Feature

Shinji Mikami’s pedigree makes Zwei most exciting Survival Horror game in years

The news that Tango Gameworks founder Shinji Mikami is busy beavering away on a new Survival Horror title couldn’t have come at a better time. After all, while there’s been a couple of solid stabs at the fledging genre over the past few years – Dead Space and Siren: Blood Curse spring to mind – Survival Horror hasn’t exactly been the commercial juggernaut it was a decade or so ago. However, Tango has boasted that the game will contain elements of classic survival horror, which fills us with giddy excitement.

So, why are we so stoked for Mikami-san’s Zwei? And why are we convinced it’ll be the most important Survival Horror game in years? Here’s why we have so much faith…

– – – – – – –

The Godfather of Survival Horror

It’s hard to imagine the same bloke who made Goof Troop on the SNES would go on to have such a profound impact on the industry, but that’s exactly what happened. Mikami-san is arguably the god father of survival horror and a pioneering figure in the genre, thanks to his work with Capcom’s Resident Evil. Sure, the likes of Alone in the Dark got things off the ground, but it wasn’t until gamers stepped into that iconic mansion in Raccoon Forest did Survival Horror reach proper mainstream success. Mikami-san set the proverbial bar by combining spine-chilling atmosphere, cinematic viewpoints and grisly foes into one narrative-driven package; for many, Resident Evil was incontrovertible proof that games could be scary. The series spawned multiple sequels and became an instant million-seller, and even let Mikami stretch his legs by making Dino Crisis, essentially Resi with Dinosaurs, and the ancient Japanese hack-n’ slash horror, Onimusha.

He reinvented Survival Horror

Not content with creating a legacy of top notch Survival Horror titles throughout the 90s and early 00s, Mikami was also instrumental in practically reinventing the genre (again) in 2005 with Resident Evil 4. By that point, Resident Evil’s aging paradigm had begun stagnating, and it was of Mikami’s opinion that drastic changes were needed to revive the series. After toying around with various concepts – which included the cancelled ‘Hookman’ build – Mikami scrapped everything and started from scratch. Thus, the RE4 we know and love today was born, completely overhauling everything from the visuals, gameplay and plot. The result was a critical and commercial success, which eschewed several long-running Resi staples such as zombies and pre-rendered backdrops, replacing them with savage, human-like foes, fully rendered environments and precision targeting. It wasn’t just an invigorating shot in the arm for Resi; the game influenced countless third-person action games down the line, from God of War’s QTEs to Dead Space’s over-the-shoulder perspective. Resi 4 changed action games forever, and Mikami was at the forefront of the genre’s evolution.

Not just a one-trick pony

Mikami’s profound impact on the survival horror genre cannot be understated; however, it’s worth remembering the former Capcom designer has dipped his toes in plenty of other genres too. Chief among these include the Clover Studios-developed beat-‘em-up God Hand, a furious brawler with a distinct old-school vibe notable for its parodying of Japanese and North American pop culture. The combat system in particular was highly praised, though admittedly wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Mikami later moved to Platinum Games (formally Seeds Inc.) where he churned out the superb futuristic actioner Vanquish. While underperforming commercially, the game, like RE4, proved hugely influential, with its slide mechanic upping the pace considerably and sending ripples that would be felt in popular first-person shooters such as Killzone and Crysis 2. Shadows of the Damned meanwhile saw Mikami-san teaming up with Goichi Suda, fusing RE4’s action-packed gameplay with Suda51’s trademark idiosyncrasies. Indeed, if history is any indication, Zwei has every chance of revitalizing the survival horror genre, and will most probably go on to influence all manner of games for years to come.

"I’ve found my focus and once again I’m striving for pure survival horror. I am being very hands-on in the development of this game to ensure that the quality is there. Rest assured." — Shinji Mikami.

Be sure to keep your eye on this one, folks. Zwei is scheduled for release in 2013 on current generation platforms.