Summary
Resident Evilalways used to be a science-fiction action-thriller and in many ways it still is. That said,Resident Evilhas recently taken more steps toward fantasy, even if that’s been achieved once more through science-fiction means. The werewolves and vampires Ethan defends himself from inResident Evil Villagearen’t actually werewolves and vampires, for example, andResident Evilexplains that away viathe Cadou parasite and the Mold. This has been terrific, though, since the explanation allowsResident Evilto play around with fantasy tropes while remaining fully dedicated to its science-fiction roots, especially since the two genres conflate and intermingle so often now anyway.
Like howResident Evilmarried horror and action so well, it has now married science-fiction and fantasy. It’s unclear whetherResident Evilending the Winters sagawill affect that direction and return the franchise to its roots with a morally unethical bioweapon corporation at the head of its antagonists, but battling mythological creatures in a dingy village was wonderful. Still, Ethan and Chris battle these horrifying monstrosities with the same luxury of powerful firearms that protagonists are typically given in the franchise, andResident Evil 9could make the player’s equipment more appropriate for its fantasy aesthetic.
Resident Evil’s Weapons Don’t Match the Theme of Its New Fantasy Setting
It could have muddiedResident Evil’s gameplay identity beyond the point of recognition, but substituting the same handguns, shotguns, snipers, and grenade launchers for crossbows, bows, swords, and other medieval weaponry also could’ve givenVillagea unique flavor.
Resident Evil’s never been a franchise that compromised gameplay for the sake of narrative immersion and therefore finding random ammunition everywhere has never been questioned, though it would’ve made more sense to be plucking arrows or bolts out of the environment rather than happening to find a box of military-grade sniper rifle ammo.
It would’ve been interesting to seehowResident Evil’s survival-horror gameplay could evolvewith such weapons, especially if crossbows had limited ammo and took forever to manually reload, and it would’ve been neat to see a sword replace players’ knife if only to make the boss fight against Lady Dimitrescu’s dragon bioweapon monstrosity that much more fantastical atop the castle. These weapons could’ve been a gimmick that is tossed in with the usualResident Evilfare, but not diversifying the weapon pool at all inVillageseems like a missed opportunity thatResident Evil 9will probably let slip by, too.
Resident Evil 9 is Unlikely to Mix Up Its Weapon Arsenal at All
Like howMonster Hunterhas largely stuck with the same handful of weapons, it seems as ifResident Evilis also stuck in its ways despite a drastic change of scenery giving it the opportunity to stretch its legs. That said, it’s undetermined yet whetherResident Evil 9is going to followVillagedirectly with another fantasy-inspired adventure featuring bioweapons reminiscent of monsters from popular folklore.
Rumors have claimed that this will be the case and, if so, players can probably expect that they’ll still be equipped with the same guns they’ve always been supplied with regardless of what terrifying enemies are thrown at them. However, as long as the assortment of weapons players does receive is introduced piecemeal, it’ll likely always feel satisfying to discover, earn, or purchase the same glorious firearms.
Of course, there are far greater features for Capcom to be concerned with, such aswhether to debut another Merchant character or not.Resident Evil 9certainly won’t suffer if Chris Redfield or whoever the protagonist is doesn’t wield a sword because the ninth mainline entry might not even haveVillage’s fantasy elements at all, and if it does then a sword or crossbow could provide the perfect immersion.
Resident Evil Village
WHERE TO PLAY
Ethan Winters finds himself in an entirely new nightmare in Capcom’s latest installment of the acclaimed Resident Evil franchise. Whether you’re defending against Lycans in the grim dwellings of the village or exploring the lavish Castle Dimitrescu, the meticulously designed environments immerse you in this eerie world, powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Run from, hide or face off against a diverse cast of terrifying village inhabitants in dream-like - no, nightmarish - situations and fight your instincts to push through classic horror-based sequences. Also, be sure to check out “The Mercenaries” that unlocks once you’ve finished the campaign, a fast-paced and arcade-like game mode which challenges players to blast away enemies against the clock.
