Resident Evil 8: Village Summary
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was a much needed shot-in-the-arm for the franchise, its follow up builds on the same story and gameplay further honing the return to claustrophobic terror. Capcom unleashed the eighth installment in the cultural touchstone of horror that is the mainline Resident Evil series in the middle of 2021 to universal acclaim. Set several years after its predecessor, Resident Evil 8: Village takes protagonist Ethan Winters out of the murky swamps of Louisiana and into the snow-capped gothic horror of a rural Romanian village.
The mix of Resident Evil 4‘s responsive combat and – OG – Resident Evil‘s nail-biting survival horror make first-person explorations of Castle Dimitrescu and the surrounding landscapes sufficiently tense. Ethan Winters must brave the moorland and save his daughter by defeating the four lords of the village – Alcina Dimitrescu, Karl Heisenberg, Salvatore Moreau, and Donna Beneviento – and their leader Mother Miranda. Any further specifics about situation would do a disservice to anyone with an interest in the game. The twists and circumstance of the initial narrative thrust are shocking. Resident Evil 8: Village earned the hordes of lavish praise and “Game of the Year” nods it received.
Resident Evil 8: Village DLC
The Winter Expansion – Resident Evil 8: Village‘s first and currently only DLC – began available on October 28, 2022 costing a $19.99. The bulk of the content consists of a new campaign sees Rosemary – the daughter of Ethan Winters – taking the limelight as she searches for a way to rid herself of her powers. Unlike the core story, Shadows of Rose is presented in a classic third-person style. The emphasis on emotional horror and resource management also elevates the tone to one much closer to the older games in the series.
Coming in at just shy of a three-hour play-through, Shadows of Rose does feel a touch on the short side. Rose’s harrowing journey through the Megamycete beautifully fleshes out her character. No longer just a plot device with superpowers, she manages to overcome her demons – both metaphorical and literal. The player experiences the locations from the main game as they have fallen to ruin. These changes to presentation, tone, and gameplay make for a worthwhile and unique horror experience in the already varied Resident Evil canon.
In addition to the entirely new gaming experience, The Winter Expansion contains extra characters and depth to the arcade-style Mercenary Mode as well as a whole new way to play the core game.
Resident Evil 8: Village DLC Checklist
While the The Winter Expansion is more narrative based addition to Resident Evil 8: Village, there are a few specific unlockables to be found.
Levels
- Shadows of Rose campaign
- Added maps in the core Mercenaries mode
Modes
The addition of a playable third-person mode for the base game is a fun change of pace for those who are looking for a new challenge. Rooted firmly in the control stylings of the Resident Evil 1 & 2 remakes, this inclusion brings the feel of the older survival-horror fare to the dense European countryside. This change of point of view very much encourages fans of the older games in the Resident Evil franchise to experience the modern horror of Village through a nostalgic, not-quite-tank-controls lens.
Playable Characters
- Rosemary Winters
- Chris Redfield
- Karl Heisenberg
- Lady Dimitrescu
Is the Resident Evil 8: Village DLC worth the money?
While the additional in-game content is lighter than anticipated and the new campaign runs shorter than most would expect, the DLC for Resident Evil 8: Village is easily worth its $19.99 price tag. Shadows of Rose sits comfortably in the valley between sentimental and horrifying, a difficult task to do well. The campaign doesn’t overstay its welcome and manages to make its mere 2-to-3-hour play time a satisfying and engaging experience rife with scares and tears. Furthermore on the subject of length, a third-person playthrough of the main story feels like a new game/
Is The Winter Expansion worth your hard earned money? Yes. Any dyed-in-the-wool horror gamer will find contentment in a perspective shifting (get it) return to the Village. It is a worthy addition to game that is already masterpiece of modern survival horror.
Resident Evil 8: Village Tips and Tricks
While Chris Redfield is immediately playable in The Mercenaries Addition Orders Karl Heisenberg and fan favorite Lady Dimitrescu take a small bit of effort to unlock. Releasing electromagnetic maestro Karl Heisenberg is a simple enough task: the player must complete all stages with an A rank. Unlocking Lady Dimitrescu is a touch more difficult and specific. To play as the towering vampire noble one must complete the Blood River map with an S rank.