Resident Evil Village is a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7, retaining that game's first-person viewpoint as well as playable hero Ethan Winters. But while Resident Evil Village may have the most in common with Resident Evil 7, it's also taking inspiration from another game in the Resident Evil series. As revealed by Capcom producer Peter Fabiano, the game is also taking inspiration from Resident Evil 4.
Fabiano revealed as much in the latest issue of PlayStation Official Magazine. Fabiano didn't expand on exactly what he meant by Resident Evil Village taking inspiration from Resident Evil 4, but he did say that the team is trying to create "a truly authentic feel." He also teased that there will be "plenty of surprises" for fans of the game, and that Resident Evil Village has a "balance of combat, exploration, and puzzle solving." Resident Evil 4 definitely featured all of those elements, but there are more specific RE4 inspirations found in Resident Evil Village as well.
While not specified by Fabiano in the interview, fans have already seen some Resident Evil 4-inspired features in Resident Evil Village gameplay demonstrations. One of the earliest examples of this can be spotted in Resident Evil Village's inventory system. The Resident Evil Village inventory screen looks very similar to Resident Evil 4's, with players having to rotate and organize items to manage their space.
Another similarity between Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 is the merchant character. Resident Evil Village has a new merchant named The Duke, but he seems to function very similarly to the one from RE4. Players will be interacting with The Duke to sell items, make purchases, and upgrade Ethan's weapons. The Duke in Resident Evil Village seems to have a more defined personality than the mysterious merchant from Resident Evil 4, however.
And of course, Resident Evil Village's rural European setting is also very reminiscent of Resident Evil 4. Both games also feature a Gothic castle that players will have to explore, so the Resident Evil 4 inspirations in Resident Evil Village are very clear. It will be interesting to see if fans notice any other similarities between the two games once Resident Evil Village launches later this year.
As far as Resident Evil 4 goes, the game is playable on basically every modern video game console, but fans may eventually have a new way to experience it. Rumor has it that a full-blown Resident Evil 4 remake is in active development, with plans to release it at some point in 2022. The big Capcom ransomware leak has seemingly confirmed the game's existence, though Capcom itself has not made any official announcements.
Resident Evil Village launches May 7 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: PlayStation Official Magazine (via WCCFTech)
