RE: Village is an exquisite example of what a true AAA title is. The game is meaty, masterfully executed and expertly assembled. It is, to date, one of the top examples of what Resident Evil has to offer and why the franchise is so relevant, even to this day. The game is satisfying and leaves you wanting more. Succinctly, the game borrows the best elements of Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 and merges them into an excellent first person shooting experience.

Aesthetically, RE: VIII has nigh-photo-realistic graphics that elicit dropped jaw after dropped jaw. Normally, excellent graphics are hobbled or tempered by poor character/environmental design but, in the case of RE: VIII, the game's ambiance and atmosphere take center stage, creating a vibrant and singular world vision. Unlike so many other beautiful games, based on Unreal Engine 4 and CryEngine, which run dog slow and exhibit a litany of technical issues, RE: VIII is not only easily one of the most beautiful games on the market but also one of the best performing.

RE: VIII ran at locked 4K, Ultra settings on my Radeon VII (make sure you have plenty of VRAM, as it needs at least 13 GB) and demonstrated excellent frame consistency and frame times. Character models are especially good, with Alcina, Mia, Chris, and Miranda showcasing uncannily spectacular levels of realism. The game was stable, didn't crash, exhibited minimal issues/slow downs and did so running graphical circles around games with far more fanfare. The soundtrack, voice acting and sound effects were all excellent.

Shooting play is good. It may not be the best shooting play you've ever experienced but it is certainly responsive, communicative and fluid. Most weapons feel really good and the animations/sounds are evocative. The inventory system works. Melee and blocking add a layer of needed complexity. Upgrades, collectibles and secrets abound that reward careful and exhaustive play throughs. The lore is substantially improved over many other nonsensical iterations.

The game is supposed to present a Romanian and classical interpretation of the Resident Evil monster stable and it all works beautifully. The story has some twists and turns and while you won't experience any surprises compared to, say, Bioshock, the game still works hard to keep the player invested and attentive. The story ending is satisfying and ties up most loose ends well. Unlike Resident Evil 3, RE: VIII seems to be crafted with purposeful intent and care.

For those players that don't want to replay the entire 20-22 hour campaign again, hunting for hidden goodies, there is the multiplayer component which will be unlocked by the end of the summer in 2021. The mode is sure to add some replayability but, to be clear, the single player campaign for RE: VIII is worthy of the price of admission purely on its own.

What a treat. Yes, the game isn't as terrifying as Resident Evil 7 (although it still has scares and panic). No, the game isn't the most accessible title of the franchise. Yes, it's a shooter. It's also the best single player game of the year, bar none.

Highest possible recommendation.

9.5/10.

RE: Village is an exquisite example of what a true AAA title is. The game is meaty, masterfully executed and expertly assembled. It is, to date, one of the top examples of what Resident Evil has to offer and why the franchise is so relevant, even to this day. The game is satisfying and leaves you wanting more. Succinctly, the game borrows the best elements of Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7 and merges them into an excellent first person shooting experience. Aesthetically, RE: VIII has nigh-photo-realistic graphics that elicit dropped jaw after dropped jaw. Normally, excellent graphics are hobbled or tempered by poor character/environmental design but, in the case of RE: VIII, the game's ambiance and atmosphere take center stage, creating a vibrant and singular world vision. Unlike so many other beautiful games, based on Unreal Engine 4 and CryEngine, which run dog slow and exhibit a litany of technical issues, RE: VIII is not only easily one of the most beautiful games on the market but also one of the best performing. RE: VIII ran at locked 4K, Ultra settings on my Radeon VII (make sure you have plenty of VRAM, as it needs at least 13 GB) and demonstrated excellent frame consistency and frame times. Character models are especially good, with Alcina, Mia, Chris, and Miranda showcasing uncannily spectacular levels of realism. The game was stable, didn't crash, exhibited minimal issues/slow downs and did so running graphical circles around games with far more fanfare. The soundtrack, voice acting and sound effects were all excellent. Shooting play is good. It may not be the best shooting play you've ever experienced but it is certainly responsive, communicative and fluid. Most weapons feel really good and the animations/sounds are evocative. The inventory system works. Melee and blocking add a layer of needed complexity. Upgrades, collectibles and secrets abound that reward careful and exhaustive play throughs. The lore is substantially improved over many other nonsensical iterations. The game is supposed to present a Romanian and classical interpretation of the Resident Evil monster stable and it all works beautifully. The story has some twists and turns and while you won't experience any surprises compared to, say, Bioshock, the game still works hard to keep the player invested and attentive. The story ending is satisfying and ties up most loose ends well. Unlike Resident Evil 3, RE: VIII seems to be crafted with purposeful intent and care. For those players that don't want to replay the entire 20-22 hour campaign again, hunting for hidden goodies, there is the multiplayer component which will be unlocked by the end of the summer in 2021. The mode is sure to add some replayability but, to be clear, the single player campaign for RE: VIII is worthy of the price of admission purely on its own. What a treat. Yes, the game isn't as terrifying as Resident Evil 7 (although it still has scares and panic). No, the game isn't the most accessible title of the franchise. Yes, it's a shooter. It's also the best single player game of the year, bar none. Highest possible recommendation. 9.5/10.