Resident Evil Village, the eighth major title in Capcom's long-running Resident Evil series, has many connections and similarities to the series' most acclaimed installment, Resident Evil 4. The series first began in 1996 with Resident Evil on the original PlayStation, a game which helped define the survival horror genre and jumpstart a long history of zombies in video game. The series now consists of more than a dozen games, with seven numbered entries and countless other spin-off titles.
To build up suspense for Resident Evil Village, Capcom unexpectedly released a new gameplay trailer along with a new PlayStation 5-exclusive gameplay demo. The demo, titled The Maiden, puts players in the shoes of the titular Maiden as they search for a way to escape a creepy castle. The Maiden does not feature any combat, instead focusing on atmosphere and horror, but an additional demo featuring combat will be released for all platforms in the future.
As reported by IGN, the new gameplay trailer for Resident Evil Village reveals a number of ideas and features have been adapted from Resident Evil 4. The upcoming title's focus on direct combat, as opposed to Resident Evil 7's stricter focus on survival, is similar to the fourth game's reinvention of the series as a third-person shooter action romp. Resident Evil 4's iconic Merchant, who appeared regularly to sell the player weapons and ammunition, will also receive a successor in the form of Resident Evil Village's character The Duke. Both games are even set in terrifying European villages, both of which feature a castle as a prominent landmark.
In addition to the single-player survival horror experience offered in Resident Evil Village, Capcom has also announced a new multiplayer title called Resident Evil RE:Verse. The multiplayer title will allow player-versus-player combat between four to six players, with multiple characters and locations from across the franchise available to choose from. Players who die will be able to play as one of the series' terrifying bioweapons, such as Resident Evil 3's iconic Nemesis. The multiplayer title will be available for free to those who purchase Resident Evil Village, making it a fun bonus incentive for series fans and a big mark of how the series has changed since Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil 7 was considered a return to form for a series that popularized survival horror but slowly transitioned into an action-packed shooter franchise. With Resident Evil Village Capcom seems to be sticking to what the previous game did well, while also continuing to push the envelope to deliver what fans want. Resident Evil 4 is a particularly well-regarded game, considered a masterpiece not only within its series but within gaming history as a whole. By combining the best parts of various predecessors, Resident Evil Village will hopefully be a landmark installment in a classic series.
Resident Evil Village will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on May 7, 2021.
Source: IGN