Introduction
Basic information
Developer: Capcom
Full name: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Release date: 2017
Released on: Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia.
Cross play: no
Genre: Horror.
Additional information: I am writing the review, but this game has been played and completed by my wife, Simone.
Initial thoughts
My wife is a big fan of Resident Evil, so am I. She really wanted to play the new Resident Evil games, having almost played every one of them, except those. Thus, when we got the PS5, she started with Resident Evil 7, you don’t even have to guess what other review is coming in the future. We were both curious as it said that this game was going back to its roots. Resident Evil 6 was a fun game, just not horror. A new protagonist takes the role, Ethan Winters.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The story starts with Ethan Winters going to Louisiana after receiving a message from his missing wife, Mia. Without wasting any moment, he goes to where she should be. Arriving at a seemingly abandoned house, he finds and rescues her, little does he know that this is only the beginning of a nightmare.
World building and immersion
This is something Resident Evil 7 did perfectly, Oh my god. I was sitting next to my wife while she was playing, and I could feel the pull of this game. It looked extremely good. The creepy corners, the creaking sounds, I jumped out of my seat a few times. While I do like Resident Evil, I am no fan of anything else horror related.
Character development
There is a lot of character development, Ethan starts out as a victim of the people residing in this abandoned house. But little by little, he grows smarter, stronger, starts taking risks. All to get his wife back, and he turns into a bonafide badass as he takes down monsters with a knife, as ammo is very limited. And for the first time perhaps in Resident Evil, the fact why Ethan heals will be handled, in this, and the next Resident Evil where he plays in.
Emotional impact
There is a lot of emotional impact as you even have to choose eventually between saving two lives. The story becomes more and more clear, Ethan will do anything to save his wife from these mad people. The cutscenes are moving, dramatic, and intense. Along with the superb voice acting, it allows you to connect with the characters in this game.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 9.0.
There could be slight improvements with the story, but all in all, solid!
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The main thing you will be doing in this game is skulking around in the shadows. While you are doing, you will be solving puzzles, picking up the minimal amount of loot. Many of the monsters that chase you in the game are unkillable, unstoppable, and they will find you. Backtracking with new items is useful as you need everything to get through this alive.
Another key component is crafting, some items you can find can be crafted into either bullets, healing items, or other useful tools. There are killable monsters, but they take a lot of firepower to kill. You can use your knife for this since blocking is actually useful in this game.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty is pretty high as you can die very quickly if you make mistakes. However, it is balanced enough that if you pay attention you can get through this game pretty well. Each boss gets harder and harder to defeat. The final boss feels more like a special cutscene. If you want a real challenge, you can up the difficulty.
Pacing of the game
There is nothing wrong with the pacing of the game. It sometimes feels a bit wonky because you wonder what the hell is going on, but usually, it gets explained a bit later in the story. Despite having backtracked for plenty of items, the pacing felt good to me.
Innovation and uniqueness
While there is a lot of innovation in this game for Resident Evil, it feels more as if they reinvigorated and enhanced the old formula. If you are one of the people that loved the old formula of Resident Evil, then this game will be a fresh breath of air for you.
Controls and user interface
The controls were slick and smooth. My wife never complained about the controls being janky, not being responsive, or anything else. The user interface was minimal, but it provided enough information. A fun note, did you know that if my wife gets jumpscared, the first thing she does is unload her weapon or punch whatever it was? Yes, she does this in real life as well, if you manage to scare her, chances are you are going to get punched.
Microtransactions
Microtransactions available: No
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 8.5.
This Resident Evil game is amazing, there could be a few tweaks here and there for crafting, exploring, and other things. The boss fights can be enhanced, but more on that later.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics were intense, I had not expected it to look this great. At a few moments while watching along, it almost looked as if I was watching a movie. There are many different areas to explore, enemies to get attacked by, and more. However, there is one slight issue, Why in the fucking hell does Chris look like a hippie in this game? I
Technical performances
There were no real frame drops, crashes or any other technical difficulties.
Environment and design uniqueness
The environment is amazing and unique. I do wonder why the hell do the Bakers have all these puzzles in their home? There are other places to explore, like an old tanker ship, the mines, and even a guest house.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with an 8.0.
I have to detract a few points since Chris, one of the most important people for Resident Evil, looks very weird. Yes, a new technique, I get it, but man, he is still remarkable but, what did you do to your face?
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The music in this game is great, it allows for plenty of ambiances. It is just creepy enough that it keeps you on your toes, knowing something can jump at you at a moment’s notice. It is great how upbeat it gets when you are being chased by monsters. All the environments have a distinct soundtrack.
Sound effects quality
Nothing special to mention here, just superb.
Voice Acting
I am very amazed by how good the voice acting is in this game. It adds so much body and depth to this game. You can feel that the voice actors really poured their soul into it, to give just the right amount of emotion to a voice.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 9.
Some minor improvements would be good enough to get it to a 10.
Multiplayer components
Online gameplay experience
Not applicable.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game is smaller than I had expected, but, if you do explore everything, it is going to take a while. If you are someone who enjoys doing extra runs on a game, then you will easily spend over thirty hours with this game. My wife went through it at a fast pace, she was just taking it slow and easy and finished it before she had expected to finish it.
Extra Content
There is some extra side content in the form of minigames, a few extra puzzles and more. But the core component here is the DLC called not a hero. This features hippie Chris right after the events of the game as he goes to tie up some loose ends. Not only is this a DLC which can be downloaded for free, it is quite substantial as well. Not only in game length, it also has extra content, too much to cover here.
Replay value
The replay value is through the roof with all the extra DLC, more difficulties, getting all the achievements and more.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Resident Evil 7 with a 9.5.
It is a wonderful game, and you can spend countless hours with it!
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
One aspect that could enhance the gameplay experience is the integration of more varied boss fights. While the game offers challenging encounters, diversifying the strategies required for defeating bosses could add depth to the gameplay. Additionally, providing more context for certain elements of the story, particularly regarding the motivations of secondary characters, could further enrich the narrative experience.
Comparisons
In comparison to previous entries in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil 7 stands out for its return to the franchise’s horror roots. While Resident Evil 6 leaned more towards action-oriented gameplay, this installment redefines the series with its emphasis on atmospheric tension and psychological horror. The shift to a first-person perspective also distinguishes it from its predecessors, offering players a more immersive experience as they navigate the eerie environments of the Baker estate. Additionally, the inclusion of Ethan Winters as the protagonist brings a fresh perspective to the narrative, allowing players to uncover the mysteries of the game’s world through his eyes. Overall, Resident Evil 7 successfully revitalizes the franchise while staying true to its core principles, making it a standout addition for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
One of the moments I enjoyed most, and what, I thought, was wicked. It was when someone’s hand got cut off. The intense blood and gore was fun to look at, something that could not be achieved in the early days of Resident Evil.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Resident Evil 7, my wife gave it a personal rating of 8.5.
She wanted more action, more places to explore, it had to be bigger!
Last words
Pros
- Resident Evil 7 delivers a captivating narrative that keeps players engaged from start to finish
- The game excels in creating a chilling atmosphere that immerses players in its horror-filled setting
- From puzzle-solving to resource management, Resident Evil 7 offers engaging gameplay mechanics that challenge players
- With intense visuals and stunning art direction, the game delivers a cinematic experience
- The top-notch voice acting and eerie soundtrack contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere
- Resident Evil 7 successfully returns the franchise to its horror roots, delivering a terrifying and suspenseful experience
- The game features a variety of puzzles that are both challenging and rewarding to solve
- The shift to a first-person perspective enhances the sense of vulnerability and fear
- The game's unkillable enemies create tension-filled encounters that keep players on edge throughout their journey
- Resident Evil 7 explores themes of love, loss, and desperation, adding emotional depth to the narrative
- Set in a dilapidated plantation in rural Louisiana, the game's setting is both eerie and atmospheric
- From environmental design to sound effects, Resident Evil 7 demonstrates a high level of attention to detail
- By taking risks and introducing new elements, Resident Evil 7 breathes new life into the franchise
Cons
- While challenging, the boss fights could benefit from more variety and depth
- players may find certain character designs, such as the portrayal of Chris Redfield jarring
Yes, I made hippie Chris a con, it might just be the biggest con, we want to see badass Chris again!
Final Rating
8.8
Please let me know what you think of Resident Evil 7 in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
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This looks like a great and pretty complete Resident Evil game
For a game that came out 7 years ago, the graphics and atmosphere look amazing!
I just like the sheer amount of pros compared to the cons. Very nice review.
Prozilla!
This experiment with mechanics in the game is awesome. I like RE 7.
I know I played the demo back in the days. The first house was a disgusting experience, but it’s something expected in the Resident Evil world lol. They’re infected, after all.
A very good final score in the end!
The more disgusting, the better the Resident Evil!
i am not fan of horror related too, but lately start watching and sometimes playing it. Never played RE games, might trying it soon.
You should try it!
Great review. If the old classic formula is good why to change it too much? Seems like really well made new version, immersion in such games is very important, great audio visuals. Not playing many horrors myself but good new game in this genre. PS – Side joke note after reading about unkillable monsters, playing a little in Elex1 im already familiar with escaping enemies in a lot of starting world, before you level up your character 😉
I can’t help but think back to Resident Evil 1 and the tank controls… As of Elex 1, I think I have a very old review of that game.
I love this game and it deserves this review point. Thanks for review! 🙂
I am glad you like the review!
Thinking of starting my long delayed play through of the series and can’t wait to get to this game 🙂
Get playing already!
I’ll have to get through all the Resident Evils one of these days.
hm… not so much in to horror games. But level design often is special and interesting ^^
The level design is awesome here!
I don’t play too many horror games for a few reasons but one is the lack of a good story! The emotion adds everything into a horror game, so I’m glad this one has an interesting storyline and character development! Though I can’t deal with being chased in a game… especially with the idea of the monsters being “unstoppable” I’m also put off this series from the amount of gore 🙁 Great detailed review!
No worries, glad you liked the review, I dislike horror movies, but I do like playing horror games. Simone even more, which is why she played it! In the end, the monster always has a weakness and can be killed! The gore, yeah, it is a taste thing, but I love to see gore, the worse, the better.
Absolutely loved this game when it was still in Gamepass
DLCs – I didn’t play them, are they any good Sven? Did you try them out?
I have not played this game myself, Simone played it, and she did like the DLC a lot. At least, the one with hippie Chris.
While most of the other Resident Evil games looked quite interesting to me, this one didn’t struck me as much… I watched a friend stream the demo (beginning scenes) of it, as well as the trailers; and that whole “weird crazy people” thing didn’t interest me. I just find it weird, similar to the Outlast games.
While this review makes me think it might be a *little* less bad than I thought (I didn’t know it was Ethan Winters in this game for example, I thought he was introduced in RE8 Village), I still think it’s not for me, lol.
Also, that deer screenshot is funny!
Deer are always funny, Headlights!
I’m a huge Resident Evil fan but still haven’t played this one and RE Village, excited to try the first First-person RE game, this review made me relieved that it’s probably not gonna be disappointing. Thank you so much for the review!