Resident Evil Requiem vs Village – which is better?

There will be some brief spoilers regarding Leon's campaign in Resident Evil Requiemwhich not everyone knows about, so keep that in mind.

Resident Evil Village was released in 2021, and it was arguably the first major horror experience of the new console generation. It continued the story of Ethan Winters, who had previously led Resident Evil 7: Biohazardbut Ethan was also briefly joined in the campaign by series favorite Chris Redfield.

Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth major installment in the series, starring series regular Leon S. Kennedy and newcomer Grace Ashcroft, who has ties to the bizarre Resident Evil outbreak game. do it Resident Evil Requiem outdo Resident Evil Village at any significant level, or did the eighth game set the bar too high? Both games are very good, but let's compare them anyway.

We'll be highlighting areas where both games shine in their own ways, and we're not just focusing on direct comparisons.

The Set Pieces: Resident Evil Village

There is something for everyone

Resident Evil Village was very much an homage to the series up to this point, sampling a bit from each game. The campaign focused primarily on the titular village, stationed somewhere in a vague European country. Beyond the eerie but picturesque village was a castle, a haunted house nestled next to a waterfall, a poison marsh and so much more.

The diversity of biomes was amazing overall, and they rank among the coolest places in Resident Evil history. Resident Evil Requiem big new location, Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, and the return to Raccoon City isn't as exciting compared to everything in Resident Evil Village.

The Playable Protagonists: Resident Evil Requiem

Grace and Leon over Ethan and Chris

Technically, both games have dual protagonists, although one game is more upfront about it. IN Resident Evil VillageEthan is the main character, but Chris appears and even becomes playable for a short part as well. Grace and Leon share the spotlight in Resident Evil Villagewhere both characters have about the same amount of screen time.

Chris is a classic Resident Evil character, but his appearance in Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a bit strange compared to the nostalgia game of Leon i Resident Evil Requiemwho acts completely like himself, cheesy jokes and all. Ethan has better motivation Resident Evil Village compared to what Grace goes through at Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, but paired with Leon, the two just light up the screen more.

The Duke Vs. A Bracelet: Resident Evil Village

What do you buy?

Enter the Duke Resident Evil Village was a tribute to the Merchant from Resident Evil 4. While it could have been seen as just a way to appease fans, Duke's inclusion was more story-oriented than mysterious, which he was. Players can buy weapons and items, cook food to get permanent upgrades, and tweak weapons as well.

IN Requiemplayers can purchase items and weapons, and upgrade them later, in Leon's campaign with the Tactical Tracker, a wristband that accumulates points as players kill enemies, but only through a static back system. Grace can find Ancient Coins for a limited supply Resident Evil Requiemand that's all. Without finding any merchant, Resident Evil Village wins easily, as the Duke's personality is infectious.

The Nostalgia Factor: Resident Evil Requiem

Welcome to Raccoon City

Resident Evil Requiem release celebrates thirty years of Resident Evilas the series began in 1996. So, in a sense, the game was created on the basis of the past, retreading themes and locations to please the fans. On some level, it works like coming back to Raccoon City. Once Leon arrives at the police station, the nostalgia factor is turned up to eleven, including seeing old enemies return and hearing the station's iconic music.

Resident Evil Requiem might not do much with Raccoon City as a location to make it feel new, but it does enough to tug at those nostalgia strings. Resident Evil Village doesn't have anything directly connected to previous games beyond homages, which is fine, including The Duke, but nothing can beat Leon as he explores his old battlefield.

New Game+ & Second Playthroughs: Resident Evil Village

More carries over Ethan and Chris

The Resident Evil the series has never had a consistent method for how New Game+ works across all games. IN Resident Evil Villageplayers get to take over everything from weapons to ammo to upgrades for Ethan, making the second playthrough easier by comparison. Additionally, there is the Special Content menu, where players can unlock special weapons or cheats like infinite ammo.

Resident Evil Requiem has the Special Content menu as well, but an overall different approach to New Game+. Other than getting bonus gear, Grace's campaign will not transfer items to her storage container. Leon can unlock upgrades and the points system earlier, but that's about it, which makes the system kick in Resident Evil Village simply better.

Can switch between third and first person perspectives: Resident Evil Requiem

Play your way

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was a major moment for the series as it introduced a new playable character in a mainline game after decades, Ethan, and was set entirely in first person, which carried over to Resident Evil Village also. Resident Evil Requiem encourages players to play Grace's campaign in first person and Leon's in third person. The beauty is that both characters can have their perspectives changed Resident Evil Requiem menu at any time.

This small inclusion may not mean much to all players, but for those who want to find whatever perspective suits them most comfortably while playing, this is a big deal. It would be great to see the future Resident Evil games include this option as well, and maybe even remakes/remasters of older ones Resident Evil game. From now on, Resident Evil Village can only be played in first person.

The Boss Fights: Resident Evil Village

Deadly, mysterious and funny

Resident Evil Village almost have one Metal Gear-like quality to the villains, as they are all over the place and have a supernatural quality unlike the rest of The Four Lords. Lady Dimitrescu is a vampire who is extremely tall and can grow Wolverine-like claws, while Heisenberg can control metal like Magneto.

This translates into iconic encounters with The Four Lords throughout the campaign, along with their epic showdowns. Resident Evil Requiem has some good bosses too, including some spoiler-filled nostalgia moves, but they're not quite as epic or original as anything found in Resident Evil Village. A good boss fight in a Resident Evil game goes a long way.

Verdict: Resident Evil Village (but it's very close)

Resident Evil Village's originality wins over the nostalgia game

The folly of Resident Evil Requiem is that it relies on the past a little too much and doesn't let its new ideas flow properly. If the game focused on Grace alone and avoided going to Raccoon City, maybe the gameplay and story could have been tighter, or vice versa. Leon going back to Raccoon City alone could have also been a better idea if they put more time into the locations instead of having him visit and comment on places like Gun Shop Kendo or the Raccoon Police Station. It's also a bit far-fetched to find yet another secret underground umbrella section within Raccoon City, as cool as the design is.

While it was still great to play as Leon again, and Grace's time at Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center was exciting, the more imaginative ideas of Resident Evil Village hang on, even if some are really based on the past. These tributes at least put a twist on the franchise's norms and turn the entire campaign into something the series has never seen before. Putting werewolves, vampires, zombies, and other supernatural creatures in a game might seem like too much on paper, but Resident Evil Village made it work. On top of that, it had a great upgrade system and a great New Game+ mode to make each playthrough better than the last. To reiterate, both games are very good; Resident Evil Requiem just doesn't surpass its predecessor.