Summary
- Resident Evil Village has blended fantasy and science-fiction elements into its narrative and setting while still staying true to its roots.
- The game missed an opportunity to diversify its weapon pool by not including medieval weapons like crossbows and swords, which could have added a unique flavor to the gameplay while players traverse a fantastical landscape.
- It is unlikely that Resident Evil 9 will introduce a mix of new weapons, as the franchise has often stuck with the same arsenal despite changing settings and enemies. However, the gradual introduction of firearms can still provide satisfying gameplay experiences.
Resident Evil always used to be a science-fiction action-thriller and in many ways it still is. That said, Resident Evil has recently taken more steps toward fantasy, even if that’s been achieved once more through science-fiction means. The werewolves and vampires Ethan defends himself from in Resident Evil Village aren’t actually werewolves and vampires, for example, and Resident Evil explains that away via the Cadou parasite and the Mold. This has been terrific, though, since the explanation allows Resident Evil to play around with fantasy tropes while remaining fully dedicated to its science-fiction roots, especially since the two genres conflate and intermingle so often now anyway.
Like how Resident Evil married horror and action so well, it has now married science-fiction and fantasy. It’s unclear whether Resident Evil ending the Winters saga will affect that direction and return the franchise to its roots with a morally unethical bioweapon corporation at the head of its antagonists, but battling mythological creatures in a dingy village was wonderful. Still, Ethan and Chris battle these horrifying monstrosities with the same luxury of powerful firearms that protagonists are typically given in the franchise, and Resident Evil 9 could make the player’s equipment more appropriate for its fantasy aesthetic.
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Resident Evil’s Weapons Don’t Match the Theme of Its New Fantasy Setting
Resident Evil Village Should’ve Had Crossbows, Swords, and Medieval Tools
It could have muddied Resident Evil’s gameplay identity beyond the point of recognition, but substituting the same handguns, shotguns, snipers, and grenade launchers for crossbows, bows, swords, and other medieval weaponry also could’ve given Village a unique flavor.
Resident Evil’s never been a franchise that compromised gameplay for the sake of narrative immersion and therefore finding random ammunition everywhere has never been questioned, though it would’ve made more sense to be plucking arrows or bolts out of the environment rather than happening to find a box of military-grade sniper rifle ammo.
It would’ve been interesting to see how Resident Evil’s survival-horror gameplay could evolve with such weapons, especially if crossbows had limited ammo and took forever to manually reload, and it would’ve been neat to see a sword replace players’ knife if only to make the boss fight against Lady Dimitrescu’s dragon bioweapon monstrosity that much more fantastical atop the castle. These weapons could’ve been a gimmick that is tossed in with the usual Resident Evil fare, but not diversifying the weapon pool at all in Village seems like a missed opportunity that Resident Evil 9 will probably let slip by, too.
Resident Evil 9 is Unlikely to Mix Up Its Weapon Arsenal at All
Like how Monster Hunter has largely stuck with the same handful of weapons, it seems as if Resident Evil is also stuck in its ways despite a drastic change of scenery giving it the opportunity to stretch its legs. That said, it’s undetermined yet whether Resident Evil 9 is going to follow Village directly with another fantasy-inspired adventure featuring bioweapons reminiscent of monsters from popular folklore.
Rumors have claimed that this will be the case and, if so, players can probably expect that they’ll still be equipped with the same guns they’ve always been supplied with regardless of what terrifying enemies are thrown at them. However, as long as the assortment of weapons players does receive is introduced piecemeal, it’ll likely always feel satisfying to discover, earn, or purchase the same glorious firearms.
Of course, there are far greater features for Capcom to be concerned with, such as whether to debut another Merchant character or not. Resident Evil 9 certainly won’t suffer if Chris Redfield or whoever the protagonist is doesn’t wield a sword because the ninth mainline entry might not even have Village’s fantasy elements at all, and if it does then a sword or crossbow could provide the perfect immersion.
Resident Evil Village
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience survival horror like never before in the eighth major installment in the storied Resident Evil franchise - Resident Evil Village.
Set a few years after the horrifying events in the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 7 biohazard, the all-new storyline begins with Ethan Winters and his wife Mia living peacefully in a new location, free from their past nightmares. Just as they are building their new life together, tragedy befalls them once again.
First-Person Action – Players will assume the role of Ethan Winters and experience every up-close battle and terrifying pursuit through a first-person perspective.
Familiar Faces and New Foes – Chris Redfield has typically been a hero in the Resident Evil series, but his appearance in Resident Evil Village seemingly shrouds him in sinister motives. A host of new adversaries inhabiting the village will relentlessly hunt Ethan and hinder his every move as he attempts to make sense of the new nightmare he finds himself in.
- Engine
- RE Engine
- Franchise
- Resident Evil
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
- Metascore
- 84
