Why does Resident Evil always abandon the spooky town setting?

Survival & Immersive Horror
1

Something that really annoys me about certain Resident Evil games is how they switch locations halfway through.

Look at games like RE4 or RE Village. You begin in these atmospheric rural settlements that feel isolated from civilization. The setting has this old world charm with traditional buildings and local folklore vibes. But then later in the game you end up in some sterile Umbrella facility or modern industrial complex dealing with high tech monsters and mechanical enemies.

Does this location shift work for you or does it ruin the atmosphere like it does for me?

Case Study A:
Starts: Remote European countryside with gothic architecture and mythical creatures
Ends: Underground tech facility with cyborg enemies and Heisenberg’s mechanical army

Case Study B:
Starts: Isolated Spanish countryside with religious fanatics and local villagers
Ends: Military compound featuring research labs and experimental weapon testing grounds

2

Village was incredible until that island section completely destroyed the pacing. Those tight military corridors felt so bland compared to exploring the creepy village.

3

I get why they do it though. Corporate conspiracy’s been RE’s thing since the start. Starting creepy and rural, then pulling back to show the bigger picture - that’s classic for the series. But I definitely prefer when they stick to one setting. RE7 nailed it by never leaving that swamp house.

4

For sure, those factory parts can really mess with the vibe. The village had that spooky charm, then bam, a lab out of nowhere.