Overview:
A true return to the horror genre, and a new adventure that takes place in the world of Resident Evil. Resident Evil 7 is a step back for the franchise as developer Capcom puts action-oriented gameplay on the back burner while refocusing the franchise on true horror and dread filling gameplay, mechanics, and atmospheric storytelling.
The story follows Ethan Winters and a disturbing message he gets from his missing girlfriend Mia who tells him that she needs him to come to Louisiana to pick her up. When he arrives, he is face to face with an abandoned home in the middle of nowhere, and when he goes inside to see if he can find Mia, that is when the nightmare truly begins, as Ethan must not only fight to save Mia but more importantly survive the terrors that fill the home.
ESRB Rating
Rated M (Mature 17+)
- Blood & gore
- Intense violence
- Strong language
The Good
- Great atmosphere
- Good gameplay
- VR experience available
- Great horror elements
The Bad
- Repetitive enemy types
- Boring boss battles
- Decent story
Honest Rating
4.5 Stars
Honest Review
Resident Evil 7 is a return to form, after a disastrous Resident Evil 6 release which focused solely on action gameplay, it’s nice to see Capcom bring Resident Evil back to its roots of horror. Resident Evil 7 is one of the scariest games I have ever played, from the creepy atmosphere to the eerie soundtrack and sound effects, Resident Evil 7 truly sets a high bar for horror games.
With an additional free VR mode released the scares are more intense, and the looming dread over when the next enemy will attack is more impactful. However, even without the VR mode, the first-person camera angle is amazing in creating atmosphere and tension as the players range of view is limited and means you always must keep your head on a swivel.
My only complaints about the game would be the lack of enemy variety. There are a total of maybe 4 different variants of the same enemy, and the scare factor quickly disappears when faced with the same enemy repeatedly. The boss battles are another weak point in my opinion as most are bullet sponge bosses with little to no creativity needed to defeat them. While the story is interesting on a surface level and ties loosely back to original games in the series, it is a very basic story which is good on its own but not when it being compared to the others in the series. The main character is one dimensional and does not really change over the course of the story, leaving for an almost unsatisfying conclusion for the game.