. So far, only two mainlineResident Evilgames,VillageandRE4(along with its remake), have proper merchants, and most players agree that they enrich the overall experience of each game. These merchants play a crucial role in progression and gear management, but they certainly serve to uphold the “action” side of theResident Evilformula, more than the “survival-horror” one.
A Merchant in Resident Evil 9 Comes with Pros and Cons
An In-Game Economy Could Help Resident Evil 9’s Open-World
Merchants are generally associated with the moreaction-orientedResident Eviltitles, which makes sense:VillageandRE4are both certainly very heavy on action, and being able to purchase things like weapon upgrades, ammo, and healing supplies allows players to take greater risks, as there’s less of a concern about running out of crucial items. IfResident Evil9wants to lean into the franchise’s penchant for blockbuster action, then an in-game store could be a good addition.
Though it doesn’t have a literal merchant,Resident Evil 5, a notoriously action-focused entry, includes an in-game shop between missions, which serves a similar purpose.
But it would also be rather helpful inResident Evil 9’s theorized open-world context. If players could engage with some sort of virtual economy, it would offer a strong incentive to explore and collect either currency or valuable items to sell. Plus, with non-linear progression playing such a crucial role in open-world game design, being able to work toward better gear through an in-game shop could be massively rewarding.
A Merchant Could Rob Resident Evil 9 of Its Survival Horror Staples
Regardless of one’s personalthoughts aboutResident Evil 4andResident Evil Village, it’s fair to say that they don’t prioritize horror to the same extent as, say,Resident Evil 7. There are several factors that contribute to this emphasis on action over scares, and the inclusion of merchants is one of them.
A key ingredient in the survival horror formula is resource scarcity—limiting crucial supplies and ammo and healing tools is an effective way to make players feel underpowered. It also ratchets up the tension of the moment-to-moment gameplay, as players have to carefully consider whether they want to take on an enemy or find away around it. There’s no guarantee that they will be able to restock their supplies at a shop, so there’s a tangible sense of fear surrounding hostile encounters, as they can have meaningful and long-term impacts.
IfResident Evil 9wants to be scary, then the safety net of a merchant may not be the best decision. Back to the open-world point, there’s an argument to be made that a merchant would also undermineResident Evil 9’s exploration: if upgrades and other gear can just be purchased, then open-world discovery could be less satisfying, as rare goods baked into the level design would be rare or nonexistent.
Ultimately, if Capcom is hoping forResident Evil 9to be a bold new stepfor the series, or continue its focus on action-oriented gameplay, then looping in a merchant could be a good call. But if it wants to go back to the franchise’s roots, then it may want to keep merchants out of the equation and focus on survival horror basics instead.
Resident Evil 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Survival is just the beginning.Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.
