Resident Evil Village has been well received by critics and fans alike. Village saw record viewership numbers on Twitch for the Resident Evil franchise, with streamers drawing in big crowds for their first trip through the game. Millions purchased the game as well, with early shipment numbers indicating a successful launch. But as fans dig into Ethan Winters' story, there has been talk about connections to the broader Resident Evil universe, and in particular, why Ada Wong was left out of the game, especially after unused assets and storyboards were found of the Resident Evil 2 star.
Ada Wong occupies a strange, fluid space in the Resident Evil canon. Almost always working in her own self-interest, Ada might be seen as a temporary ally when the going gets tough, but she is always sure to have an escape route, and usually gets what she is after. Ada has had some truly memorable moments in the Resident Evil franchise, and her capricious nature keeps fans guessing as to what side she is on. That chameleon aspect to her character means she can fit in just about anywhere in a Resident Evil game, and surely she could have worked as a character in Resident Evil Village, but now that it is known that she was cut, what impact does that decision have?
The Pros for Skipping on Ada
Resident Evil's universe has a tendency to connect its characters in any way possible. The lore of the games creating a convoluted web that ensnares the protagonists. Tangling them up in some way with Umbrella, or a rebel faction spun off from the pharmaceutical giant, the games up to and including Resident Evil 6 upped the ante constantly, with increasingly outrageous connections to one another.
Resident Evil 7 and Village have taken a different approach, with a new protagonist and very minimal connections to the lore of previous entries. For that reason, letting these installments breathe on their own and tell a story that relies less on franchise staples is a positive. Ethan's story, and the arc told through Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village is compelling enough to not need to use the crutch of fanservice to heighten the experience. Though it does seem like more connections to the larger Resident Evil universe could be looming.
Another reason why removing Ada from the game was the right call is that while Ada's allegiance is always shifting, and she could turn up anywhere, she has not made many appearances when Leon Kennedy is not involved. Her strange link to the Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil 6 protagonist could be one of the reasons why she was ultimately cut from Village. Finding a way to tie her into a story not involving Leon might have proven too difficult, particularly in a game with few ties to the greater Resident Evil lore. Shoehorning Ada in just because fans like to see her would have been a misstep.
The Cons of Skipping on Ada
With that said, there could be a case made to include someone like Ada in Resident Evil Village, something that very nearly happened if she hadn't been cut at the eleventh hour. With Chris Redfield already involved in Ethan's story, it is clear that Resident Evil 7 and Village don't take place in a bubble, or an alternate universe. Umbrella (or the remnants of Umbrella) exists in this world, and bioweapons are still sought after, so there are parties that still want to do evil things with weird biological experiments, and Ada is certainly one to facilitate that.
The missed opportunity here is in establishing that connection to previous installments in the franchise, as Village slowly tries to link its story to Resident Evil lore. Ada is a very useful character for bringing out the behind-the-scenes narrative that runs through most Resident Evil games. In both Ada's RE4 and RE6 campaigns, she charts her own course, and reveals key details that connect the main story to the forces behind all the madness. Similarly, Ada could have played that role in Village, showing up nominally in the main story, but more extensively in the shadows.
Having Claire Redfield or Jill Valentine make an appearance would have been too much fanservice, and ultimately would have acted as a distraction from Ethan's story. But Ada is a character that could have been featured without feeling too intrusive. Her plague doctor look in the Village artwork indicates that she likely would've been undercover, perhaps a mystery character before a big reveal at a key moment. She could have collected a Cadou sample and taken off, having acquired what 'her client' requested. It would have been in character, and not pulled the focus from Ethan too hard.
While some fans are likely disappointed that Ada was cut from Resident Evil Village, the decision makes sense. Chris already provides enough connective tissue to the Resident Evil universe, and Ethan's story is strong enough to not need more hooks and swerves. With that said, of all the Resident Evil characters to possibly show up, Ada would have been one that could have worked. Fans can still add her in with mods however, as Wesker has already made an appearance in RE: Village, so it wouldn't take much to put Ada in the game as well.
Resident Evil Village is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.