Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose

For as good as the Resident Evil series is, Capcom has generally restricted it to one-and-done experiences. A few post-launch expansions have come and gone — in Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, for example — but they've never felt like a sure-fire thing. If anything, Resident Evil Village continues that non-committal attitude. Shadows of Rose arrives nearly 18 months after the base game, and much of that timespan was spent wondering whether it even still exists.

Without spoiling the ending of Village, the story left off in a way that created some big, interesting questions about the future of Resident Evil. From its beginning, the series has never claimed a singular protagonist, but moving forward, it seemed Ethan’s daughter Rose was going to be an important character to the franchise and whatever narrative direction a potential Resident Evil IX might follow. The Shadows of Rose DLC offers the first chance to play as Rose while filling in a small story gap that arguably did not need filling. Even with a somewhat benign story, however, Shadows of Rose ...

Shadows of Rose is a fairly concise experience that doesn't stray too far from the source material. It does offer greater insight into the character of Rosemary Winters and her relationship (or lack thereof) with her father. Resident Evil fans looking for a deeper connection into her story will love the time they spend playing as her in this third-person experience.

Rose is a fascinating character that deserves her own, full-blown sequel, but for now Shadows of Rose is a worthwhile adventure for those looking for a little more from an already brilliant Resident Evil tale.

When I reviewed Resident Evil Village last year, I found it to be one of the best Resident Evil games to date. It was so close to perfection; only being let down by its final act locations that felt just a little rushed and uninspired. Sixteen months later and a few playthroughs later I still pretty much feel that way. It’s a fantastic game that holds up to the franchise highs like Resident Evil 4 and the remake of Leon and Claire’s classic adventure. It provided a tense and varied world ...