There’s a delicious irony unfolding in the survival horror world: Hideki Kamiya, the director who helped craft one of the most terrifying games of the 1990s, says Capcom’s modern Resident Evil games have simply become too scary for him to handle. Yes, the man behind the original Resident Evil 2 — the game that introduced the world to the nightmare of Raccoon City — is tapping out of the franchise’s current era of fear.
Who Is Hideki Kamiya?
If the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, his portfolio certainly will. Hideki Kamiya directed the original Resident Evil 2 back in 1998, a title widely considered one of the greatest survival horror games ever made. He later went on to create beloved classics like Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and Bayonetta, founding PlatinumGames and becoming one of Japan’s most recognizable game designers.
So when someone with Kamiya’s horror pedigree says the modern Resident Evil formula is too intense, people listen.
The “Too Damn Scary” Verdict
According to a recent report by Kotaku, Kamiya didn’t mince words about the current direction of the franchise. In his view, Capcom has cranked the fear factor so high that the games have become “too damn scary” — a complaint that’s equal parts humorous and heartfelt coming from a director whose own game traumatized a generation of Playstation players.
For Kamiya, it seems, the issue comes down to mood. The classic Resident Evil titles balanced dread with a certain B-movie charm — awkward dialogue, fixed camera angles, and campy moments that gave players room to breathe between the scares. Modern entries, by contrast, are relentless in their atmosphere.
How Resident Evil’s Horror Has Evolved
Kamiya’s comments highlight just how dramatically the franchise has transformed over the decades.
From Fixed Cameras to First-Person Terror
The original Resident Evil trilogy relied on tank controls, pre-rendered backgrounds, and cinematic camera angles to create tension. It was scary, sure — but it was scary at a distance, almost like playing through a horror film.
Then came Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in 2017, which dragged players into a first-person perspective with photorealistic graphics, immersive audio, and the genuinely disturbing Baker family. Resident Evil Village doubled down with entities like Lady Dimitrescu and the婴儿-morphing horror of House Beneviento, while the RE2 and RE3 remakes reimagined classic scares with modern RE Engine realism.
Why the New Formula Works — Maybe Too Well
Capcom’s modern approach has been a commercial and critical triumph, selling tens of millions of copies and revitalizing the brand. But Kamiya’s take raises an interesting question: can horror be too effective? For many veteran fans, the older games offered a blend of action, puzzle-solving, and camp that today’s unrelenting dread sometimes sacrifices.
What This Means for the Franchise
Kamiya’s candid admission has sparked plenty of discussion among fans, with many agreeing that recent titles like Village and the remakes are far more intense than the classics. Others argue that’s exactly the point — horror games should push boundaries. Either way, it’s a fascinating glimpse into how even the genre’s architects feel about the evolution of their own creations.
With Resident Evil 9 and the rumored Code Veronica remake on the horizon, it doesn’t look like Capcom plans to ease off the terror pedal anytime soon. Kamiya, it seems, will be watching from behind the sofa.
Experience the Terror Yourself
Think you’re braver than Kamiya? You can grab Resident Evil game codes and gift cards at TURGAME.com at great prices and dive into the franchise’s scariest entries — if you dare. Just don’t blame us if you sleep with the lights on.
Source: Kotaku