Resident Evil 7
A hidden video from his lost forgotten wife leads him to a desolated countryside and arrives face-to-face with a gang of mutated hillbillies.
Introduction
After successfully completing the original six video games, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was ready to start Resident Evil 7 which I understood was to have a similar vibe to Outlast. Whilst its predecessors were more action-packed, this particular instalment was the most horror-orientated of the series. It also introduced a new set of characters, which was a wise choice as the storyline of the previous games reached a blockbuster level of climax in the previous entry. It also provided a breath of fresh air. Keeping in line with its horror theme, the gameplay was also quite distinct from its predecessors and the storyline itself also felt more contained. It was a great standalone experience. It can generally be enjoyed without the need to play the previous six instalments. Just for the record, I actually played this months ago, but I am only writing the review right now due to prior commitments.
Story
The storyline takes place some years after the events of Resident Evil 6. The central character receives a video message from a long-lost wife, which I am assuming he assumed was dead. Acting upon this message, in which the wife warned him to stay away, he naturally decides to investigate the source. He locates the area of a residence in the countryside which happens to be quite isolated from the nearest civilisation. Ethan breaks into the house, uncovering secret apartments in an attempt to locate his wife. The following is NOT a major spoiler, as it happens at the very beginning: Ethan finally discovers his wife and attempts to rescue her. If I recall correctly, she denied ever sending him any form of a video message in the first place. Or perhaps she reiterated that she did not want him here for his own safety. Either way, as Ethan pulls her to safety, she briefly vanishes. After he relocates her, she appears to be infected by a disease which enrages her and causes her to try and kill her husband. After the showdown ends, Ethan is eventually knocked unconscious by the head of the deranged residence. He now has to both survive the family and help his wife.
Character
This storyline introduces a whole new set of characters with minimal references to the previous games. The characters are as follows:
- Ethan Winter (Todd Soley) — He is the husband of the family. After spending years with a loss of hope of ever finding his wife, he jumps at the opportunity to investigate the glimmer of hope which was presented to him. He does not have any noticeable combat experience, but he does what he can to make the best of the obstacles presented in front of him.
- Mia Winters (Katie O’Hagan) — The aforementioned wife went missing years prior to the events of the game. She was officially on a business trip of sorts before she met her unforeseen demise. She is a caring individual who wanted to make sure that her husband Ethan did not share her same fate. After being discovered, she eventually behaves erratically, implying she has been infected by the mould.
The remainder of the characters are members of the deranged Baker family, who are largely villainous in nature, although that is likely an effect of the mould which has infected the family:
- Jack Baker (Jack Brand)— He is the patriarch of the family. He has the responsibility to care for and provide for the family. He has the ultimate authority in the household.
- Marguerite Baker (Sara Coates) — As the wife of Jack, she also has a noticeable position of authority in the household.
- Lucas Baker (Jesse Pimentel)— As the son of Jack and Marguerite, he is the most deranged individual in the household. He lures victims to his rigged ‘games’ which always result in their deaths. His creativity leads credence to his psychotic personality.
- Zoe Baker (Giselle Gilbert) — As the daughter, i.e. a sister of Lucas, she is actually the only aware member of her family. She understands that the family is under the influence of the mould and attempts to find a way to cure them, making her a valuable ally to Ethan.
- Eveline (Paula Rhodes/Pat McNeely)— The old ‘grandma’ figure of the family, who appears to have no ill-will towards Ethan. She appears to be randomly present around the mansion, defying conventional logic…
Worldbuilding
After the climatic events of its predecessor and its heavy action-orientated storylines, the settings of the storyline were actually a great big sigh of relief. The majority of the game takes place entirely at a single remote location, which the developers do a great job of making it feel rich and bigger than it has any right to be. Alongside hidden underground chambers and compartments, with deep lore which eventually explores the origin of the mould which has taken afoot with the Baker family, there is a lot left to be desired.
Gameplay
The gameplay is largely simplistic in design. Keeping in line with its horror themes, there is minimal use of guns, especially when compared to the rest of the Resident Evil franchise. It is more Outlast than it is Resident Evil. The player will have to ensure that ammo is well conserved and to only use guns during times of necessity and boss fights. Ethan will also have to gradually solve puzzles to progress through the different points in the storyline, whilst surviving hordes of monstrosities. Once the principal storyline is completed, players have an option to start the game with added bonuses, such as with the use of infinite ammo (providing that the challenge requirements are met), which creates a feeling of thrill now that he has the ability to finally go ‘all-out’.
Summary
In brief:
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a worthy successor to the franchise which has more or less completed its storyline arcs in its previous instalments.
- It can be considered as a standalone game, judging by the fact it can be played without a comprehensive understanding of its previous games.
- The game is the most horror-orientated of the series, providing a sensation which resonates more with Outlast than it does with Resident Evil.
- The gameplay itself is also more simplistic than its counterparts, with minimal usage of guns being advisable.
Critique
I do not have any major critiques with this game. The only noticeable issue I faced was that the graphics felt outdated when I played the video on my Playstation console. Compared to what I was expecting from a PlayStation 5, it slightly felt like an older generation type of game. However, this was before a PS5 upgrade was provided, so perhaps my experience would be different on my third or fourth playthrough.
Previous Reviews
*Resident Evil 2’s review also contains a brief review of the original Resident Evil game.
Afterwords
This is a game which I definitely recommend to any horror enthusiasts, to both Resident and non-Resident fans. Speaking of enthusiasm, I was previously looking forward to Netflix’s Resident Evil series, which I stated in my Resident Evil 6 review at the very end. However, I could have never been so wrong with that abomination I watched. That series, I would never recommend to even my worst enemies. I also had a similar reaction to the recent Resident Movie too. And this is coming from an individual who enjoyed all of the Milla Jovovich movies, which I understand are not universally liked.
