Coming four years after the last new numbered entry,Resident Evil Villageseeks to merge two eras of Capcom’s beloved survival horror franchise. By applying the contemporary first-person perspective ofResident Evil 7with the aesthetic and gameplay systems ofResident Evil 4, its May release can’t come soon enough for fans. Apart from thegameplay ofResident Evil Villageshowing traditional design choices, it seems it will also be a throwback in terms of regional differences.
Capcom confirms that the Japanese version ofResident Evil Villagewill have regional differences when compared to the European and North American releases. The tweet announcing these changes was translated by Twitter user Alex Aniel, author of “Itchy, Tasty: An Unofficial History ofResident Evil.” The notes list three distinct changes that will apply to the entirety ofResident Evil Village’s Japanese release.
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The first point notes that the Japanese version will not feature “decapitations.” Of the mentioned version differences, this is the most distinct and easily identifiable. Beheadings are nothing new to the franchise and likely stand as a reference to theResident Evilgame most associated withVillage. InResident Evil 4, protagonistLeon S. Kennedy could notoriously have his head removed with a chainsawin the game’s first big encounter. The second point mentions that overall, Japanese players will have a much less bloody experience inResident Evil Villagewhen compared to the West. With both of these in mind,Resident Evil Villagewill definitely be a much tamer experience in Japan.
The final point is the vaguest, noting that the game will feature “no scenes that CERO prohibits.” CERO is the Japanese rating system, equivalent to North America’s ESRB and Europe’s PEGI. There are likely many specifics as laid out by CERO’s restrictions but without knowing what is in the game, it will be a mysteryuntil the May 7 release ofResident Evil Village.
The notes themselves are not very descriptive as Capcom doesn’t exactly want players to know what they might expect to encounter inVillage’s still-unnamed gothic location.Resident Evil Villagehas been plagued with leaks, well before its reveal and even after. Gameplay footage has found its way online, so those awaiting Ethan Winters' next adventure should be wary.
One area that fans are particularly interested in is when it comes to regional differences with regards to Lady Dimitrescu,Resident Evil Village’s giant and domineering vampire.Dimitrescu became a breakout star even before her official reveal, capturing the hearts of gamers around the internet. The outpouring of love for the character was so explosive that even Dimitrescu’s designer and creator, Tomonori Takano, was blown away by the support.
Resident Evil Villageis releasing on May 7 for the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles.
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