Shinji Mikami finally suggests that Dino Crisis has gone extinct

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Shinji Mikami finally suggests that Dino Crisis has gone extinct

As a dedicated gamer with a soft spot for classic survival horror games, I can’t help but feel like Capcom has left a prehistoric-sized hole in my gaming heart with their seemingly endless love affair with dinosaurs in Monster Hunter, and the apparent extinction of Dino Crisis. For over two decades, I’ve been chasing that elusive dinosaur-filled adventure, and all I’ve got to show for it is a collection of dusty memories and a growing frustration that Capcom seems more interested in nailing down the awesomeness of dinosaurs within the confines of Monster Hunter than giving us a modern Dino Crisis game.

Occasionally, it seems like Capcom may not prioritize Dino Crisis, given that we haven’t seen a new game since 2003, and there’s no sign of a remake yet. Plus, they released Exoprimal with its dinosaur focus and red-haired protagonist, which fuels our suspicion that they might not be actively working on a new Dino Crisis title.

For those hoping that Capcom is holding back a surprise Dino Crisis revival, our dreams have just been stomped by a Titanosaur. While it’s easy to see the similarities between Dino Crisis and Resident Evil, it’s apparently its similarities to another Capcom favourite that’s stopping Dino Crisis 4 or a remake from hatching. 

Shinji Mikami blames Monster Hunter for Dino Crisis going extinct

Shinji Mikami finally suggests that Dino Crisis has gone extinct

Although the Monster Hunter series by Capcom does feature some creatures resembling dinosaurs within its universe, it’s essential to understand that it’s not a Dinosaur Hunter game – hence, it goes by a different storyline. Unfortunately, Shinji Mikami, a renowned figure at Capcom, has dampened our anticipation for another Dino Crisis release, as long as Monster Hunter remains active.

During a conversation at Gamescom with Eurogamer, Mikami acknowledged that Dino Crisis exists, but perhaps not as enthusiastically as fans might have hoped. In response to disappointment about Dino Crisis being inactive, Mikami stated, “I’m quite astonished by this news, as the thrill of dinosaurs and the potential for creative gameplay with them has essentially been perfected by Monster Hunter in recent times.”

It appears our worst suspicions have been validated; Mikami mentioned, “Given the current state of things, even if I were to consider remaking or re-creating Dino Crisis, I’m not convinced there’s much room for that genre at the moment due to the massive popularity of Monster Hunter. It does come as a shock, though.“

Regarding the criticism that Exoprimal was similar to Dino Crisis, he countered by stating, “Actually, the concepts are quite distinct from each other. I think the fans might have had lofty expectations, yet here we find ourselves.” Indeed, one is a survival horror game and the other a PvPvE shooter, but it seems that the potential for a unique experience may not have been fully realized.

We’ve been hearing about mythical new-gen Dino Crisis remakes for years, and only this year, Capcom celebrated the game’s 25-year anniversary…by announcing a new Resident Evil. While we’ll take all the Resident Evil and Monster Hunter games we can, Dino Crisis feel like it’s crying out for a modern outing. 

2025 marks the arrival of Monster Hunter Wilds, a game that’s expected to be one of the year’s top contenders. Given its popularity, it’s unlikely that the MonHun series will fade away any time soon. Meanwhile, with Konami seemingly abandoning Castlevania and Activision letting go of Crash Bandicoot, it appears that Dino Crisis may become a relic of gaming history.

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2024-08-29 14:12