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Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Review: The game plays better with a security blanket

The reinvented FPS playstyle has revived the Resident Evil series.

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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
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Game devs Capcom has reinvented the Resident Evil series yet again with its seventh instalment. At this point, it seems to come naturally. In this rendition, titled ‘Biohazard’, you take on first-person styled gameplay, with a mashup of jump scares and legit poop-your-pants build ups. If you've have played and enjoyed the RE7 demo, then you'll love Capcom's latest take on Resident Evil. Even if you didn't like the demo, the full version is much improved upon. The eventual gunplay adds more depth and I would expect this type of storytelling to become the new norm for survival horrors games.

The riveting storyline had me engrossed until its eventual conclusion. With all these pieces coming together, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard hit all the right check boxes. True to form, RE7 doesn't take long to get players into the thick of it (or in this case, a creepy-as-hell looking house). In about an hour, new protagonist Ethan Winters goes from a clueless love-driven husband to a desperate survivalist. 

A change in perspective

The series has been rolling downhill ever since it peaked with Resident Evil 4 but that has changed with the addition of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. It has all the elements that you want out of a survival horror. The game is legitimately scary, yet in terms of difficulty, gives you just enough wiggle room to power through. Swapping third-person perspective for first-person changes everything, making you feel more involved and more afraid. The changed viewpoint also means that you can't see anything that could be lurking behind you or at your sides. There were many times I looked around frantically for the source of a creepy noise only to be left with a sense of dread for what I couldn’t see.

The Family

Resident Evil has always been defined by its layered psychopaths. RE 7 adds to that list with the addition of the certifiably crazed family simply known as the Bakers. Their mental imbalance folded together well with their intentions and if you think about it long enough (although I wouldn’t recommend it) you may even understand why they do... what they do. With that in mind, throughout my playthrough, I was driven by a singular thought: How the **** do I get away from these people!?

 

Gameplay

I liked that there were settings that let you adjust the level of intensity without making the game any less difficult. For example, the camera wobble setting works in tandem with the photo-realistic graphics to add layers of immersion, although it can give some people a migraine. If the eerie atmosphere and mysterious noises are getting to you, you can also turn up the brightness.

The first few hours are the scariest, after which you get weapons to defend yourself, easing off the otherwise extremely tense moments. it's almost like playing two different games. During the earlier section, you will do all you can to avoiding conflict, which is why once you get an arsenal of weaponry it's easy to get a little carried away, but I would advise that you don't. Ammo is scarce and I can't even count the number of times I wish I had a few more bullets.  

There’s something scarier than sound effects

The sound effects and ambient noises here are an absolute appalling blend of everything vile. This, coupled with the atmosphere, makes the Baker’s home almost untraversable, although Capcom sometimes also uses the sound effects as a means to give players cheap jump scares.

If the jump scares or the random creepy noises don't put your nerves on end, something else will: Long loading times. You only have to encounter them a few times -- like when you load a previously saved game -- although they aren't too far apart for them to go unnoticed.

The monsters

I was legitimately concerned before turning a corner, that uncanny feeling was amplified tenfold when opening a door to an unseen location.

Unfortunately, there isn't much diversity in enemies as the game progresses. You will mostly fight creatures called “Molded”, or a variation of them. However, the boss fights are nothing short of exhilarating. However, I would have still liked to see Capcom mix it up a little with a wider range of monsters. 

RE 7 a.k.a Inventory Manager

There are plenty of times where you will want to pick up items but don't have enough space. Managing your inventory adds another layer of gameplay in a world where you're either running away from things that are trying to kill you or wrecking them. Although a seemingly boring aspect, it's a nice change of pace. Deciding how to manages items the best way possible (which I did a lot) may be time-consuming but it was strangely satisfying when everything fits snugly. 

Conclusion

I recommend this game to anyone who's looking for a legitimate survival horror game. In my opinion, RE 7 has a set a standard for horror games and I expect many games in the future to adopt at least a few element of its gameplay. If you do decide to get the game, try playing it with headphones on. The sound effects blend perfectly with gameplay and it should set the perfect atmosphere if done correctly. And if you’re a complete masochist, you can also try it in VR mode.

What we liked: Photo-realistic graphics, psychotic characters, creepy sound effects, immersive FPS gameplay
What we didn't like: Long loading, little variety in monsters

Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC

Reviewed on PlayStation 4

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