Now that Resident Evil 3’s remake has been released to mostly positive reviews, it has coincided with that of the asymmetric multiplayer Resident Evil title, Resident Evil Resistance. Overall, the reaction to Resistance hasn’t been quite as positive as that to Resident Evil 3’s remake.
Resident Evil Resistance takes on the base mechanic of other asymmetric multiplayer games in that it pits one player against four others. While the ratio is lopsided, the player that operates alone will often be in control of a more powerful character to even the playing field. This is the exact case with Resident Evil Resistance, which comes packed with Resident Evil 3.
The bundling of the two may seem like a steal, but one theory leading up to Resident Evil 3’s release was that it didn’t have enough content to warrant a $60 purchase. Hence, the decision to add Resident Evil Resistance as a tack-on.
Yet, one major criticism of Resident Evil Resistance comes in the form of its abundance of loot boxes. As has been the case with numerous multiplayer games in recent memory, including 2017’s Star Wars: Battlefront II, Resident Evil Resistance relies on a loot box system through which players unlock a variety of items. These include cosmetic items, additional abilities, diversifying loadouts, and more. Buffs called “boosters” can be purchased with real money in order to unlock these things faster than relying on the game’s base mechanics.
All in all, this seems to be another attempt by a game developer or publisher at implementing a system that provides long-term gain from a loot box component. The method in Resident Evil Resistance isn’t quite as direct as, say, the aforementioned Star Wars: Battlefront II. However, it does point in that direction and definitely to players’ chagrin. As one user pointed out in a Reddit thread that was started upon the reveal of the game’s loot box system, this incentivizes a form of gambling. That is, you could spend a large sum of money on randomized loot boxes “and still not get the things you want, which would lead to more spending.”
Fortunately, Resident Evil Resistance is, at minimum, an inclusion with Resident Evil 3’s remake. No separate purchase is required currently, so if you wish to avoid it altogether in protest of loot box mechanics or otherwise, you have the option to do so.
