Summary
TheResident Evilfranchise has forged itself a nice rhythm over the last few years, bouncing between mainline sequels and remakes at a fairly consistent rate. While thisResident Evilcyclehas the potential to cannibalize itself, each entry is different enough to keep fans happy. For instance, whileResident Evil 7andResident Evil Village’s first-person perspective might not have been every fan’s cup of tea, the series' recent remakes quickly offered a different type of gameplay experience, and if the rumors are true, then that cycle is going to get even more diverse in the near future.
According to leaker Dusk Golem, Capcom’s recentDragon’s Dogma 2has “expanded RE Engine functionality for open world games,” and apparently,Resident Evil 9is one of the games that will be building on this technology. If this rumor turns out to be true, thenResident Evil 9could be adopting an open-world design, and while that might initially seem like something completely outside theResident Evilseries' wheelhouse, the groundwork for this was actually laid byResident Evil Villageback in 2021.
Resident Evil Village May Have Laid The Groundwork For Resident Evil 9’s Rumored Open-World
Resident Evil Village Is The Closest The Series Has Gotten to an Open-World
While the vast majority of classicResident Eviltitles have dabbled with a more open-ended world design, none have gone quite as far asResident Evil Village. In games likeResident Evil 2 RemakeandResident Evil 3 Remake, players are often given a central hub to explore with multiple pathways that loop back to that main area. Backtracking through these areas to discover new key items and open up new pathways is a staple feature of classicResident Evil, butResident Evil Villagetakes that even further by linking its main hub to several other open-ended, hub-like areas.
At the center ofResident Evil Village’s mapis its titular dilapidated settlement, filled with points of interest like cemeteries, back alleys, and hamlets that can be broken into and scoured for precious resources. From this central village hub, players will find four separate pathways that lead to new locations, these being Lady Dimitrescu’s castle, House Beneviento, Moreau’s Reservoir, and finally, Heisenberg’s Factory.
While players can only venture out to these locations in a linear order, towards the end of the game they’ll be able to backtrack to any location, essentially turningResident Evil Villageinto an open-world game, even if just for an hour or two. In these final hours, players can revisit any prior point of interest, hunt collectibles, complete any optional quests, and gather as much loot as they can before facing the game’s final trials. ThoughResident Evil Villagecan’t be considered a fully open-world game, it’s the closest the series has gotten so far.
What Resident Evil 9 Could Learn From Resident Evil Village’s World Design
IfResident Evil 9is going to embrace an open-world structure like the current rumors are suggesting, then it has a lot it needs to learn, withResident Evil Villagebeing a good place to start. One of the best aspects ofResident Evil Village’s more open-ended worldwas the synergy between most of its locations. For the most part, it felt as though Castle Dimitrescu, House Beneviento, and the village itself could all be connected in the real-world, with their visual design merging together quite nicely. This is definitely somethingResident Evil 9should adopt for its own world design, even if it doesn’t end up being fully open-world.
Something else thatResident Evil 9could learn fromResident Evil Villageis to keep encouraging exploration. While most goodResident Evilgames do this regardless of their structure,Resident Evil Village’s more open-ended design manages to keep players hooked on exploring every inch of a new location by continuing to reward them for their efforts with shiny new items and resources. IfResident Evil 9goes open-world, then it’s imperative it does something similar.
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.
