Resident Evil Village Gold Edition on Switch 2: A Visually Stunning, Yet Flawed, Continuation of Ethan Winters' Saga!
Capcom truly hit a home run with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and they wisely decided to build upon that success with Resident Evil Village. This installment picks up the story of Ethan Winters, who finds himself in a mysterious rural village, overshadowed by a grand, imposing castle, all in his desperate search for his abducted daughter, Rose. While Village clearly draws inspiration from the beloved Resident Evil 4, the execution, as we'll see, is a bit of a mixed bag.
But here's where it gets interesting... Village injects a significant dose of action, boasting more expansive environments, a diverse cast of menacing enemies, a robust weapon upgrade system, and satisfying counterattack mechanics. Forget the somewhat monotonous foes of RE7; Village throws a whole new kind of terror at you with terrifying Lycans, unsettling reanimated dolls, and formidable, mechanically enhanced humans known as 'Soldats,' all eager to bring your adventure to a gruesome end.
And this is the part most people miss: the environments are the real stars of the show! You'll explore the aforementioned village and castle, but also venture into the chilling House Beneviento, Moreau's eerie Reservoir, and Heisenberg's imposing Factory (and no, not that Heisenberg!). Each distinct area feels incredibly unique, complete with its own memorable boss character, making for an exceptionally well-paced experience that never overstays its welcome.
However, a question lingers: has Village truly stood the test of time as well as its predecessor? While the gameplay is undeniably engaging, the characters and, by extension, the narrative, feel somewhat less impactful compared to the unforgettable Baker Family from RE7. Even the internet-sensation Lady Dimitrescu, while iconic, doesn't quite leave the lasting impression one might hope for. Make no mistake, this is still a fantastic addition to the Resident Evil series, but in recent years, I've found myself drawn back to the immersive storytelling of RE7 far more frequently than Village.
The Gold Edition on Switch 2 is your ticket to all the additional content. This includes a revamped The Mercenaries arcade mode. While it's certainly enjoyable, it doesn't quite capture the same exhilarating, addictive pace that made Resident Evil 6's version so compelling. You also get the 'Shadows of Rose' DLC, a peculiar third-person journey through familiar locales with new adversaries, and the ability to play the main campaign from either a first-person or third-person perspective. While not as expansive as RE7's DLC offerings, it's definitely worth exploring.
Performance on the Switch 2, unfortunately, doesn't quite match RE7's prowess. While the visuals and frame rate remain stable in docked mode, a few hiccups do appear when switching to handheld. It still looks great, mind you, but you'll likely notice some minor stutters, especially when navigating the open exterior areas like the central village hub and the reservoir.
Despite these reservations, I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing Village. Its gameplay and pacing are superb, and there's one particular moment that stands out as one of the most terrifying in the entire series' history. Yet, when juxtaposed with RE7's masterful storytelling and the broader lore of the franchise, Village feels like a narrative outlier, and I'm not entirely convinced it will hold up as strongly in the long run.
So, what do you think? Does Resident Evil Village's action-packed approach outweigh its narrative shortcomings for you? Or do you, like me, find yourself longing for the character-driven depth of RE7? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
