Hideki Kamiya, the director behind the original Resident Evil 2, has expressed his long-standing desire for Capcom to implement a less terrifying mode in the Resident Evil series, suggesting the developers have grown desensitized to the fear their games evoke. Kamiya stated he was "one hundred percent serious" about this request in an interview with Video Games Chronicle, arguing that the photorealism of modern games allows for "crazy, horrifying things" on screen that developers may no longer perceive as extreme.
Kamiya detailed his experiences playing recent Resident Evil titles, including Resident Evil Requiem, noting that he found them too frightening to complete. He specifically mentioned his curiosity about how Capcom would handle the Raccoon City Police Department, an iconic location he designed for the original Resident Evil 2, but admitted the game was "way too scary" for him.
He has privately communicated these concerns to members of the Resident Evil teams at Capcom, often receiving surprised reactions. "They seriously seem to have no awareness of how scary the things they make actually are," Kamiya told Video Games Chronicle. He suggested simple changes, such as altering zombie appearances to be less frightening, perhaps by placing paper bags on their heads, or by adjusting the lighting in environments from "dark, dingy rooms" to more pleasant settings. He also proposed removing excessive gore.
Kamiya recounted telling series producer Takeuchi-san directly, "Your games are too scary!" to which he received the response, "What? Seriously?!" He also shared that upon receiving game codes for new Resident Evil titles, he often replies to the accompanying emails explaining that the game is too scary for him to play, only to be met with encouragement that "it's not that scary, you can do it."
Kamiya even humorously proposed a spin-off game where Leon S. Kennedy could enjoy a peaceful retirement, engaging in activities like fishing, foraging, baking, and dog walking. However, it appears unlikely that Capcom will adopt these suggestions, especially with the upcoming remake of Resident Evil Code: Veronica, which is expected to retain its signature terrifying zombie combat.