Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Resident Evil is a series synonymous with the survival horror genre. Resident Evil 1, 2 and 3 set the foundation with a fixed-camera perspective and tank controls as you explore an abandoned town teeming with undead monstrosities. The series saw a reinvention with the later trilogy, as you can now look your foes in the eye from a third-person perspective, setting a template that third-person shooters continue to use to this very day. With an emphasis on action over scares, the series has gotten some ire among the hardcore fans. The seventh entry sees yet another series reinvention, as it refocuses on the horror side of the survival horror genre. Taking the series back to basics in its most literal sense, you are trapped in a residence, and evil things are happening within said residence.
After getting a E-mail from his girlfriend three years after her assumed death, Ethan Winters travels to Dulvey, Louisiana to find her. The opening hour sets a strong tone for the rest of the game. The Baker Plantation captures the same dread and uneasiness the Spencer Mansion does in the first game. You must scour your surroundings, searching for ammo and healing items. You can find raw materials that you can combine with chemicals to create more ammo, or to create more powerful bullets and medicine. Your captors, The Baker clan also make their presence known, and they can really get under your skin. As Ethan makes his desperate escape, you'll get to familiarize yourself with each member of the family. For the most part it is you against one of the Bakers, along with the occasional appearance of non-human enemies that grow out of the black mold surrounding parts of the house.
Behold! Your murderous hillbilly captors! Each one a legitimate threat.
One of the big selling points of the PS4 version is that the game can be played entirely with the Playstation's VR Headset. While I can't speak for the VR experience of the game, the game as a whole felt like a product catering to the VR crowd. While playing the game normally, I felt that the gunplay was a bit sluggish, as if the aiming speed were deliberately slowed down. Many of the scares in the game also seem to be dependent on the fact that you are wearing a headset as well. None of this was a deal breaker, as the gameplay was still solid. No matter how you play it, Resident Evil 7 is a return to form for the series. Compared to the bloated action sequences of the most recent installments, this was exactly what the series needed. A return to the traditional conventions that made the series work in the first place.
9/10
Excellent
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