20 Things You DIDN'T Know About Resident Evil Village
20 Things You Didn’t Know About Resident Evil Village
Welcome to MojoPlays, and I can’t believe I’m still being paid to talk about “Resident Evil.” We know that each game has a bunch of cut content, hidden secrets, and interesting backstories behind its themes, but let’s focus on the latest entry and see what we didn’t see. These are 20 Things You Didn’t Know About “Resident Evil Village.” Let’s go!
Regina Rosie Wine
Ethan and Mia’s house in the early game hides a bunch of tiny secrets, but one that went over most players’ heads was the wine they sip, called Regina Rosie, a cheeky nod to Regina from “Dino Crisis.” Cute, right? Fans appreciate the wink, but let’s be honest, a bottle of wine isn’t going to satisfy the craving for a proper remake. At least it shows Capcom hasn’t totally ghosted the series. Maybe when they’re done remaking every “Resident Evil,” they can check out some other Capcom classics.
Ingrid is the Demo Protagonist
There’s a character that only appears in notes, or so we thought. After being chased by Cassandra and tumbling down a conveniently placed hole, Ethan lands in the cellar, a place that comes with a definite “Do Not Enter Unless You Enjoy Suffering” vibe. Early notes hint at why venturing down there is a bad idea, because people don’t exactly come back in one piece, and the same notes reveal the grim fates of women experimented on below, named Ingrid. But did you know that Ingrid is the same maiden from the demo that every “Resident Evil” fan played back when “Resident Evil Village” was still a tight-lipped secret. In the main game, Ethan fights some mutated victims, one of whom drops a necklace that can be sold to The Duke. This necklace, as we saw in the demo, is Ingrid’s, meaning we definitely just put down our demo protagonist like any other zombie scum.
Money in Wine
It’s no secret the Dimitrescu family has a taste for blood, but given their lavish lifestyle, you’ve got to wonder how they afford it all. The answer? A thriving wine business, which, surprisingly, isn’t just a cover for sipping blood-red cocktails. It’s regular wine. Well, at least until later on when they did make a blood-infused wine, BUT THEY STARTED NORMAL. The castle is stuffed with cabinets and caskets full of vintage wine, and scattered notes casually mention a “special blend” made with… maiden’s blood. BUT I SWEAR THEY STARTED NORMAL AND LEGITIMATE.
Bath of Blood
Speaking of potentially illegitimate bodies of liquid, the first logic puzzle in the game has Ethan twisting statues into the correct positions to drain a bath full of blood. What the bath is actually for isn’t spelled out, but the inspiration is hard to miss. Beyond Dracula and his brides, Dimitrescu clearly took notes from Elizabeth Bathory, the 16th-17th century noblewoman who allegedly killed countless women to stay youthful by soaking in their blood. Her vampire reputation might be rumors, but the serial murdering? Very real. Considering all the experiments in the castle target women, it seems like history got a very … gory remix. Bath-time has never been this stressful.
Subject of Controversy
Towards the end of the game, and before facing Heisenberg, Ethan has to deal with Sturm, the world’s most terrifying DIY project, a grotesque abomination with a plane engine for a head. This design stirred up some controversy when Dutch filmmaker Richard Raaphorst claimed Capcom lifted it from his movie, “Frankenstein’s Army.” Sure, the concept is similar, but the aesthetics have been souped up a bit.
Heisenberg Knows About the Boulder Punch
Remember in “Resident Evil 5” when Chris Redfield shows off his (frankly) shocking punch power by punching a boulder to push it into lava? Turns out someone might have been watching from the sideline. During the Heisenberg boss fight, Chris Redfield casually blows up the enemy’s factory, because why not? Afterward, Heisenberg insults him by calling him a “Boulder-Punching ar**hole.” Great insult, but a possibly glaring plot hole.
Heisenberg’s Cut Content
As it turns out, Heisenberg left a lot on the cutting room floor, including an entire family. Early concept art shows the “Heisenberg” role split between a pair of twins who shared nothing with the final version except the last name. Other concept art, including dear old dad, who was planned to be the game’s final boss. Even in the “Resident Evil” universe, nepotism is alive and well. And those weren’t the only cuts. The same art that depicted the Heisenberg twins also featured their mother, whose brain was fully exposed, EW! The twins were meant to experiment on her because she was sick, though the art never mentions with what. Once the family was scrapped, Heisenberg got promoted to “main metal-bending lunatic.”
Source of the Graves
As players wander through the village, they’ll stumble into the Graveyard, par for the course in both rural Europe and “Resident Evil.” But the deeper you explore, the more tombstones you find. It’s like the village’s main export is grief. Eventually, players learn the heartbreaking reason: Miranda lost her only child to the Spanish Flu, and the virus ravaged the village so badly that the graveyard couldn’t keep up. They were digging graves everywhere, front yards, back yards, and probably a few places that were not zoned for burials.
Merchant Reference
This is pretty well known, but if “RE Village” was your first “RE” game, this reference might have gone over your head. Not only does the Duke sell you weapons and upgrades, but he also drops helpful tips like an oversized life coach. At random points, you can catch him saying, “What’re ya buyin’?,” when you enter his shop, he quickly chuckles and mentions it’s something a “friend of his” used to say. Long-time fans instantly recognize this as a shout-out to the legendary “Resident Evil 4” Merchant, king of trench coats, mysterious discounts, and repeating the same five lines like he’s paid per catchphrase.
The Scarecrows Are Human
Before you even set foot into the estate, you’ll find some scarecrows that are way too detailed for comfort. In any normal game, scarecrows are just straw, hats, and T-poses. But in “Resident Evil?” Nope. These things look like they’re made from the actual guys Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters “entertained.” And considering the daughters describe their hobbies like they’re running a murder-themed Airbnb, it’s not hard to figure out how these poor souls ended up stuffed, staked, and very much not okay. It’s an easy detail to miss, too, mostly because the Duke’s shop is right nearby.
The Figure IS Ethan
The final cutscene of “Resident Evil Village” pulls a surprise time jump, showing Ethan Winters’ daughter visiting his grave, very emotional, very sad, very “please don’t let something horrible jump out right now.” She then drives off with a security escort. But the real kicker comes in the last shot: a mysterious figure walking toward the car. Hard to see… but squint hard enough and it really looks like Ethan Winters himself. Game breakers who were able to move the camera confirmed that, yes, the figure down the road was definitely Ethan, or at least his character model. This was also confirmed somewhat later in the DLC when Ethan and his daughters’, let’s say, “spiritual connection” was further explored.
Custom Lipstick
One collectible note in the castle talks about Lady Dimitrescu’s custom-made lipstick... Of course, this queen has a signature shade. The note insists that if it goes missing, it should be returned to her bathroom. Naturally, players assume this means it could be hiding literally anywhere in her mansion-sized makeup drawer of a castle. But nope! The note basically hands you the address. When you revisit Lady D’s room later, her doors are unlocked, including the entrance to her luxurious murder-spa of a bathroom. Check the drawer next to the tub, and you’ll find her lipstick, which you can sell for 6000 Lei. Not bad for some lippy.
The Village Location
The Village in “RE Village” is steeped in mystery... Kinda. We know the Village is in Eastern Europe, but sleuths have gathered enough info to BASICALLY confirm the Village is in Romania. Romania has been tied to vampire lore for ages, thanks partly to Dracula, and partly to Vlad the Impaler, who really committed to the whole “intimidation” thing. Capcom clearly dipped into the classic vampire toolbox when making the Dimitrescu fam. Even the in-game currency, “lei,” is literally the Romanian leu’s plural... Authentic horror meets accurate exchange rates. Add the snowy mountain backdrop, and it’s hard not to think of Romania.
Oswell E. Spencer
Near the end of “Resident Evil Village,” when playing as Chris, you can find some files on a desk, including photos of a cheerful mountaineer in winter gear. Surprise! That smiling snow hiker is Oswell E. Spencer, future founder of Umbrella and part-time red flag. Turns out Spencer once got stranded in the mountains, and Miranda rescued him before he froze into a human ice pop. They bonded over their shared hobbies, virology, immortality, and ruining entire towns overnight. Miranda even showed him the Mold caves, complete with Megamycete doodles. Spencer liked the shape so much he basically said, “Yoink!” and used it as Umbrella’s logo. Classic corporate branding: find something weird in a cave and slap it on T-shirts.
Based on Dr. Frankenstein
Jumping back to Heisenberg’s concept art, some of the art confirms a theory that he is heavily inspired by Dr. Frankenstein. Honestly, no shock there, take one stroll through his factory and you’ll practically expect to see lightning rods and someone yelling, “It’s alive!” Heisenberg spends his days cooking up abominations, tinkering with science, and generally violating every workplace safety rule ever written.
Wesker
Longtime “Resident Evil” fans have a really soft spot for the old crew (including the infamous “RE2” duo). While “Village” won hearts by bringing Chris Redfield back, many were secretly holding out for hints of an even darker, sunglasses-wearing, hoodie-loving presence: Albert Wesker. Fans knock this theory back by pointing out that he died in “RE5,” but for Wesker, death is just a minor inconvenience. He died in “RE1!” And came back... Fool me once. In the village, you can find a diary hinting at a mysterious man who showed up and lingered around town. While the files probably references Oswell E. Spencer, fans definitely prefer to imagine Wesker crashing the village like, “Miss me?” and maybe even finally meeting Jake Muller’s mom.
Labyrinth Puzzles History
Throughout the game, players stumble across these intricately crafted miniature versions of the areas around them, remember? They were a little nicer than my shoebox diorama from Primary School. As it turns out, these puzzles were the brainchild of a runaway craftsman named Norshteyn. Branded a heretic back home, he found refuge in Miranda’s village… and nothing says “welcome” like giving you a permanent test-subject gig. He designed four labyrinths, one for each of his wives, then… well, let’s just say he checked out permanently. Why he made the puzzles, or took his own life? That’s one mystery even Ethan’s ball can’t roll through.
Repeated Voice Actors
The voice actors of “RE” have never reached the household name status (at least gamers' household) that actors like Troy Baker, Nolan North, and Mark Hamill have reached. This is why many people missed the voice actors who’ve played multiple characters. Heisenberg in “Resident Evil Village” is voiced by Neil Newbon, but did you know he also voiced Nicholai from the “Resident Evil 3” remake? Also, Nicole Tompkins voices both Jill Valentine in the “RE3” remake and one of Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters, proof that if you’ve got the pipes for saving the world, you can also convincingly haunt it.
Ethan’s Other Reveal
Many players assume that Ethan’s creepy ability to reattach his own limbs is the big giveaway that he’s… well, technically dead. But a lot of players missed the other major hint, as it’s overshadowed by the... You know? Limb severing. When Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters drag Ethan off to Momma Miranda, Alcina casually sips from Ethan’s wrist and says his blood is “going stale.” Translation: Ethan’s less “living hero” and more “expired hero,” foreshadowing the final, jaw-dropping reveal. Guess being undead comes with some pesky expiration dates!
Ada Wong Was Cut
Alright, for our final entry, we get to jump back into the concept art, where we get to see one of the biggest shames from the cutting room floor. Ada Wong was supposed to make a cameo, that’s right, Ada goddamn Wong... WHY WAS THIS CUT!? GIVE US THE FAN SERVICE WE YEARN FOR! Would the game have been better or worse with all these extras? Hard to say. Simplifying the cast obviously saved players from the Heisenberg family tree that they’d need a flowchart to understand. As for Ada, we’d have loved to see her pop up, but apparently, the developers couldn’t find a “rational” excuse, so she got cut. Damn.
