Resident Evil 7: A fine return to Survival Horror

Last year in March 2016, Capcom commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the Resident Evil franchise with a year long celebration consisting of remastered rereleases, new merchandise offerings, and the announcement of forthcoming films that are set to hit this year (one of which is already in theaters in Milla Jovovich’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter).

No one could have imagined that a single Playstation game that introduced the concept of “Survival Horror” in 1996 would grow into such a huge money generating franchise, which went beyond the borders of a zombie infested mansion and branched out into other mediums and modes of play that arguably took it out of its element and left most fans divided.

When Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami released “Resident Evil 4” in 2005, it changed the franchise drastically and shifted to a more action oriented pace for the series, which was dubbed as “Survival Action” by fans.

After the disappointing release of “Resident Evil 6” in 2012, Capcom figured out at last that it was time to take the series back to its roots and revisit “Survival Horror”, and the end result of that is the latest installment in the series in “Resident Evil 7” – a game that boldly dives back to the claustrophobic tension and unpredictability of an isolated environment while injecting familiar and welcomed horror tropes that fans new and old will certainly enjoy and get scared the hell out of.

It is a game that does not feature tons of bullets, but rather begs you to think things through rather than the run and gun behavior that recent entries have encouraged.

Set in Dulvey, Lousiana, RE7 follows the story of everyman Ethan Winters as he receives a video message from his wife Mia, who has been missing for three years.

Traveling to an isolated house located in the middle of a swamp like forest, Ethan soon finds Mia but is shocked to discover that something is wrong with her. He is soon captured by the Baker Family – an odd and very strange group that exhibit bizarre behavior and supernatural like powers.

With the help of the outcast Zoe, Ethan must find a way to get out of the house, discover the secrets of the Baker family, and survive the dangers they present before he dies a horrible and gruesome death.

Unlike past Resident Evil games, RE7 is now played entirely in First Person View – a dynamic new shift in the series’ gameplay that brings forth its own set of challenges and difficulties while adding new layers of horror that redefine the “Survival Horror” experience altogether.

After the game was officially announced in E3 2016, fans including myself were skeptical about the direction, especially since the game would not feature any familiar protagonists from the series’ past such as Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, or Claire Redfield.

This game would be an entirely new adventure and puts the player in control of a man who is looking for his wife in a spooky horror house. It sounds more Silent Hill than anything else, but that’s exactly what the creators of the game are taking inspiration from, with the now defunct “P.T” and the Outlast series serving as primary influences for this game that’s developed with the brand new proprietary “RE Engine”.

Much like its 1996 predecessor, RE7 encourages you to be aware of your surroundings and not spend ammo and items foolishly. Enemies come by the numbers and eat your bullets hard, so be sure to use them conservatively and know where to aim and fire when the time is necessary.

The Baker Family are also tough SOBs that do not go down easily and chase you til your heart gives out. Jack and Marguerite Baker in particular are the heads of the household who give Ethan a hard time and are arguably the most enjoyable antagonists of the game.

They talk and play as if everything was a game, and it’s unsettling to see that behavior as you run for dear life and avoid their deadly attacks, which will cost you an arm or a leg literally if you don’t know how to avoid them.

Story wise, Resident Evil 7 is a call back to familiar horror films like Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” series, “The Hills Have Eyes”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, and “The Shining”, and that’s a very good thing since the series needed a good boost in bringing back “Survival Horror” and it delivers it in spades over all the tense moments and scary situations this game delivers.

Ethan’s adventure isn’t the only thing playable in this game either, as there will be several tapes scattered throughout the game that allows the player to witness and play other characters’ experiences with The Baker family – adding more exposition to the game’s narrative.

In fact, Capcom is preparing to unleash DLC content and side stories that expand on The Bakers and other events related to RE7’s continuity. It’s a game full of secrets, and heavy revelations depending on your actions and playthrough.

Overall Resident Evil 7 is a welcome return to form, and does a great job in bringing the scares and tensions back in a “Survival Horror” experience that many fans deserve and the franchise sorely needs.

Call it a rebirth or reimagining, but this is definitely a step in the right direction Capcom has made to spring the series back into the forefront, and this is the first major game release of 2017 to make a fine impression on gamers and critics alike. Playstation 4 users who own a PS VR also have the option to play the entire game in VR Mode, so that’s an added bonus for those who like to experience horror firsthand.

Welcome to the family, son. Enjoy your stay and play. — TJD, GMA News