Resident Evil VII: biohazard
From: Capcom
Rated: M
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a true survival/horror game
Console: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Grade: A
I love scary things. Movies, games, roller coasters, haunted houses, Stephen King novels, conversations with my immediate family — all of these can be exhilarating if I’m in the right mood. Well, maybe not the conversation with my family. That might give me nightmares later.
The early installments of the “Resident Evil” series satisfied that need for an adrenaline rush. Exploring that creepy old house, never knowing what was behind a door, and whether you could survive finding out.
Scary games existed before “Resident Evil,” but the survival-horror genre did not. Putting the player in a situation where flight was often preferable to fight.
Over the years the series lost its way. So much so that “RE 5” and “RE 6” were basically just action games.
Thankfully, “Resident Evil VII: biohazard” returns the series to its roots, summoning horror in ways both familiar and uncanny to restart even the most jaded of gamer hearts.
Set at the mysterious Dulvey Plantation, it brings back the foreboding haunted house feel, and all of the claustrophobia that comes with it. Here you’ll find the Baker family, a twisted, malevolent freak show that suggests films like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Hills Have Eyes.”
Your character wants nothing more than to find his missing girlfriend. But like most scary stories, it’s never that easy once you’ve entered the dilapidated mansion. You’d think upon entering a place in such disrepair — and finding it inhabited — logic would prevail and you’d make tracks.
Thank heavens for chivalry though, or we wouldn’t have a game. You find your girlfriend and begin your escape only to encounter the Bakers up close and personal. In the interest of keeping spoilers to a minimum I’m not going to mention exactly what happens next, but needless to say, it isn’t for the faint of heart.
The plantation contains multiple buildings, creating a labyrinthine maze filled with puzzles, creatures, traps and the Baker family. Escaping isn’t as simple as running out the front door. You must explore every nook and cranny for the items to solve your puzzles and unlock the passages leading to your freedom.
To ramp up the tension, the familiar third-person viewpoint of previous installments has been abandoned for a first-person view, completely immersing the player in the story.
Now, you’ll hear threats coming from behind before you see them, shortening your window to react. With the fist-person view everything seems imbued with a greater sense of urgency.
This is especially true during combat. As with previous “RE” games, weapons and ammunition are scarce, and no matter how good you are at running away, there will be situations where you must fight to stay alive.
That’s when you’ll miss being able to see behind your character as you are backing away, firing desperately at whatever is chasing you.
This is especially true if you own a PS4 and opt to play the game in virtual reality. You read that right — the whole game is playable on the PSVR and the experience is nothing short of harrowing.
Wearing the PSVR goggles and a good set of headphones, the world of “RE 7” swallowed me whole. I could practically feel the spray of blood on my face as I was mercilessly attacked. Although seated I felt myself tripping over my own feet as I scrambled to escape, acutely aware of my pursuer’s hot breath on my neck.
This is the kind of experience VR was made for, and as intense as it is, I highly recommend giving it a try if you can.
“Resident Evil VII” suffers from a few pacing issues here and there, not always giving you a chance to breath between major encounters. It can be exhausting.
Still, this is undeniably the best “RE” installment since number four. Capcom created a game dripping with atmosphere, a love story to its fans. It feels like a whole new beginning for the franchise and one I hope they build upon in the near future.
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