In a surprise delight for survival horror fans, Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya has openly showed a particular interest in directing a new Dino Crisis game for the long-dead series. The announcement arrives as video game fans continue to call on Capcom to revive the lost series with a new flagship title, having not seen any since 2003.
Kamiya, veteran game industry developer of many years, expressed his wish to move over during an appearance on The MinnMax Show, demonstrating a definite interest in “trying it out” should the situation come his way. His interest is noteworthy especially considering his successful work on Resident Evil 2, widely regarded as having an immaculately designed atmosphere and gameplay systems. The original Dino Crisis, released in 1999 under the wing of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, was a critical hit which sold more than 2.4 million copies, developing itself into a cult classic as an offbeat mix of action, puzzle-solving, and terrorized prehistoric combat.
The potential involvement of a major director — Kamiya’s, in this case — might provide the series with renewed life, many feel setting it up to be reinterpreted in contemporary times. As Kamiya is currently working on an Okami follow-up, the enthusiasm to pursue a Dino Crisis project clearly reflects the perceived worth of the franchise. Capcom itself has in the past recognized fan clamor through polls, and the success of the first title in the PS Plus Premium classics library also clearly shows that there has been a consistent interest from the players.
In spite of the wide enthusiasm, the path to a new Dino Crisis is twisted. Success also depends on discovering the correct creative vision and assembling an skilled development team. Even the former chief director, Shinji Mikami, has been skeptical of altering the direction in the series to modern-day listeners. However, Kamiya’s official declaration of interest is an immense fire that can spark hopes for a much anticipated return of the dinosaur-overwhelmed horror.
