Capcom has revealed during the Resident Evil Showcase that the Mercenaries mode will return in Resident Evil Village, after being absent in Resident Evil 7. Mercenaries mode is separate from the main story, but it reuses the same characters and stages for arcade-style missions.
The first Mercenaries mode appeared in Resident Evil: Nemesis, where it was named after the Umbrella mercenaries from the story, who were all playable. The Mercenaries mode is about inserting action into the Resident Evil games, where the goal is to reach different points in the level while gunning down any foes that get in the player's way. This is in stark contrast to the story mode, where the player must always conserve ammo and healing items. Surprisingly, the Mercenaries mode wasn't included in the Resident Evil 3 remake, as Resident Evil Resistance was intended to replace it.
New details about the upcoming Resident Evil Village were revealed during today's Resident Evil Showcase event, including information about the new demo for the game that is due to be released soon. It was revealed on the PlayStation channel (the specific segment was uploaded to the GameTrailers YouTube channel) that the Mercenaries mode is returning in Resident Evil Village. The mode won't be unlocked until after the player completes the game, but once it is, the player will be able to shoot through hordes of monsters at their leisure.
The version of the Mercenaries mode in Resident Evil Village will include some new features. The player will be able to visit the Duke between stages and can purchase new weapons/upgrades. The player will also be able to choose their own loadout of weapons and items in the mode, allowing them to pick the best options for their playstyle. Players can also unlock abilities during play, which can increase the strength of their weapons or improve their physical capabilities. The Mercenaries mode is intended to test the player's skills, with fast-paced battles against the monsters from the game.
There was speculation that the Mercenaries mode wouldn't appear in Resident Evil Village, as it was absent in Resident Evil 7. It made sense to leave it out of the previous mainline game, as it was focused on the survival horror aspects of the gameplay. Resident Evil Village is bringing action back to the gameplay in a big way and it makes sense for the Mercenaries mode to return in this game.
Resident Evil Village will be released for Google Stadia, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on May 7.
Source: GameTrailers/YouTube, PlayStation/Youtube