Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Review (𝕯ark 𝕿ears)
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Behold, Capcom surprised at E3 2016, revealing Resident Evil 7 and already kicking in the door with an incredible demo. Gradually, it became clear that the saga indeed seemed to return to its origins in terror, even betting on virtual reality to bring immersion and fear. But, at the same time, the game turned around and what started to be talked about is that he got too far away because of the first-person camera and the many similarities with other games of the genre.
It's Resident Evil, yes. And a lot.
“Oh, but this looks like Outlast!”
“Wow, they copied P.T. (Silent Hills) in the face!”
"Sounds good, too bad this isn't Resident Evil!"
These were just some of the comments from part of the community during the game's announcements. So, having played the full title, I need to make one thing clear: not only is it still Resident Evil, it's also a great Resident Evil.
Yes, the first-person perspective is reminiscent of Outlast, Amnesia and other similar titles.
But who said this is bad? Of course, there is a strangeness, since the franchise has never experienced this feature in the main series, but overall the title is of great quality and maintains a series of trademarks of the series - including rescuing others after a long time. Experiments have happened before — some lasted, some were abandoned — and Capcom deserves praise for its courage.
This family is very close...
The game's plot is pretty basic: you're a boy named Ethan Winters and you receive a message from your missing companion, Mia, asking you to pick her up at a farmhouse in upstate Louisiana. Arriving there, you begin to encounter oddities and dangers that make you question everything you thought you knew — and your own sanity. Did you feel the tone of Silent Hill 2 there?
“Fear returns home”
The sentence above is on the back of the game's box and fits perfectly into the proposal of Resident Evil 7. The atmosphere of terror is present in several aspects: the sound, the graphics, the camera game and the script contribute to creating a game that will make you tense for several moments, jump on the couch and get your heart racing after meeting an enemy in a narrow hallway.
The face of horror
Along with sound, visuals are equally important in designing a horror game. In the case of Resident Evil 7, you can't say that Capcom got it right, but the company is far from having done a bad job.
The game presents very varied scenarios, even having a small place where the story takes place. The Baker mansion is amazing, full of macabre details, and the makeup of the other properties is just as interesting.
First person: love it or hate it
Undoubtedly, Resident Evil 7's biggest disagreement will be the first-person perspective, which is constant and even makes the title almost lack cutscenes, since almost the entire game takes place in real time and from the perspective of a character. The approval of the sudden change will not be unanimous, it is no use insisting: it is a matter of taste to prefer one style to the other and you will feel the strangeness of, after 20 years, playing a main chapter of the franchise with this camera.
Is it worth it?
No doubt! Resident Evil 7 is an extremely risky game in many ways and, in the end, Capcom got it right by stepping out of their comfort zone once again. It is effective as a new chapter in the franchise, manages to insert itself in the horror genre and brings more than interesting perspectives for the future of the series.
Positive Points:
- It's very Resident Evil, it's very horror
- The atmosphere of tension was very well built
- The Baker family is amazing and steals the show
- Brings new and classic elements in the right measure
- High quality sound effects and graphics that don't compromise
Negative Points:
- The main character could be better developed
- Gameplay is still limited
- Questionable script decisions in the second half
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icGSnVvvDz8
https://youtu.be/alNJE4yXHLE