Resident Evil Village (Xbox Series X)

his game isn’t as scary as RE7 and that’s not even a bad thing. this game kind of has an identity crisis, but it all comes together for some reason. great characters, voice acting, graphics, story, and gameplay as always with this series

I really hope I’m wrong but this game looks like a fake copy I go the return from Amazon and decided to investigate so I removed the cover to find another cover under which is genuine so I was wrong

My Resident Evil playing has something of a chequered history. I first played Resident Evil 1 on the Playstation 1 when it came out and it seemed amazing then. Looking back, yes it was ground-breaking and innovative, but the voice acting and dialogue were more shocking than the horror. I really fell in love with the series when I played the original Resident Evil 2, which was leagues ahead of it’s predecessor in terms of quality. I skipped a bit then to play Resident Evil 4 on the PS2, then I was out of the franchise until I played the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 on the Xbox One.

Right, I’ve given you some context. Why didn’t I play Code Veronica, Resi 3, Resident Evil 5 or Resident Evil 6? I just didn’t. I heard about these games but I thought it sounded like Capcom had lost their way a little with the franchise. Resident Evil 4 was fantastic. I replayed it recently in HD Remix format and it played like a modern game. It was still a very enjoyable experience. The remakes 2 and 3 were even better. Particularly 2 Remake. I think that was definitely my game of the year, the year I started playing it. If you haven’t played it, I’d really urge you to pick a copy up and give it a go.

So, Resident Evil 8! I’d seen the hype, I liked the look of the Gothic setting and stuff and thought, ‘This is a game I have to play’. At the time I was deep, deep into Cyberpunk 2077, so it would have been a real change of pace, but it looked awesome. The only problem was I had no clue who Ethan Winters was or what it was all about – so I went out and bought Resident Evil 7.

Now Resident Evil 7 for me was a whole new experience. It put the horror back in survival horror. It feels like a modern day take on what Capcom were shooting for with Resident Evil when it first came out. When you’re exploring the house with Jack Baker and the molded pursuing you, it feels really tense. Even on normal difficulty level there’s an ever-present feeling of dread and understanding that you’re under threat. Seeing the game through Ethan’s eyes makes it more intimate and claustrophobic. It’s often dark, you can’t see and there are enemies that can end your adventure with a couple of swipes. Resident Evil 7 felt more like an interactive horror movie than a game and I loved it for that.

Okay, right, but what about Resident Evil 8?

Yeah, sorry, I was just trying to give you a bit of context. You play as Ethan Winters again, but there are changes. One criticism of Resident Evil 7 was that it didn’t have the variety of enemies of some games. They’ve addressed that here and then some. Each section of the game has a very different feel and tone and everyone will have their favourites. There are multiple enemy types and multiple variations within each enemy type. The weapons list is extensive and upgrading each weapon to the max will take you a long time. There are multiple difficulty levels, starting from an essentially ‘story only’ mode called casual to a difficulty level called ‘Village of Shadows’ where if you start it as a new game without bringing items from a previous playthrough you probably only just about have enough ammunition to kill the bosses if you skip every other enemy in the game and you can be killed in two hits by pretty much anything in two hits. I’ve beaten that, but only with all the Duke’s recipes completed and an infinite ammo STAKE Magnum.

When you DO beat certain challenges within the game it gives you a currency to spend in the ‘extra content shop’ this obviously massively extends replayability.

The variety of the game doesn’t end with the enemies either. Each of the four lords of the village have their own unique area which requires a different playstyle to defeat. In castle Dimitrescu you’ll spend most of your time running and hiding from the seemingly invincible Alcina Dimitrescue and her three daughters. For me this was the highlight of the game and a part I can play through again and again. I love the design and voice-acting of these characters, all both seductive and menacing in equal measure.

Moving on you’ll explore the house of the dollmaker Beneviento. This section of the game plays like a puzzley escape room scenario with you solving problems then having to end it with a deadly game of hide and seek. The escape room part will lead you to one of the most tense and scary parts of the game. A part which I’m told some players can’t play because it is so tense and creepy. I’m a hardened horror veteran and even my pulse was racing during this section.

After that you’ll face a section of avoiding water and trying to make a path across a flooded reservoir whilst avoiding the fish-like Moreau, then taking him on in a big boss battle that sees you regularly running for shelter from acid rain.

Now you’ll battle your way through a werewolf infested ruin in a very action orientated section that will remind players of Resident Evil 4.

This done you’ll head to the factory for a mix of puzzle solving, item gathering and combat.

In between these sections you’ll regularly explore the village itself and uncover more lore and secret weapons and so forth.

Finally you’ll have the big boss battle, which I won’t talk about – we don’t want spoilers do we?

A good speedrun for a casual player will have this game beaten in 2 hours. However, that’s skipping stuff and going at a pace. If you want to enjoy the cutscenes, the characters and the exploration and you want to get the most out of your first playthrough, budget 7 hours approx.

I know that doesn’t sound like much, but this game has so much replayability. Particularly if you get interested in completing the challenges. If you get bored of the main story you can delve into the Mercenaries mini-game which is also great fun.

I’ve now completed the game about six times, doing every difficulty, collecting every file and Goat and doing a knife-only, no heals run and a separate speed run. I’m ready for a break now, but this is a game I will go back to.

After having played Cyberpunk 2077, which was a great game, but flawed in terms of quality – RE8 was a refreshing change. Yes, I know it’s easier to avoid bugs and glitches with a more linear game in a more restricted environment, but RE8 is really slick. The visuals look amazing on the Xbox Series X, especially the lighting effects. The mo-cap and voice-acting is at least Hollywood standard. For me the stars of the performance are definitely Alcina Dimitrescu, her three daughters and Mother Miranda.

For some of the game, the horror is less intense than that in Resident Evil 7 and it plays a bit like a modern day Resident Evil 4. However, in parts the horror is really up there and the tension and playing in the dark with headphones will really enhance your experience.

If you’re thinking of giving it a go I don’t recommend ‘Casual’ difficulty unless you’re doing a knife-only or no heals run. For most players I’d start with Standard. If you’re a Resident Evil 7 veteran then maybe set the ball rolling with a ‘Hardcore’ run at most. ‘Village of Shadows’ difficulty is extremely tough and most players will only be able to beat it by gathering items in easier difficulties then heading in on a New Game+.

As with the Baker family in Resident Evil VII, the stand-out of this game is the four lords serving as the game’s antagonists. While Mother Miranda serves as Ethan’s arch-nemesis in this escapade, she is totally outshone by Lady Dimitrescu, Salvatore Moreau, Donna and Angie Beneviento, and Viktor Heisenberg. These villains are all spectacularly written, acted and modelled. The game is worth playing just to experience the different stages where Ethan faces off against them one after another. The game takes the series in a more flamboyant direction than the earlier entries, but still manages to ground the story within the morbid themes that permeate every Resident Evil game.

The gameplay follows the same mechanics as that of Biohazard, but places a much heavier focus on combat with firearms and ammunition being readily available even on the higher difficulties. The game also includes more boss and mini-boss fights scattered throughout (including several optional bosses that can be confronted by exploring the parts of the village where they reside). Puzzles, riddles and hidden-items also make a return to the game, several being required to advance the story while others offering the chance to acquire rare treasures that can be sold to the Duke in exchange for Lei that can be used to purchase weapons, upgrades, supplies etc.

There is also a good amount of replay value and additional content offered for the point when you complete the game, including the ‘Mercenaries’ mode which allows you to fight foes from throughout the game in various stages from the places you’ve already fought through. Challenges can also be completed in various playthroughs (such as completing the game without using some weapons or only using others etc.) that will allow you to redeem points to unlock certain rewards such as concept art, 3D models, unique weapons etc. I felt Biohazard was a great step for the R.E. franchise, and I also feel that Village was another step in the right direction – I can’t wait to see what Capcom has in store next!

If u like horror games and all the over RE u will love it the story is on point the ending tho was a bit But the whole game was sick highly recommend