Being loyal to a franchise’s roots and formula is a tricky thing to manage. Veer too close and people will cry out concerns of stagnation and lack of innovation. Stray too far and they’ll say it isn’t worthy of the series’ name. Whether this involves direct sequels or spin-offs, the amorphous goal of striding between faithfulness and evolution is difficult. This particular scribe thinks that Resident Evil 5 is a solid demonstration of hitting these two goals that appeases new and old fans alike, while Resident Evil 6, on the other hand, is how developers can butcher this balance. When it comes to Umbrella Corps, it not only feels like a completely foreign game to the franchise, but also fails to be good in any respect on its own, regardless of its legendary license.
