Resident Evil Village Critique: A Crisis of Identity

[@carlisle6831]

The amount of effort put into this video really shows. I would genuinely hope to hear your full thoughts on RE 2make in the future

[@Engel_Regime]

Thanks! I played both the remake and the original for some added perspective for this video. My overall opinion on the remake is positive. I thought it was a good game and enjoyed it. Personally, I think the titles are so different from one another that they feel like different games. Perhaps that's to be expected when such a large gap is between the two. I think the original does the survival aspect of survival horror much better than the remake. Conversely, I believe the remake does a better job at supplying the horror element. This is most likely due to some influence from 7. With that being said, I don't think Resident Evil has ever been all that frightening except for seven. So, the fact that the remake is better at this, isn't that much of a feat in my eyes. I could probably go on for a while talking about the distinctions between the two titles, but then I'd be here all day and not working on my next project. I'm glad you enjoyed this video, and I appreciate the comment.

[@alanlee67]

@@Engel_Regime well, I'm with you that the two games are completely different games. I feel the remake is good but definitely not as good as the original. I think it just came out in a time when good single player games are few and far between. It's a completely new dev team with a whole new vision. The original was able to balance horror, tension, and levity. The remake just hits the gas hard on horror which is to some people's taste I guess. Obviously the soundtrack cannot compete

[@debashisprasadjena5075]

You actually are the second person I came across on KZbin who actually noticed how linear the castle section is. Other youtubers are just praising this section.

[@polskastylezz187]

30:20 „the puzzles are good“ they dont deserve to be clled puzzles man

[@debashisprasadjena5075]

Village has some of the most horrible puzzles I have seen in a RE game. But it has some cool puzzles. I wish there were more cool puzzles in the main areas rather than having strawberry puzzles as Under the mayo says.

[@Wr41thgu4rd]

@@debashisprasadjena5075 I dont remember any puzzles

[@ModeSOLOgaming]

For a RE game to be survival horror, it needs to be a puzzle. Not just have puzzles mind you, but as a whole needs to act as a puzzle. Every step, every bullet, herb, and item needs to be carefully planned, used and kept otherwise you are severely punished for a lack of strategy. Horror alone doesn't make it a survival horror game.

[@phant0mdummy]

I get annoyed whenever Capcom tries to have their cake and eat it too. Pick a side of the fence. It's either slow moving, resource managing, item inventory tracking and choosing your kills wisely - while solving puzzles that make zero sense, or it's running and gunning creatures mindlessly. They did it again, and made an RE6 again. This is just RE6 mishmash trying to please everyone and this is how we get the worst games in the series every time. RE8 is mediocre at best, because it cannot be great. Not when it's trying so hard to make everyone happy. That's why RE6 was ass, no matter how well it controlled. This series needs to choose an identity and stick to it.

[@luichinplaystation610]

Capcom still sees RE like profitable RE4 so they are stuck between being a survival horror or repeating RE4 yet again Is stuck between the two and being film makers too

[@dc1n1001]

They actually don't have to stick with just one tone imo, but just don't mix everything in one game like re8 and 6. You can have an action/horror oriented game when the main protagonist is experienced characters like Chris,Leon,Jill. This way it makes sense to both the player and the tone of a game. And you can also have a straight horror oriented game with a less experienced character like Ethan, Rebecca, or even a new character.

[@TheIcarusEffect]

When I started playing this game I was convinced the twist at the end was that Ethan was having some bioweapon-induced hallucination that made him imagine he was in a warped version of the book Mia was reading at the start. Like, the tone and setting was just too fucking goofy. But no, we’re meant to believe that dominatrix dragons, mutant fish humpbacks and a guy who controls metal are all in the same universe as the prior games. At least RE usually tries to ground what’s happening in some sort of pseudo-scientific explanation, however stupid.

[@TheCyclicGamer]

"If someone came up to me and asked to describe the Resident Evil series in a few sentences, I'd be at a loss." Resident Evil is tonally-inconsistent anime in the form of a foundationally-inconsistent series of video games about poorly voiced and written protagonists trying to stop cartoonishly-evil villains trying to make viruses that turn people into monsters to conquer the world.

[@phant0mdummy]

I get annoyed that these characters change their face/body and voice actors across all the titles so often that I can't even be sure who they are any longer.

[@echox000]

@@phant0mdummy lol

[@alanlee67]

It's a classic story about the hubris of man. Giving up humanity to try to attain godhood and the triumph of good over evil. David vs goliath

[@Th3BigBoy]

@@alanlee67 lmao

[@mariafarina14]

This is...the brutal, most honest truth. Even though RE is a combination of cliches (cliche characters, clichè plot elements etc.) It could have been a good story nonetheless, with a little bit more effort and depth.

[@ciromarin5716]

RE Village is an odd one for me. One thing that I loved about Re7 was the atmosphere, the muddy/swamp setting and the vhs aesthetic, a game dripping with care and identity. Village for me... is... passionless. It is "we have resident evil 4 at home". -You do not have good weapon variety. -After you kill lady D on ng+, you can blaze through half of the game and reach Monreau without killing any enemy (I don't count Beneviento's section as one with a boss, it just serves to kill the pacing in subsequent playthroughs). -And boy oh boy, the elephant in the room; the missed potential. Everytime I see the concept arts for Village, I wonder what a game it could have been if they had focused on telling the backstory of the village instead of "bUt EtHaN wAS DEad thE whOLe tiMe". - Idc about bsaa using bioweapons. -Chris's presence felt forced to hype the game up. - Miranda's plan and shape-shifting powers are the weakest point in the whole plot and this reason alone makes Chris' appearance (and the game's existence as a whole) feel cheap. She could've just taken rose and leave, but decided to be ethan's wife for a couple of weeks?. And what about Chris? He could've just talked to Ethan about what they were doing with Miranda, BUT NO. Capcom was relying on stupidity and lack of communication to get a story going! -A moldy bird told her about Rose. Really? - Ngl I'm one of the few people who liked the factory (except Heisenberg's boss fight), and you know why? because the setting was unique, the enemies were tough, and when the lights turned off, it was the only time I felt that sweet sweet tension and anxiety regarding resource management. -Lady D was wasted potential. -No matter how many times I play it, "you are nothing but mold" will never not be a silly thing to hear.

[@d4n737]

Fucking precisely! that are my thoughts exactly to be honest!

[@luichinplaystation610]

BSAA using bioweapons? that is not very BSAA thing to do

[@JackMorgan06]

Exactly right about the concept art. I feel like all games concept art is better than the final product, but Village is next level. Its concept art looks inconceivably better than the bland final product

[@DragonPrincess69]

Man, I just found you, you are going to be one the best people for video game essays ! Keep at it!

[@SuperCuttyBlackSow]

My favorite games will always be the first 2 the original and remakes. Not sure if I'm a fan of the fairy tale style

[@NPC3.14]

Had buyers remorse after a mere hour; this may be "survival horror" but is not "RE"

[@JackMorgan06]

it’s definitely not survival horror

[@cinnamonsan8091]

i love your voice, this was a great watch. you're so articulate

[@dion2232]

I watch a lot of video essays, there’re basically all I watch and let me tell you this was an amazing video essay. Keep going.

[@kreep182]

Thank you for the video. I felt like im the only one with those feelings. It went from viruses and zombies to fucking ghouls and vampires. I mean what next..fucking ghosts???

[@AndJusticeForMe]

And let’s not forget the magnificent DLC…Shadows of Harry Potter.

[@Izak_Klark]

About the Beneviento House, it was all hallucinations from specific flowers Donna likes to use. This is built up through notes. Also I don't know why so many people complain about the cheesiness, those things make me smile. Moreau's section definitely has timed puzzles, not sure if your game was bugged or not. I don't understand how you ever felt like you were on even footing with any of these villains. Yes you have guns, but these are powerful beings you're up against. They're not any less powerful just because you have a gun. You're still just a guy as Ethan. I kind if get how this game can be polarizing in terms of game design and trying to figure out a consistent tone. But I think the context within the game justifies every situation you're put into. When Heisenberg surrounds himself in a metal mech, I don't know why you'd expect the same tone as RE7

[@d4n737]

Well... maybe because this is a direct sequel to RE7? I mean, it has the same characters and directly continues the plot, it's kinda weird to do a direct sequel to something, while being spiritually inspired by someone else. Old wisdom rings true: "He who chases two rabbits, catches neither."

[@VincentBrooks437]

I don’t think this game deserve any critiques like identity crisis because like the way I remember re2 in 1998 a popular horror game back then, the same I felt when playing 7 and 8. Village is a worthy horror game in its own. I actually like village because of the creepy fantasy atmosphere and the characters is well especially the villains. But speaking of atmosphere 7 was brilliant and maintained a lot of the survival aspects unlike 8 the latter which you would find ammo and money like litter everywhere not so much for 7 because you would have to risk pushing forward to a certain area for more ammo and items cos it was so creepy. But something I would agree with these fps games which in re 8 village the close up camera view in your surrounding environment like brick walls and pipes actually made me feel sick. I was like alright devs I get it pretty looking walls and pipe lines when do I zoom out 😅

[@pchurch692]

Great video! Killin it man, keep up the good work.

[@Engel_Regime]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ralgore]

1, 2, 3: Original Trilogy. 4, 5, 6: Identity Crisis. 7, 8, 9: Fullblown Dementia.

[@d4n737]

But... 7 was good... and there is no RE9... wat?

[@IcaroRamosDM]

​@@d4n737The first half of 7 was decent at best, the second half... meh

[@luichinplaystation610]

7, 8 are the true Residential Evilous

[@Fedor_Kisliakov]

There was no identity crisis in 4,5 or 6. Okay, maybe some with 6. But those games knew exactly what they were going for.

[@dathip]

@@IcaroRamosDM Yep! The second half of 7 is what completely ruined the game.

[@troo_6656]

I'll be far more blunt. This game is ass. It has good ideas and sections which could be great, but it's held back by meriad of interests and no concrete direction. As opposed to you I dispise the combat. The guns do not feel like guns, more like trank guns that sometimes also push enemies away. Every single one of these ideas could make for interesting game, but together it's just generic blob with highlights. People can shit on RE5 and 6 all they want but those games know what they are and what they want to do and in case of RE5 does so exceptionally well (for the most part).

[@nicolaevulpescu2610]

I found this game to be fake and empty, and It's quite a shame because I understand that making a game like this takes a lot of time, talent and dedication. Also, going from mutants and zombies to werewolves, witchcraft, and a dude that controls metal? That's kind of silly. Miranda boss fight was so freaking boring too, just disappointing.

[@baptisedindirtysprite3593]

Great review man, you sound better than most professional game journalists👍🏽

[@d4n737]

I have every achievement on RE7 and I'm proud of it. I'm really into what they've created. I bought RE8 thinking I'll get Resident Evil: Biohazard, but with Dracula. Playing Ethan on another adventure, where I face inhuman odds and push through with the help of wit, determination, luck and quick thinking, but this time instead, in a European village with themes of superstition, paganism, vampires and maybe some folklore. Exploring Castle Dimitrescu, discovering things, fighting for my life, being able to memorise another location by heart and bite into an another game with the same obsession, hell, maybe I'll try speedruning it too. What I got instead was a jumbled mess of ideas and themes, Lady D for maybe an hour, Where the fuck did that doll come from, who the fuck is that ugly guy, nobody cares and someone's cringy Bloodborne OC. Also a dark god-mother, and also werewolves, and there's that one giant that also looks like a Soulsborne enemy, and werewolves ride on horses, also the village has some gory pagan themes, just for spice, also Redfield is an ass, and also- This fucking game cannot decide on what it WANTS to be, much less if it wants to be a successor to Biohazard or RE4. It's like saying "Hey, people like football and baseball, so let's combine the two" and as a result, fans of both are unsatisfied because neither team can properly interract with one another

[@BIadelores]

Humor CAN work in a horror game. The problem isn't the mixture of horror and comedy, the problem is that the horror is so dire and po-faced that the wildly over-the-top humor just comes across as out-of-place. The sharp contrast is just too extreme and there is very little dramatic middle ground to try to connect it all in a way that feels cohesive. It's just one moment of searing horror right next to another absurd ridiculous sequence.

[@jboi903]

Enjoyed your take on it. Although I wouldn't agree with the amount of Lei you get being too much and taking away the need for finding treasure. At least my playthrough was the opposite to this. I played on hardcore and by the last 3rd of the game I was struggling to find enough money to upgrade weapons sufficiently. I explored a lot of the world and found a lot of treasures as well so it wasn't from a lack of exploration.

[@ishnu7988]

You’re a very very good speaker. Awesome video bro!!

[@IliyaKunin]

I was surprised to see that you are still under 1k subs. Amazing work!

[@dathip]

Fantastic video! The only exception of the RE franchise that I loved was RE5 because of the amount of content, how challenging it was, and how unbelievably addictive the mercenaries/mercenaries reunion is.

[@gordonshumway467]

i don´t like that ethan die and i don´t like the stupid retcon that jack killed him

[@ex_cathedra4237]

Ethan being mold the whole time creates plot holes. If he was already mold, why did the Bakers attack him? Why wasn't he under Eveline's control? The writing is just stupid.

[@THE_INFECTED]

I think the game was nice other than the Moraou section just a new player killer. I died there the first time to random things happening that a new player would not know.The first half felt like a blend of re 1-3 and 7 and after that was re 4-6 styled. it feels right Ethan at the point of Heisenberg is pure annoyed not really scared unlike when he first meets the Lycans. The boss battle feels like a final push that you can mow through the enemies. It's not bad blend its more bad story that just didnt make sense as much that lead to the jarring changes in tone.

[@LegendaryDarkKnight602]

Man, you tell a damn good story. Subscribed to see more of your vids.

[@thatoneguy1232]

I disagree that they can’t do both horror and action. I think it’s possible and RE8 has a decent enough setup for that sort of thing. It just fails at achieving it and you pretty much covered most of the ways in which it does. I’m surprised you didn’t touch more on inventory and resource management. That was a massive failure of the game imo. I do like RE8, but I have some issues with it as a Resident Evil game. But I do believe the seeds of blending both the survival horror and action horror are there.

[@bernardorodrigues7048]

What the hell, how it's possible a channel like yours, has only this amount of subs, one of the best videos I've seen in months, i was lucky to get this in my recommendations Ps: I lost the hearth hearth because I corrected a word, feels bad XD

[@mrcocoloco7200]

I can't wait to finish this video. I will see it later because I am busy. Still I love this type of converstation.

[@JeriDro]

after the 3rd game when the original creators left, the story should have ended. 4 and 5 are great games but should have been called something else..

[@dantetouchdown9030]

Great video

[@debashisprasadjena5075]

Hey you gained a sub man.

[@codingwithellie]

If you had stuck with it you would have had so many subs by now amigo. I understand though, it takes a lot of time to make these and you made several with virtually no payoff.

[@AVEXentSUCKS]

This game is best described as a jack of all trades, master of none. Everything felt half baked and inferior to the parts of the series it took from. RE6 was a trainwreck, so was this one.

[@Gamer.Instinct]

Bro I love resident evil, it’s my favourite franchise and I have every game except gaiden. That being said, I’ll be the first one to say that it’s history is fucking ridiculous at this point 😂 they’ve gone so far up the ass with not only gameplay but stories that like they don’t even know where to take this game anymore. Like just look at how many biological agents have appeared in the canon, it’s ludicrous, it’s hilarious.

[@theHeartlessNooB]

I liked it better when it was "small time". Now every character is a super hero that the entire planet knows and bio monsters are everywhere...Awful...

[@JeriDro]

there should be a feature in RE games where you have to also collect magazines and safely fill them.

[@hurfnurf2487]

your voice describing the horror is like a copy pasta youtuber and i love it

[@Engel_Regime]

Wasn't exactly what I was going for, but I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@hurfnurf2487]

@@Engel_Regime I mean creepy pasta but yeah it was fun

[@luichinplaystation610]

A farmer not having a revolver but a pistol

[@thegoodeboy2016]

Recently replayed. I enjoyed the game quite a bit actually but there are quite a few flaws. Overall an enjoyable experience but it could’ve been so much better. I think mother Miranda was so garbage and that really hurt the game for me.

[@spookyskeleton9816]

All right I'll subscribe, jeez

[@RonanAquilius]

The only RE game that comes to mind that didn't feel like an RE game is RE6 imo. I don't think RE has an identity crisis, all RE games feel like an RE game except 6, just some have more action than others.

[@aranerem3767]

I love resident evil village

[@alariaaurora8456]

Nice video i disagree with you on exploration (rooms turn blue stuff) And that you mentioned power ups are useless after a while & i actually enjoyed exploring every single part of village cuz power ups were meaningful at least for me. Also exploration rewards you with boss encounters or new puzzles which makes the road to your exploration goal, fun It’s not all about destination How ever what i strongly agree with you is the tonal crisis of resident evil village Story is comically B movie tier that takes itself seriously One interesting thing that i wasn’t expecting was how poor the environmental story telling and overall lore were executed Village uses The most basic form of environmental story telling that actually ruined some moments for me. Those obnoxious notes out of no where actually took away from the atmosphere at times and the thing i hate about the lore is how paper thin it is village’s interesting setting. The problem with action part of this game is the fact that 1st person camera sucks in tight action moments and boss fights, movement is clunky and gunplay while good for a survival horror, is not good for a 1st person action game. So village throws alot of action moments to you while the tools it gives you aren’t proper for an action title Overall i enjoyed this game a lot and part of that is the great level design, my bias towards gothic setting & environment (bloodborne being my favorite game of all time explains that ) also to the game’s credit, boss variety and enemy was good actually , but the game could be much much much better than what it is.

[@benjaf1058]

To be fair, the best B movies do take themselves seriously. That’s where their charm comes from; earnest effort.

[@lggxxitxitdisirdrdodttxo]

village sucks. re7 is the best . re2 is the best remake. re9 is gonna suck and pretty sure we will never get another resident evil that’s actually good . RIP.

[@MrSuperalan99]

Re1 remake is the best remake.

[@lggxxitxitdisirdrdodttxo]

re7 enemies are great dont why everyone complains about molded enemies. it’s a new enemy type , if u don’t like it then play something else. the greenhouse marguerite boss fight and mia chainsaw fight was the best. jack baker not really interesting and could’ve been better at his boss fight. i wish we could’ve fought eveline as a boss earlier. or mid game..seemed like that was missing . and fighting jack baker 3 separate times was redundant and they should’ve had better enemy bosses .

[@elujinpk]

...did this guy just call re 1 stale? 🧐😭

[@KawaiiSemeKiller]

To be fair, about the one liners I have a friend who at haunted attractions their panic response is hilarious one liners She once yelled at a werewolf guy that he belonged in an Asian wig factory.

[@d4n737]

oh my fucking god XD That is GREAT

[@rockleesmile]

Your completely enraptured, breathless reading of your script gives way too much praise to the game content in your level of engagement. This game isn't nearly scary enough or well written enough to be taken so seriously. It undermines the objectivity of your review if you're going to bias it that much that way. I just can't take anything you're saying seriously cause it sounds like you're losing your mind with excitement. A little is fine, but you kinda just stayed there doing that for ages.

[@theHeartlessNooB]

Resident Evil Village is simply a dumb game. I hated it when I first played it. But after multiple playthroughs I've come to appreciate it some. I have fun with it, very mild fun, its not great and no part of it is. Its an easy game made to sell. If this game had come out 15-20 years ago when people were far less stupid, this game would have gotten crapped on by almost everyone. The worst part of it all has got to be the stupid haunted house. Its comically bad, an entire section where you can't really die. Then you fight a cringey boss by pressing ONE BUTTON three times. Who is impressed by this? Ten year old girls? This is Resident Evil? The M rated game? This stuff is pathetic. I didn't think it could get worse than the Resident Evil 3 remake, but it did.

[@alexplummer6397]

You clearly didn’t play 6

[@ShadiChammout]

I've never played any other Resident Evil game but I can assert with all confidence that RE4 is the best of them and anybody who thinks otherwise is degenerate and belongs on a cross.

[@Engel_Regime]

Do you know why I like these slave collars, lieutenant?

[@lanceelopezz223]

@@Engel_Regime Ave, true to Caesar.

[@JazzyUnderscoreTrumpeter]

Intriguing

[@Engel_Regime]

I see you commenting on most of my videos. I just wanted to thank you for your continued support. It means a lot! Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@JazzyUnderscoreTrumpeter]

@@Engel_Regime Absolutely, bro... I want to start creating content at some point and seeing the things you've produced is super inspiring!! Keep it up 😂🤙

[@Engel_Regime]

​@@JazzyUnderscoreTrumpeter I never thought I would inspire others through my content. Good luck with whatever you choose to create. It's hard work, but whenever you upload something and see people enjoying it, it all pays off! I wish you the best of luck.

[@jakenzeus5070]

Commenting for the algorithm. 👍👍 good content my friend.

[@HouseOfWisdomPol]

Sometimes I wonder how helpful some game genres are at truly describing the games they're meant to describe. RPG and Survival Horror are the worst offenders in this respect.

[@neamraven]

No, the worst offender is 'action game', because almost every game is described as an action game and put under that umbrella. It's all action, adventure, or action adventure.

[@debashisprasadjena5075]

@@neamraven action games are the most clearly defined games with pure gameplay while many survival horror and rpg games fail to use the elements of their respective genre. But when the survival horror and rpg games shine they shine so bright that they blind the players lol.

[@Wr41thgu4rd]

Resident evil 7 tried but was garbage in the end. The enemy design is the worst of the series second only to village.

[@liszt646]

Re 7 is a banger and a true survival horror until the ship. Don't compare it to a trash like re village

[@TifffanyTaylor]

Yall suck. 😂

[@ismaelgingles9409]

​@@liszt646I loved both re7 and re8 because they made me feel alone and trying to survive unlike re5 and re6 with action fighting on rooftops or car chases or underwater labs like seriously 🙄

[@thatoneguy1232]

⁠@@liszt646the ship is a great map and maintains every core tenant of classic resident evil/survival horror. The mines is truly when the game takes a dip in quality

[@emiliodiaz3927]

commemt

[@TifffanyTaylor]

😭 WAAAH Boohoo this game doesn't conform to my preconceived notions of the "horror" genre. 😧 Game's fun. & the contrasting tone was not an accident. Triple a games aren't accidents. They knew what they were making & what they were doing. So if they didn't conform to a particular design, thats intentional. & i found it dope. Stoked for the next one

[@Leon.K69]

He's not wrong though

[@JackMorgan06]

“Boohoo”? Grow up man. This isn’t about the game not conforming to peoples preconceived notions, it’s about the game failing at what it tries to do. It’s not fun, and they clearly didn’t know what they were doing, the game feels passionless and thoughtless the whole way through. I am excited for the next game too, because it won’t be made by the same guy who made Village

[@BookofJob3XVII]

I’m glade capcom trying different things with RE. Not sure why people are criticizing RE for not being an survival horror game. If you people want true survival horror stick to the “Amnesia” or “Outlast” series.

[@TheCyclicGamer]

Because RE is what pioneered the survival horror genre. And I wouldn't call Amnesia or Outlast survival horror because dying doesn't mean anything in those games.

[@debashisprasadjena5075]

@@TheCyclicGamer Amnesia and outlast are stealth horror games. This guy doesn't even know what a survival horror game is yet he says stupid things like this in the comment section.

[@TheCyclicGamer]

@@SicKno-i5r Those modern gamers you are talking about, normies as some people call them, are one brain-cell loss away from forgetting how to breathe. You can have difficulty levels in those challenging games, I'm all for it, but game design should never be compromised for the sake of mainstream appeal.

[@JackMorgan06]

Those aren’t survival horror games. People want RE to be survival horror because that’s what it is, not a linear, passionless game that requires no thinking and rewards you for following straight paths the whole time. They can try different things, but that shouldn’t result in bad games.