Vampires, werewolves and... bugs? Oh my

Typically when one thinks of 'Resident Evil' the first thing that jumps to mind is: zombies. The latest installment took it to the next level by introducing other mythical creatures.

It  can be argued that Lady Dimitrescu is not actually a vampire, nor are the so-called "Lycans" werewolves. They are clearly influenced by it, though. The player can learn the truth through files in the game. . 

But perhaps the most disturbing are the three daughters, which are made entirely of bugs. Yes, bugs. Don't worry, I was disgusted, too.

It's thanks to these new creative 'creatures' that Resident Evil Village is made memorable, even if the story and setting are a bit removed from the classic story of the series. More on that later.

The Four Lords keep things interesting

Not only are the Lords' individual realms unique in their own right, the Lords themselves are quite particular. From Lady Dimitrescu's castle to Heisenberg's factory, from Moreau's limping gait to Donna's energetic doll, the environment changes and character traits are a welcome change of pace and keep the story fresh.

Each habitat suits the Lord it accompanies and leaves the player with a good sense of character, albeit a bit uncomfortable in some cases.

The overall look and 'feel' to the different areas provides a breath of fresh air. Instead of the environment getting stale and repetitive, the player is offered new scenery without breaking the overall dark and dank theme.

Resident Evil Village does an excellent job of keeping its dreary color scheme without making the player feel lost in a colorless world. There's plenty of color splattered around, the world is just bleak and wintry.

The Four Lords meet with Mother Miranda

The Lords actually evoke sympathy

Speaking of the Four Lords, there's much to learn about them. And a sense of sympathy may be found once the player begins to learn more. 

Each Lord in turn has something about them that evokes the emotion. Some elicit sympathy more than others but all remind  the player that people can be victims of a situation and others.

Take Lord Karl Heisenberg. He doesn’t want to be under Miranda’s thumb. He  was  given powers via the Cadou (a parasite) that she implanted within him. He uses his own facility to plot against her.

Or take Donna Beneviento for example; losing  her parents, incapable of really expressing herself without her doll 'Angie'. It's easy to feel sympathy for the young woman.

Donna's house is nightmare fuel

That having been said, Donna's house is still the stuff of nightmares. Especially for those like me with automatonophobia (a fear of human-like figures such as mannequins). From the moment Ethan walks in and rides the elevator there is a sense of 'something not quite right'.

Then the game puts the player face to face with a mannequin while bits and pieces of  other dolls  hang from the ceiling and decorate the walls. Even without the phobia, all of this causes discomfort. .

And then comes the real scare. The true monster in the house: Baby. Those who know, know and if you are still unaware... you've been warned.

Never have I felt more trepidation in the dark or more anxiety when making the protagonist run for his life. And its sounds only chilled me further. 

It all worked together beautifully to pull the player into the world, playing on fears and the dark. Each section leaves a lasting impression but perhaps Donna's leaves the strongest mark. According to several people on Youtube and Reddit, House Beneviento is the scariest part of the game.

House Beneviento is decorated with mannequin parts and pieces

The sound team wasted no effort in effects

Once again a sound team deserves accolades. After only a few minutes of gameplay the player will  realize the sound team did what they do best.

Each sound is articulated and accurate. Whether it be the blood spurting from Ethan's hand or the clang of metal against metal. Squeaking doors are just the start of the sound effects. 

Each sound is layered in the game so there are multiple sounds at once, and yet each one is crystal clear. They all come together in a symphony of horror. And it is this song that will accompany the player through the game. 

The  music is nice as well and well-suited to its different environments. There is just the right amount of tension thanks to plucked strings and wailing notes.

Sound can often make or break a game and Resident Evil Village delivers a beautiful soundtrack and sound effects.

Beautiful graphics pull the player into the world

A lot can be said for the RE Engine, one of which is that it is beautiful. The scope of the world can be viewed when first seeing g the castle and village below. The fog twisting through tree branches only makes it seem more surreal.

And surreal it is. From the moment our protagonist, Ethan, is plucked into this world, it seems as if everything is against him. And it's all done in high detail.

The oak pattern of a door, the dimples in a stone brick, or the water gushing down a cave wall; all of it is in striking detail. Details that pull the player in and make the world feel real.

And it is this 'realness' that keeps the player's attention. It's easy to get lost in the graphics of this game and their beauty. And it is far removed from its classic counterparts and their polygonal graphics.

A panoramic view of the village and castle

The combat is surprisingly fluid

Many times in horror games the combat is... well.. poor. That is, if the game allows combat at all. Some games don't even give the option and the player must opt to run and hide instead.

Resident Evil Village not only encourages combat, it makes it fluid. The aiming isn't jittery and rough. It's actually quite smooth and feels responsive. 

The arsenal of weapons is also appreciated when tackling hordes of monsters. Whether it's the pistol or the shotgun, each weapon has its own use against the enemies in the game.

And use them, you will. Players will find the combat to be fun and tense, including dancing around mini-bosses. All in the name of horror.

Mercenaries offers more fun after the main story

As if the main game didn't give the player enough to do, Mercenaries is back. It has a different view this time, being in first person. It offers the challenge of beating a certain number of monsters within a time limit.

For those, like myself, that love the Mercenaries mini-games, it will be quite different from the usual version. But that doesn't make it any less fun. 

Once the player gets used to the controls and expectations, it's easy to waste minutes or even hours playing through this mini-game. And the characters make it even more fun. 

Thanks to recent updates, players can even utilize some of the Lords from the game. The Mercenaries game offers a break from the main game while still challenging the player. It's fun without the dedication needed to play the main game.

A view of the mercenaries game type

It actually all ties in to the main lore

As promised before, now it's time to discuss the lore. It actually does tie into the other games. Through files, the player learns that Miranda had ties to the original games via their overarching antagonist Oswell E. Spencer.

For those unfamiliar with the name, Spencer is someone that was deeply involved with the viruses and the Umbrella Corporation; that was the big, bad company of the first few Resident Evil games.  

Miranda was involved with Spencer until they went their separate ways.  Files in the game reveal the connection between previous Resident Evil titles and Village, along with having known characters back in action such as Ethan Winters and Chris Redfield.

There are even enemies reminiscent of the old, clambering zombies from the prior games. Though they do not attack in the same way, or cause the same effects. And the Lords even add their own flair to these monsters as well.

It’s far removed from the original lore of the first several games, but it does come full circle.

File reading may seem tedious to some but it comes highly recommended for those looking to deepen their knowledge of the lore and world of Resident Evil.

Conclusion

From its dad-jokes to its nightmarish creatures, Resident Evil Village delivers a game full of monsters and moments that the player isn't likely to forget. It may not always feel like a Resident Evil game, compared to the classics, but it definitely belongs in the horror category. And it cements its place in Resident Evil with its tie-ins to the lore.

And playing it over and over again actually proves entertaining. Unlike some games, Resident Evil Village is fun to replay. 

Perhaps it's the ability to blow away enemies easier with upgraded weaponsOr maybe it's the entertaining way the different Lords are introduced, both together and in their respective realms. Either way, it's undeniable that Village has a certain value and appeal to it that can be experienced time and again. 

Overall Fun Factor:  7.5 / 10