For pretty much as good because the Resident Evil sequence is, Capcom has typically restricted it to one-and-done experiences. A number of post-launch expansions have come and gone — in Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, for instance — however they’ve by no means felt like a sure-fire factor. If something, Resident Evil Village continues that non-committal angle. Shadows of Rose arrives practically 18 months after the bottom sport, and far of that timespan was spent questioning whether or not it even nonetheless exists.

It’s lastly right here now, although, bundled with extra content material for the Mercenaries mode and a third-person digicam possibility for the unique title. You can’t purchase any of it piecemeal, so the Winters’ Expansion is what you’ll want to entry Shadows of Rose. This evaluation will focus purely on the brand new story-based DLC.

Set 16 years after the occasions of the principle sport, Ethan Winters’ daughter Rose is struggling to guide a traditional life, branded a freak by classmates due to her powers. In an try and rid herself of them, a pal explains how she might enter the thoughts of the Megamycete to discover a Purifying Crystal, which might strip her of any talents. Rose agrees to this, and what greets her inside is a twisted model of the identical European village her father was kidnapped to all these years in the past.

Waking up in Castle Dimitrescu, the very tall girl of the manor is not round to greet you, however an evil model of The Duke and his military of Mold creatures are. Rose would not fairly have the identical physique construct or collection of weaponry as her dad, so her dash is slower and it takes fewer hits for enemies to kill her. Although, what she does have in her nook are her powers.

Upgraded over the course of the marketing campaign, Rose can briefly freeze enemies of their tracks and destroy the black goo blocking her path by concentrating on cores. The capability provides a neat little twist to each fight and exploration, providing you with one thing else to consider alongside handgun bullets and puzzle objects. Since it might solely be used on enemies so many instances, you have to watch out whenever you use it to keep away from any sticky conditions afterward.

Shadows of Rose does little else to distinguish itself from the bottom sport, nevertheless. That’s no unhealthy factor because the gameplay loop of contemporary Resident Evil video games is an endlessly pleasant one, however be sure to set your expectations accordingly. There are some new puzzles to unravel and riddles to crack, extra enemies to shoot, and story sequences to marvel at. Consistently great things; simply nothing revolutionary.

What is disappointing, nevertheless, is the DLC would not introduce any new areas. After escaping Castle Dimitrescu, you may go to different areas from Resident Evil Village, however you have already been there at the very least as soon as earlier than. They’ve all been given a makeover — coated within the black goo of the Megamycete — nevertheless it’s an actual disgrace to not be given the possibility to discover someplace new.

That’s to not say the identical previous enemy encounters and puzzles are nonetheless current within the extra acquainted areas. Far from it, in actual fact. The center stretch of Shadows of Rose doubles down on the terrifying sequences of House Beneviento with some excellent set items filled with leap scares and spine-chilling moments. This is the sequence’ horror parts at their absolute peak, and we would be doing them a disservice by spoiling them in textual content kind. If you bear in mind what lurked within the basement of House Beneviento within the authentic title, look ahead to one thing totally different however simply as creepy — if no more.

It’s right here the place the growth will get ingenious with mechanics by no means seen in a Resident Evil sport earlier than. Capcom actually stretches its wings, turning horror on its head with one of the crucial intense sequences of any PS5 title launched this yr. It’s simply definitely worth the worth of admission alone.

Another attention-grabbing component that guides you thru the acquainted settings is a mysterious entity that leaves magical messages on the partitions, serving to Rose with recommendation and objects. Heavily linked to the plot, it offers the protagonist some respite and steering for what to do subsequent.

Their notes stay obscure, although, which might be a great factor given any additional assist would shorten the DLC’s runtime much more. We completed Shadows of Rose in simply two and a half hours. It feels on the quick facet, particularly given we hung out exploring and scrubbing rooms for all their objects. Expansions can typically solely be so lengthy, however we had been left wanting extra.

At least what is there stays of a top quality. Resident Evil gameplay nearly feels timeless at this level: clear up a puzzle that no regular individual would ever consider becoming of their stately residence, fill some enemies with bullet holes whereas scavenging for herbs that have not seen soil for days, after which save at a typewriter so you are able to do it over again. This time from the third-person perspective, Shadows of Rose feels glorious to play in the identical approach some other Resident Evil sport does. We’ll by no means develop uninterested in the components.

One last purpose to return again for extra is the RE Engine, which continues to impress. The growth appears unimaginable on PS5 and runs flawlessly at 60 frames-per-second. The approach the black goo of the Megamycete oozes down Castle Dimitrescu’s partitions, or how detailed Rose’s character mannequin appears in close-up pictures — it seems a step above the bottom Resident Evil Village, sending off one among Capcom’s greatest-ever titles in model.

Conclusion

Shadows of Rose makes up for its quick runtime by guaranteeing each minute of it’s high quality. With some extremely ingenious sequences, pleasant puzzles, and the standard Resident Evil gameplay loop, Capcom sends the story of the Winters household out on a excessive.