It’s not just a reminder of so many of the things we fell in love with about this franchise over the years but it’s the section of the game that most clearly resembles what many people considered to be the best parts of Resident Evil 7 and the ideas that made them fall in love with the series again.ĭonna Beneviento’s home is arguably even more interesting than that. Hell, Lady Dimitrescu’s castle is practically a throwback to most of RE‘s “trademark” elements (large stalker characters who chase you throughout the area, limited resources, puzzles, and a creepy residential setting). Two of those lands (Lady Dimitrescu’s castle and Donna Beneviento’s home) are not only clear examples of horror game design but very good examples at that. It’s almost like the game is an amusement park divided into four themed “lands” that are connected by a hub area where you get your refreshments and souvenirs. Whereas the previous game’s thematic divide felt like a questionable decision, the divide here is significantly more deliberate. There’s a degree to which that proved to be true, but one of the most surprising things about Resident Evil Village is how it’s structured. Given that the millions of people who played Resident Evil 7 also praised those early parts of the game and were critical of its later sections for roughly those same reasons, there seemed to be a popular belief the next game in the series would advance what worked and address what didn’t. Resident Evil Village is a Gameplay Theme Park With a “Horror Land” SectionĬoming out of Resident Evil 7, I hoped that its eventual sequel would end up being more like the first 3/4 of the game (which emphasized small sets, limited resources, and often unnerving moments of horror) and less like the last 1/4 of the game (which relied a bit too much on an awkward form of first-person gunplay). It’s when you start to ask questions about how Resident Evil Village works as a “horror” game, though, that the conversation surrounding arguably the biggest release of 2021 so far becomes much more complicated. You could even probably throw out the word “great” in many circles and not have to argue about it. Resident Evil Village is a very good game. Capcom is probably pretty happy with the game, and in many of the ways that matter most, they should be happy. If you’re looking at Resident Evil Village as a product, it’s hard not to consider the game a success even this early into its lifespan. The game’s sales figures suggest it could go on to become the best-selling RE title ever, and critics and fans everywhere are ready to name Resident Evil Village one of the best games of 2021, one of the better Resident Evil games, and even one of the best demonstrations of next-gen gaming technology so far. In case you haven’t heard, Resident Evil Village is a hit.

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