Video Game Review - Resident Evil Village

Rob reviews Resident Evil Village on Xbox Series X...

Resident Evil has been through many guises through its rich history. From spin-offs, handled games, episodic adventures, arcade shooters, and even online multiplayer - Resident Evil has done it all. Naturally not every game has been welcomed by the fan base and titles such as Umbrella Corps and Operation Raccoon City were universally panned (I quite liked ORC...). With the release of Resident Evil 7, it felt like Capcom had gotten it right. The new first-person viewpoint got us closer to the horror than ever before. And the horrors that were unfolding in the Baker families dark maze-like house drove the survival aspect home. 

Resident Evil: Village takes everything that made RE7 great and ramps it up a notch. 

Set a few years after the 'Dulvey Incident' we're back in the company of RE7 protagonist Ethan Winters and his (now) wife - Mia. We catch up with the couple as they are settled within a remote region of Eastern Europe and are raising their child - Rose. Just when you think that the Winters have put the past behind them all hell breaks loose. During dinner Resident Evil series stalwart, Chris Redfield storms Ethan and Mia's home. This results in Mia getting a few bullets into her, and Ethan and Rose are taken into the custody of the BSAA. After their convoy is mysteriously attacked, and with Rose missing Ethan is left to stumble through the ransacked village in search of both his missing daughter and answers to whom is pulling the strings...

Lets dive right into the nitty-gritty. Combat has seen quite the overhaul this time around. Where RE7 focused on the more intimate horror feeling, Village steps up to a more active role as Ethan ploughs through bullets like John Rambo. There's plenty of weapons to be found and plenty of upgrades to buy from Villages' mysterious merchant - Duke. The jolly and rather a rotund salesman pops up here and there with plenty of tantalising offers for Ethan to spend his Lei (currency) on. Weapons can be upgraded in way of adding power and increasing reload speed, and magazine capacity. To further expand, Duke also sells various attachments to turn Ethan further into a DOOM Slayer/Rambo-esq character. The currency used to fund these upgrades is earned by defeating tough enemies and (much like Resident Evil 4) found throughout the environment. 

Village further expands on RE7's limited crafting mechanic. Everything from medical supplies to ammo can be crafted with plenty of materials found from the environment. There isn't a point through Village that you'll run out of ammo. Whilst this slightly takes away the horror aspect, Village is a better experience for it. Especially when you consider the number of Werewolves, Vampires and other monstrosities that will be chasing you. 

Village wouldn't be a Resident Evil title if it didn't feature plenty of brain-teasing puzzles. There's plenty to be found throughout Ethan's nightmare with a great variety. There's your typical "find this item" and "combine this" but there's also plenty of hidden areas and maze-like board games to be found. Whilst some of these aren't necessarily needed to complete the game. They do offer some great rewards for those who choose to explore the environment. A bonus is that key items are no longer tied into your inventory so you never have to worry about the intricate inventory management as seen in the recent remakes. 

On the Xbox Series X, the game looks visually impressive. Locations all offer a visual treat that's filled with plenty of small details that gives everything a lived-in feel. Everything from the vast Demitrescu castle, the sprawling industrial factory, to the eerily silent snow-covered village. All give off a sense of wonder and excitement as you explore their spoils. This also rubs off onto the games eclectic cast of characters. Each is expertly designed and filled with little details that build their character. 

Arguably this is seen best through Lady Demitrescu and her three "daughters". The quintuple of Vampires all share a sense of beauty in their ferocity and have an almost otherworldly elegance to their actions. Again, it's these small details that make the cast quite believable. Considering the Resident Evil series is famous for its one-dimensional characters, with Village you can see that Capcom is trying to break that mould. It's also a great testament to Capcom's mocap technology which has allowed the team to capture these small details. 

While Resident Evil Village feels more in tune with Resident Evil 4 it still does a great job in capturing the survival horror aspect. Yes, there are quite a few action sequences, but it's when the game is at its quiet that the tense claustrophobic feeling creeps in. Your constant on edge as the small creaks and groans in the distance make you wonder what's around the corner. Being chased by a giant mutated baby is probably one of my favourite things in the game. The sequence does a great job in making you feel helpless as this fleshy monster gurgles and squeals towards you. And that's what makes Village fun, it's a great mix between both horror and action.

When it's said and done, Resident Evil Village is a great addition to the long-running franchise. Whilst it doesn't necessarily rely on the previous games to enjoy, there are a few easter eggs here and there that harken back to the events of July and even Raccoon City. The inclusion of Chris Redfield isn't necessary to drive the story, but this version of him is the most fleshed out in terms of character. There's plenty of great action sequences and intimate horror throughout the 8-hour playtime. This may seem relatively short, but when you consider that you can speed run the RE 3 remake in under 90 minutes, then it's a plus...

Rating 9/10 

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev