Man, Capcom is on a roll, ain’t it? Yesterday, during the third-party Nintendo Direct, it took control. A release date for Marvel vs. Capcom Collection made its way into our hearts (September 12th). What’s more, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 won us over. I mean, Power Stone?! Project Justice? Both of the Capcom vs. SNKgames?! How could it not? But…now it’s time for Capcom to work on the big gun. And I mean…Dino Crisis.
For those unfamiliar, Dino Crisis first released in 1999 for the Sony PlayStation. With it, it brought a fresh twist on the Resident Evil formula, even with its tank-like controls. And it became a huge hit, selling over 4.4 million copies worldwide.
But then, after two sequels (including one in…space?), the series faded off. We didn’t see anything from it except fan art and an inspired indie game or two. That’s…it. Why?
“Whoop. Excuse me, I was looking for the can.”
The Resident Evil Obsession Overshadowing Dino Crisis
First off, Capcom knows it can make mad bank with the Resident Evil series. Both Biohazard and Villageproduced remarkable numbers, guaranteeing a ninth chapter soon. And, of course, the remakes are hard to ignore, as they sell millions of copies as well.
But it’s gone overboard with these. As great as Resident Evil 4 Remake is, fans of the original loved that as well. That, however, won’t stop them from doing the same with Resident Evil 5. And maybe Resident Evil 6, if they’re really feeling adventurous.
That said, however, Resident Evil isn’t everything. Fun? Sure. Legendary? In some cases, yes. But it’s not everything. And that’s where Dino Crisis can come in.
If Capcom were to give this game the modern treatment with absolutely scary dino design and improved controls, man. It would be the stuff of legend. Fans would eat it up and experience the joy of being mushed down by a T-Rex again. (Or, hey, maybe escaping one!) And, for good measure, they could include some nice cheats – or maybe even the original game. Because it’s so hard to find, y’know.
It’s just a matter of if, not when. Capcom has addressed the possibility of Dino Crisis, but stopped well short of a confirmation. But given the reception for Power Stone and Capcom vs. SNK returning to modern consoles, they could easily ride that momentum. A Dino Crisis announcement for The Game Awards – alongside their new Monster Hunter Wilds – could guarantee a great 2025 for them. Just saying.
“Hang on, we want to play Power Stone!”
Dinos Are Not Hot, But Then They Are
The next thing to consider is how dinosaurs fit in the modern lexicon. Because they do.
Millions of people visit museums every year to check out dinosaurs and the history surrounding them. And don’t even get me started on how many people flock to Universal Orlando to check out the Velocicoaster. There’s a line out the door for that one. Out the park, even.
Dino popularity is through the roof. Jurassic Park is assuring this. With each new movie, Universal makes mad money – near a billion or so – and is already hard at work on the next iteration. The T-Rex lives and stomps folks into the theaters. Dino popularity is at an all-time high.
And how does Capcom respond? With…Exoprimal?
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a decent enough game and has some creative elements. But people wanted Dino Crisis and got a team-based dino shooter? That’s like asking for a roast beef sandwich and getting something made out of plywood and bread.
Now that the Exoprimal experiment is over (Capcom discontinued further updates for it at this point), it’s time to focus. With dinos still fresh in the minds of gamers, it’s time to simply venture forth and give us Dino Crisis.
Capcom has become known as of late for bringing back favorites. Even Dead Rising is getting a fresh coat of paint (blood red, of course) with a remaster next year. So why shouldn’t Dino Crisis get a shot at glory? Argue all you like about how weird Dino Crisis 3 was, it was still enjoyable to an extent.
So, yeah, Capcom. Enough dilly-dallying. Dinos rule, but not as target practice.
“What’d I do to you, lady?!”
Conclusion — We Need Dino Crisis
Maybe this isn’t the deepest of arguments, and maybe discussing Jurassic Park may be out of place. But the bottom line is the demand for Dino Crisis is clearly there. Fans enjoy the original PS One game, as aged as it is. And the sequels as well, even the one in…space. So, yes, it’s time to buckle in, give Shinji Mikami a call and get the ball rolling.
Your fans will thank you for it, your remasters will continue to get respect, and, well, your dinos will look cool as hell. It’s a win-win-win situation, and it’ll leave fans hungry for more. Dare we say Dino Crisis 4 in a few years if it does well enough? Who wouldn’t want that?
Sincerely, a dino fan. P.S. yes I have dino bed sheets. What? They help me sleep at night.
