The next installment in the long running survival horror RE franchise is right around the corner, with Resident Evil Village looking to scare up a new set of thrills and chills once players are able to play it. The series has been on a winning streak the past few years, completely revitalizing interest in the IP after Resident Evil 6 was considered a low point among many fans.
Resident Evil 7 was a series refresh in more ways than just style and atmosphere, with the game completely shifting the perspective from third to first person. While jarring at first and seeming to distance itself from the series more traditional formula, Resident Evil Village looks to continue what its predecessor began to further make the series the best version of itself that its been in years.
RELATED: Why The Japanese Version of Resident Evil Village Will Be Different From North America and Europe
As stated, Resident Evil has moved the point of view from over the shoulder to directly seeing thought the eyes of characters in the game, a change that can arguably be seen as an improvement for a game in this genre. Resident Evil 4 was the first in the series to have the over the shoulder perspective, giving a new angle on how the player saw the horrors unfold before them. It was only what was directly visible in front that the player could see, with any noise behind them instantly generating anxiety thanks to the limited movement of the tank controls.
The first person perspective in Resident Evil 7 and now Resident Evil Village can be seen as the natural evolution of that restricting point of view. Only being able to see the action and horror from first person limits what is visible, causing an immediate sense of tension and claustrophobia for the player while navigating the environments. First person can help blur the line for reality and the game world like never before, with added VR functionality only heightening the effect for modern games that support it.
Aside from the change in perspective, many of the core elements of Resident Evil remain intact, only now improved or reshaped to better fit with modern gaming expectations. As the saying goes, 'if it isn't broke, don't fix it' and that proves to be true with several of the main elements to be found in any Resident Evil release, however Resident Evil Village seems to find a nice balance between these established concepts to become the most refined game yet.
If the older titles on the original PlayStation were largely focused on the slower build of tension, and then Resident Evil 4 emphasized action for the next few games, Resident Evil Village seems to be the perfect marriage between the two. The recent Maiden Demo for Resident Evil Village offers a glimpse at the palpable atmosphere and creepiness of the game, while other previews have provided a look at the improved gunplay and combat with in-game enemies.
Furthermore, as is seen with the scariest moments in Resident Evil 7, this new approach to the franchise opts to instead keep things simple by letting the horror drive the show in much more subtle, yet disturbingly realistic fashion. Gone are the over the top doomsday scenarios and chemical warfare subplots, replaced now with more up close and personal looks into smaller locations twisted by malevolent forces. It seems fitting that finally, a series called Resident Evil, chooses to focus on twisted things happening to what were once quaint, close knit little towns and homes.
Resident Evil Village will be available on May 7th, 2021, for the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles.