A replacement of 7 where, in my opinion, the first-person experience is not to my liking, nice up to the point of the era it is in but it's not like Resident Evil with zombies, even though 4 didn't have zombies it was very worth it in terms of action, plot, weapons, enemies that were almost like zombies, especially the village and good bosses. Here in 8, so far I have killed the 3 daughters in the same way and Dimitrescu easily without videos and help, graphics are average for 4K with curtains that you touch and they are a wall, not a single movement to show that it's fabric, hanging corpses out of nowhere, just a rope magically ends up on the ceiling, zombie style from 6 with axes and swords (replacement there as well) and I continue to see how it will go. I also tried the Sony 3D Pulse headphones, they are average, they could be better. Yes, you can hear details from the TV but not as much as you should, for example, when one of the daughters jumps, there is chaos in the sound, when I break a jar it sounds like I hit it 50 meters away, and everything is tested with the headphones at full volume. If it cost 30 then it would be worth it for the time but also for the rehashed ideas from 4 to 7.
Update 20/10/21 the only thing that keeps me going is the weapon unlocking phase with the challenges and of course the mercenaries, it's worth much more than the whole story where some say it ends in 8 hours and in a challenge you can finish it in 3 hours, something I would only do for the trophy and nothing else.

Starting Village immediately after completing Biohazard and seeing its relatively open world, I thought it would be more relaxed compared to the intensity of the previous game, but I was wrong. Village manages, like Resident Evil 4 from which it has taken many elements, to create terror and atmosphere whether you are in closed or open spaces. Let's start from the beginning though. The story begins shortly after the end of Biohazard, with Ethan, Mia, and the new member enjoying their family tranquility until an unexpected event interrupts them... After that, Ethan is transported to a village which serves as the main hub of the game, unlocking different areas with their respective bosses, members of a new peculiar family... Impressive castles, abandoned villages, mysterious mansions, half-ruined temples, warehouses, factories, rivers, mountains, caves all make up a very beautiful visual puzzle where the graphics will satisfy even the most demanding players, as the variety of areas covers a large part of the color palette, with the HDR of the TV constantly in use. The sound is also of high standard, with headphones being as necessary as the controller, although I consider it slightly inferior to Biohazard, not technically but due to the rich images that share the senses between hearing and vision. In Biohazard, because most of it was dark, the sound created a different atmosphere. The gameplay is clearly improved and faster, moving towards more action-oriented paths, with Ethan appearing slightly more skilled/trained. The Duke, a merchant who reminds us in many ways of his predecessor in Resident Evil 4, will greatly help with this. Suitcases, weapon upgrades, recipes for crafting ammunition, buying and selling jewelry, and a new option where you give him a number of materials such as fish, meat, etc. and he permanently upgrades a quality (damage taken, health). The controller is involved in the gameplay of the game, as depending on the weapon, the trigger buttons R2 and L2 are pressed harder, for example, in the rifle compared to the pistol. The enemies have a variety both in quality and quantity, with several mini bosses depleting your ammunition. The story is sufficient for a Resident Evil game, with several twists from the beginning to the end, but if someone wants to delve deeper into the story, they can read the many notes found in various parts of the game. Ethan makes decent acting efforts, although his left hand emits more emotion than the rest of his body... There is a variety of weapons to the point where you can't choose which ones to place in the shortcuts of the controller. The bosses, different in form and approach, require different and interesting strategies to confront them. It also has many secrets, puzzles, and hidden areas that will reward those who explore them... In conclusion, the feeling that Village left me is that it is a Resident Evil game that gathered the best elements of all the previous ones, especially 4, and adapted them to a next-generation platform with graphics that captivate you and gameplay that constantly alternates between terror and adventure. I believe that along with the successful and highly atmospheric biohazard, they are trying to bring the series back to the original paths that we loved and miss...

As soon as someone starts Village, they easily realize that the title carries all the specifications of a very big project, a game where the bar has been set very high. And at least in terms of the visual part, the sound, the graphics, and the presentation, the truth is exactly that. An AAA title without a doubt. However, just like in the case of Biohazard, here too there are some issues that someone who intends to buy Village must consider:

There is talk - correctly to some extent - about the duration of the title. Yes, the approximately 8.5-9 hours of gameplay are few, but the overall experience that the player gains at the end is that of a complete title, both in terms of the story and the achievements. However, the problem with the duration of the title becomes visible due to two very important factors: a) The almost zero replay value and b) the ease of the game, where compared to 7, it is a walk in the park (speaking of the Normal difficulty level where a "seasoned" gamer will not encounter any problems). In other words, in these times, it is not easy for someone to spend 55 euros on a game that they will finish in 2-3 days. The retail version somewhat saves the situation in terms of resale, but for digital, it is not recommended for someone who doesn't have extra money.

Overcoming these drawbacks, it is given that the player will experience a unique experience, with a story that starts shockingly, has twists, interesting characters, and an impressive finale. The art direction is amazing, it's a solid 10, while there are various memorable and terrifying sequences that I won't mention to avoid spoilers. The shooting element is improved and the enemies, although not in great variety, are definitely more impressive than the monotonous and "colorless" mold monsters of 7. The boss fights remain at a high level, although not as challenging as in Biohazard.

Another issue is that due to the outdoor element and the larger spaces where the game takes place for the most part, the intensity and anxiety of the closed spaces in Biohazard are absent, and overall, I would say that in terms of scare factor, Village is clearly inferior to 7. Of course, this does not mean that there are no moments of intensity and anxiety in Village. Especially one of the 4 "worlds," let's say (House Beneviento), is perhaps one of the most chilling moments in the history of the franchise and it is certain that everyone who has played the title will agree.

Overall, Village is a very commendable title and a "full" experience mainly from the perspective of storytelling and its evolution through gameplay, but it is not recommended for someone who is not involved in resale or who has the digital version of PS5. These two categories would do well to wait for a price drop.

RATING: 8/10

Capcom once again proves its ability to create AAA horror/action titles. After 2 walkthroughs and several hours in Mercenaries mode, I can say that I have seen most of what the game has to offer. I should mention that I am a big fan of the series, having played every game from the first to the last (except for Code Veronica), and I have noticed that it has taken the "good" elements from RE4, RE5, and RE7. I recommend that anyone who plays it should first watch the timeline story of the series or at least play RE4 and RE7, as it is a mix of both.

Starting with the positives:
+ The story overall is the continuation of RE7, without being anything crazy. It is well-crafted and keeps you engaged, making you want to play more. Knowing the background of Chris and Ethan, I am a bit disappointed that I feel like I have the "wimpy" character and every cutscene with Chris, I look at him as if I am his dog just listening and doing whatever he says. Unfortunately or fortunately, he doesn't have the dynamism of Chris, Leon, or Wesker, who are "symbols" of the series. In case there is a next game, I hope he doesn't have a leading role or at least has more dynamism...and of course, they show us his face (lame).
+ The other characters-villains are overly intriguing, just like in the previous game (Baker family). Their tone of voice, their presentation, their attitude, and the aura they exude in general make you love them.
+ As for the graphics, I have nothing to say. Playing on a Qled TV, your eyes will be amazed by what they have created. The detail in the polished wood of the drawers, the lighting, the faces of the monsters, and all the characters is next level. It is the third game (Horizon Zero Dawn and Ghost of Tsushima being the other two) where every time I changed areas, I opened the photo mode like an excited child... Whatever someone tells you, it's not enough. Also, I played with HDR + Ray Tracing on and I didn't notice any difference between the 45-60 fps that some people mentioned.
+ The gameplay is a combination of RE4 and RE7, something that I personally enjoyed. I would prefer it to be third person, but it would make it pseudo-creepy. The inventory system and the new merchant (Duke) are proof that Capcom pays attention to what the audience loves to see, and for that, I give them a big plus.
+ The sound is captivating with the 3D audio, making you shiver and look around every corner before moving forward.
+ A special plus for Lady Dimitrescu (you know why).
+ The haptic feedback of the DualSense controller is amazing and truly makes you feel immersed in the game. For example, you can feel the difference when you have the Shotgun or the Handgun, but I won't say more to avoid spoilers.

Now for the neutral points:
* As I mentioned before, I don't like Ethan as much as other characters. However, he didn't bother me much as a new character.
* The Mercenaries mode is very much in the style of RE4 and I prefer it (compared to RE5). They have added new touches and there are plenty of maps to play, but it didn't grab me enough to say that I will continue playing it. I would have liked them to add some other characters as well...

- The first negative point I could mention is that the game follows the same pattern throughout its duration. It doesn't have big moments as I expected, and the boss fights were relatively easy. I personally enjoyed the gameplay, but someone who doesn't like this style might not even touch it.
- I would like it to have more endgame content like the RE 2 remake, which had 4 additional (free) modes.

In conclusion, at 55€ it is a very good deal, considering that Returnal or Demon Souls cost 75€ on the first day of release, it is almost half the price, and I believe its replayability is much more worth it.

I hope I helped. Happy shopping!