Resident Evil 8 Village Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

3. The Merchant & Crafting

Speaking of The Duke, half of the enjoyment to be had from Resident Evil Village is each and every visit to him, no matter where he might be. Capcom really knew what they were doing with this one when bringing back such a beloved feature from the fourth instalment.

Upgrading weapons and items in video games is old hat at this point. We all know what to expect and a lot of the time it can be used to needlessly gatekeep players. That and it is all rather soulless, just like one of those free to play phone games we just watch the number go up.

This certainly isn’t the case when it comes to Village.

The Duke is welcoming, funny, and has a layer of mystique to him. Just like the Merchant from RE4, you’re left wondering how this guy gets around. But after every purchase or upgrade, he provided flavour text which never really seems to repeat.

If you want the full Duke experience, bring him some food for a variety of recipes on offer. Not only will you receive state upgrades, but the sound of him licking his lips to boot.

Worth it just for that, really.