Resident Evil is a series that, more than anything else, loves to defy tradition and start fresh at any time. This has led to a severe lack of closure for its older characters, let alone a lack of cohesion in its storytelling, but it has also allowed the franchise to refuse to become stale and risk reaching an early expiration date. As said, Resident Evil seems committed to his biggest attempt at a dedicated walkthrough in a while lately via Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village with Resident Evil 9 expected to follow that review. Therefore, because Village supposedly ending the Winters family saga with Rosemary's Shadows of Rose DLC, it's logical to assume that Resident Evil 9 would star Chris Redfield in Europe despite what a handful of leaks have suggested recently.
Regardless, Resident Evils antagonists have always been as iconic as its protagonists and Resident Evil 7 and Village even tipping the scales in favor of the villains for once. That's not to say that Ethan is a terrible protagonist, especially after such a gripping twist involving him Villageand yet both of Winter's fairy tale games feature some of the franchise's most charming and haunting antagonists. A new trend seems to be forming where players are faced with incredibly large groups of main villains and, if Resident Evil 9 perpetuates that, the ninth installment should be packed with lovable and loathsome antagonists galore.

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Resident Evil 7's Baker Family is an unforgettable horror trio
The best character in Resident Evil 7 is undoubtedly the Baker property itself. Still, it could have felt empty and eerie if the family that owned it weren't as lively and terrifying as they were. The bakers – Jack, Marguerite and Lucas – are all victims of the mold and take on the sadistic, sinister characteristics of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Sawyers in a decayed home caked with rot.
Jack is a persistent threat who unfailingly resurrects; Marguerite transforms into a terrifying insectoid; and Lucas, whose antics lean more towards SAW or Hostel in its graphic, agonizing nature, is essentially a sparkling madman. Evelyn is technically the real villain in the Resident Evil 7but it is these three that perfume and sustain the whole seventh main line. If Resident Evil 9 is more horror oriented than Villagetake as many notes as possible from Resident Evil 7 would be a huge blessing.
Resident Evil Village's Entourage of Villains is as crazy as it is exciting
While Resident Evil 7s villains are rooted to the Baker estate (no matter how sweeping and terrifying the Louisiana land is), Resident Evil Village giving each of its main antagonists their own distinct regions is a boon to level design and overall great immersion. Each landscape is a signature of its respective antagonist between Lady Alcina Dimitrescu's castle Dimitrescu, Donna Beneviento's house Beneviento, Salvatore Moreau's reservoir and Karl Heisenberg's factory, let alone the eponymous village players can explore.
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Castle Dimitrescu, which was explorable in an early demo of Villageis just one chapter in a huge story and features three boss fights against Dimitrescu's three vampire daughters.
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House Beneviento is an abrupt dive into survival horror in the franchise's most prominent descent into terror in decades.
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The reservoir is a spectacle as Ethan wades through dirty water while trying to avoid a giant fish-like Moreau.
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Heisenberg's Factory pits Ethan against soldier-cyborg experiments.
It's easy to pick favorites for these villains and a large part of why one character may be favored over another is likely due to the region players explore before even encountering them. House Beneviento's Angie boss fight isn't nearly as engrossing as the house's eerie, subversive basement, for example.
But not unlike Resident Evil 7, Villages eccentric villains are compelling and charismatic in every cutscene. Resident Evil 9 doesn't necessarily need another handful of antagonists to be as strong narratively, and yet it's been great to see such diversity in personalities and characters. To deny the upcoming ninth installment of multiple villains would mean its sole protagonist would have unfathomably large shoes to fill, though it's also unenviable to continually come up with highly likable and memorable villains.