Resident Evil 7: Biohazard - Review

“This house has seen more than you can imagine, and it knows” – A review of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. 

Oh, how I love to be scared. Media should make you feel something, if it’s done its job well. Whether I’m laughing, crying, or shaking with fear, if media evokes an emotional response from me, I’m happy. Horror is no exception to this – if I’m consuming horror media, I want it to keep me up at night. Boy, did Resident Evil 7 do that.

Released in January 2017, Resident Evil 7 is a first-person horror game, a shift from the usual third-person perspective Resi had given previously. The first-person perspective made it feel intimate and immersive, creating a truly creepy atmosphere which I really enjoyed. You play as Ethan Winters as he searches for his missing wife, Mia – but what you find is a long way from a heartfelt reunion.

The game is set in a creepy, run down family plantation in Dulvey, Louisiana, where there are tonnes of areas to explore, from underground locations to hidden nooks and crannies where anything could be waiting for you in the dark. The plantation is owned by the Baker family, and the estate gives clues and hints to the twisted and sadistic nature of the family who lives there.

Visually, Resident Evil 7 is strong. Oppressive shadows and flickering candles fill rooms with an oppressive, claustrophobic feeling, whilst the industrial salt mines, murky swamp and derelict boathouse add a sense of scale and unease – how big is this estate, and how will you ever find your way out again?!

The setting reminds me of classic horror films, as the sound of creaking floorboards and the distant sound of some unknown footsteps echo down corridors to fill you with dread and anticipation of whatever foul creature is waiting for you just around the corner. Silence is used cleverly too, as you find yourself in pitch black, eerily quiet areas, you can’t help but strain to hear even the smallest sound which could provide a clue to what lies ahead.

The combat is great too. Each member of the Baker family presents their own… challenges… but Jack Baker presents with some of my favourite video game fights ever. The combat is slightly slower and more deliberate, but nonetheless challenging, and it brings with it a heightened sense of tension, vulnerability and fear. The chainsaw fight is one of my favourite moments of the entire game – it’s tense, it takes a little precision and thought, but it’s so satisfying when you beat it. As always with a Resident Evil game there are puzzles to stump you, and the tension of trying to solve a puzzle before you’re discovered is palpable.

So, was Resident Evil 7 perfect? I did love it, but I must admit I found the ship section frustrating to the point I stopped enjoying it – although I accept that this may be a skill issue, as I found it difficult to navigate and kept getting lost. Aside from this though, the interesting narrative, atmospheric sounds and visuals, clever design and slow build of tension makes this a must play for fans of the franchise and fans of horror as a whole. Whether you’re new to the franchise, as I was when I first played it, or a long-time fan, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is unmissable.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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