"Resident Evil Village": Video Game Review
"Resident Evil Village" is simultaneously one of the best and most disappointing video game experiences I've had this year. It has some of the most thrilling moments I've witnessed in a game in 2021 and also has some of the best horror moments in the long running Resident Evil series. Unfortunately, abysmal story threads and some outdated gameplay design tear apart an opportunity to lead the way for game of the year.
To begin with the positive, I could not believe my ears. Using my 3D audio headset while experiencing "Resident Evil Village" is the ideal way to play. There's no experience this year that engulfs you in its horrifically bleak world like "Resident Evil Village". The pattering of footsteps to the creaks of wooden planks under your feet truly feel next generation. From giant werewolves, to killer dolls, there's a large input of environmental sound design along with a variety of enemies that make each interaction feel fresh and unique.
The game introduces four main villains that vary drastically in appearance. Each provide an obstacle in the path of finding your infant daughter, who has been taken by a mysterious figure. The areas that you will branch off into include a giant sized castle, a lonely house, a swamp and a factory, all varying in their environmental assets. The enemies that spawn in these areas will keep you guessing as well and are a true delight to get up close and personal with. There's an unpredictable nature to not only what the enemies are going to inevitably throw your way but how you take on each encounter varies based on your load out and preferred way of playing.
With a large amount of customization you can craft your own play style through a character called The Duke, whose large figure and sketchy demeanor is a joy to interact with. He will give you the opportunity to sell treasure, weapons, animal meat (you can hunt animals around the Village area) and ammo for upgrades to your weapons; or you can save up the currency you collected for some new unique weapons. It's a simple system that gets the job done, even though its menu layout hasn't evolved for over fifteen years. Yet each weapon feels great, making each horrific encounter a thrill to play through.
And horror there is plenty, especially due to this new generation's graphical power, jolting you into its nonstop terror. I came away incredibly impressed in my 8 hour play-through, there was almost no graphical tears or frame rate dips to hinder my experience. Roaming around the expansive landscapes, in its semi open environments, generates some fantastic immersion as you walk (or run) past its roaring waterfalls, eerie castles and dilapidated towns. While playing it on the PS5 on a 4K TV will maximize most of the experience, the final act stumbles and eventually crumbles, making the game hard to recommend.
To start, Ethan Winters is a disappointing main character, whose previous appearance in "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" was not nearly as unbearable. Cringe inducing dialogue between characters like Ethan and one of the many villains who makes his entrance early on in "Resident Evil Village", e.g. Karl Heisenberg, is nothing short of embarrassing. That's not to say there aren't some terrific villains here but as the game lingers on the quality of the story and dialogue declines, losing its sense of dread along the way. And without the horror, this game is noticeably bare bones with the exception of some action set pieces.
As the game nears its conclusion, things become more action heavy and expose the outdated gameplay. The guns start to feel less impactful and the experience as a whole drags for what feels like hours on end. Even Resident Evil enthusiasts will be begging for it to conclude, as some poor level design rears its ugly head. And by the time the last cut scene begins, disinterest in the plot line takes over.
What has made the "Resident Evil" franchise so overwhelmingly entertaining is its ability to maintain that feeling of anxiety around each and every corner. And the first four to five hours are an exhilarating example of this, leaving my hands and controller drenched in sweat. But by the final act of "Resident Evil Village" things turn for the worse, as it slowly lets go of its powerful strengths and trades it for the tedious action gameplay that fans of the series have come to groan over.
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