Village’s changeable nature becomes apparent at Castle Dimitrescu. Each of these is a powerful antagonist in their own right, lurking in a domain that has its own distinctive theme and, to a certain extent, play-style. To rescue Rose, Ethan must track down and defeat four of Mother Miranda’s “Children”. While there are references to 4 throughout, instead Village is a far more varied experience that never sits on one idea for long. Yet the impression Village gives of being a modern Resi 4 soon proves to be illusory.
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There’s even a scene where Ethan can barricade himself in a house, shoving a bookshelf into the doorway while the Lycans try to claw their way through the windows and the roof. These musclebound beasts attempt to overwhelm Ethan, recalling Resi 4’s scintillating introduction. As Ethan clambers through this maze of rubble and rubbish and overturned carts, he’s hunted by the game’s primary new foe, snarling, aggressive werewolves known in-game as Lycans. Its first “chapter” sees Ethan scrambling through a cluster of dilapidated shacks, all sagging roofs, splintering timber and crumbling brickwork. Village’s initial hour is a clear call-back to Resident Evil 4. What he finds instead is a few terrified holdouts of a community decimated by a cabal of powerful monsters, all serving at the behest of the mysterious Mother Miranda. Lost and distraught, he makes his way to a nearby village in search of help. Rose is kidnapped, while Ethan ends up stranded in a snowy wilderness. But it isn’t long before said normality is shattered. After their ordeal at the Baker mansion, Ethan and Mia have built something resembling a normal life.
Village continues the story of Ethan Winters, now residing at an undisclosed location in Europe with his wife Mia and baby daughter Rose. But those parts are still pretty well-crafted, so things shake out fairly well for Capcom.
The end result is that Village is less than the sum of its parts. Brimming with ideas and boasting some exceptional set-pieces, it’s also an unfocused experience that doesn’t always seem certain what kind of game it wants to be. This attempt to serve two masters proves to be both its strongest asset and greatest flaw. Resident Evil Village straddles the line between a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7 and a spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4.
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Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One