Resident Evil 7: Biohazard PS4 Review

History of Resident Evil Franchise:

I'm grew up playing Resident Evil series back then it used to be a king of the survival horror franchises because we had such influential titles such as very first Resident Evil for PS1, Saturn and PC which made the game very successful in mid-90's and it was considered to be the most important game in horror genres. The success of first Resident Evil has spawned with sequels, spin-offs, novels, action-figures and films. Most of the fans had said that Resident Evil 2 is one of the better sequel in comparison with the first original, due to better FMV cutscenes, another great characters, darker tone atmosphere and better puzzle-solving gameplay that made the game memorable and it was one of the commercial success in US after the game's releases. I also enjoyed playing several of the sequels such as Resident Evil 3, Code: Veronica, and the prequel to first game called Resident Evil Zero, but my favourite game in the series goes to Resident Evil 4 is by far one of the best video games of all time that revolutionised the third-person shooter and survival horror genres.

Unfortunately the series went downhill after the success of Resident Evil 4 which they later bought Resident Evil 5 is one of the first sequel that departures the Survival Horror genres which spreads the fans disappointment, but I'll admit this game aren't that bad as what everyone says because it's still has the great storyline, memorable characters and fun single-player campaign which is better off to give this game a chance and same goes with Resident Evil: Revelations are also sounds decent until Capcom has screwed up with Resident Evil 6 and it was the worst game in the series, due to relying on action-oriented shooter than the horror approach, poor single-player campaign, horrid graphics and cryptic combat gameplay that kills off the most beloved video game franchise.

Capcom decided to go back to survival horror roots with the Resident Evil 7: Biohazard after the fans backlash from Resident Evil 6. It was meant to be a lot different from the previous entry that gives a true horror experience for the fans of the series. Does the game lives up with our expectations? Lets find out my review, shall we? 


Resident Evil 7: Biohazard PS4 Review

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a Survival Horror game for PS4, XBONE and PC, which was developed and published by Capcom, and it is eleventh main entry in the Resident Evil franchise.

After the disastrous of the Resident Evil 6, this game does gives me what I want to see the triumph return of the survival horror roots. I've bought this game from Amazon for Black Friday Sales to try out this game and see if this game turns out to be just right, but the answer is yes because Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is pretty damn amazing game that Capcom has finally just got the game right. It retains the original style of puzzle-solving, limited combat, and darker atmosphere is finally what you called a true Resident Evil game that we been asking for ages. The game has great story, insane villains, deadly monsters, excellent gameplay elements, gorgeous graphics design and fantastic soundtrack, while this game shares with problems such as unmemorable protagonist in comparison with most of original protagonists from previous game, long loading times and lack of battle mode. So far, I really liked the game and it was one of the most surprising game of 2017 in my opinion.

So without go further do, let's start the review.



Presentation

This game starts off with a civilian named Ethan Winters is drawn to a derelict plantation in Dulvey, Louisianato to search for his lost wife Mia, who has been missing for the past three years. He visited to an abandoned house to explore and being encountered by groups of Baker's family and Molded creatures. After he learns his wife are being infected, he receiving a call from a woman named Zoe, who are also infected, to give Ethan assistance. His goal is to rescue and cure his wife and escape from the Baker's family house.

The story in the game is very well done because it explains the mysterious plot of how lucky of Mia Winters is been still alive in Baker's house after the three years absence is kinda sounds mystery. What really makes the game disturbing is that the whole house environment is full of horrific places where bunch of Baker's family made such disgusting food and supper with full of maggots and human flesh organs for dinner and the unhygienic bathrooms left with full of slimy materials which makes everyone wanted to puke badly after seeing this. It does looked creep out in the game because this game shares the influence from the 70's horror movie such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre which adds the excellent overall atmosphere. I think Ethan Winters is just an average faceless character that aren't interesting as the originals characters from the previous game because of his shallow and boring personality and same goes with Mia which I finding her little quite annoying, but I think Zoe is doesn't look too bad in the game. The best part of the characters in the game are Baker's family members because I finding these people quite scary as hell, such as Jack Baker is a chaotic bold-head old man that has ability to break through the wall and starts beating the shit of the Ethan, so that what you call a one tough old son of bitch. The rest are sick-minded freak Marguerite that surprise you with unexpected jumpscares and that crazy asshole Lucas that really threatens the hell of Ethan is just makes these villains so insanity, but entertaining at the same time. Instead of Zombies from the older Resident Evil games, we have sick-minded family members and mouldy monster which adds up nicely to the series.   

I really liked the horror settings of house environment which made the game bit similar from the first Resident Evil game, while the outside of the house is quite just like from the forth game regarding the games design choices.

Overall, it has incredible story presentation, great horror atmosphere, amazing villains and impressive settings design.



Gameplay

You take control of Ethan Winters makes use of weapons and tools in the fight against the Baker family and the mouldy monsters.

The game involves exploration where you had to find the key to open the door, collecting items to keep your stuff on your inventory screen, finding clues for puzzle-solving purposes, reading documents and watching VHS type to reveal information. The game was played on first-person perspective which borrows the similar elements mixed between cancelled Silent Hills (P.T) and Alien: Isolation regarding the combat and the use of stealth gameplay. Using the combat weapons which keeps the player survived as possible, so you have got pocket knife which is quite basic for close-combat because it's a useful survival choice of weapon that you can able to slash and stab the enemies which works perfectly than the ones in older entry of the series. The handgun is also worked too because you can switch any of those handgun clip such as regular handgun clip are used for balanced shot with mild damage, while the enhanced version does give a powerful shot at the enemies. The shotgun is good for close-range distance with heavy damage shot, while the machine-gun is good for long-range distance with lower-damage shot which really balanced the combat gameplay very well. I also liked the grenade launcher and remote bomb where you can blow them up and my favourite weapon in the game was flamethrower where you can burn them alive faster. The inventory screen lets you examine, combine and use items that you have already collected. You can craft your items such as handgun bullets for handgun clip and first aid bottle to increase your health, so it is required to collect chems, herbs and gunpowder in order to combining the items. The inventory spaces can be also expanded by collecting bagpack which increases the inventory slots that lets you keep many items on your inventory list. The save rooms has cassette types which lets you save the game to continue where you left off and keeping the items safe on the safe box which saves your inventory spaces for collecting more important items that you will need.

I got to say that the combat gameplay plays really good due to excellent weapons type that keeps you well satisfied to play and I also liked the use of stealth gameplay where you have to hide behind the walls and objects which prevents you from getting caught by Jack Baker nearby, but sometimes it may not be very easy to do because Jack sees you hiding behind, so you need to be very perfect with your stealth movement once you getting used too. The puzzle solving elements are also quite impressive because some of the puzzle gameplay such as projector statuette where you had to match the right shadow into the image frame which reveals the secret passage, Dog's head door where you had to find 3 dog's head to unlock the door and Incinerator Room is where you had to adjust the clock to open up the chamber is giving the player a worth for challenge. The VHS type events are also quite amazing such as Mia's attempting to escape from Baker's House and Clancy's birthday puzzle which adds not just the backstory information, but also part of the clues for puzzle-solving purposes. I really liked the mid-boss battles where you had to fight against Jack and Marguerite which is quite amazing except the final boss is pretty disappointing because it was short and wasn't good as the most of the final boss battles from older Resident Evil games. You can also pick between the ending does also adds the nice replay values.

Despite the amazing single-player mode, it's kinda shame that this game doesn't include the battle mode from the past Resident Evil games, so it would have been nice to include the battle mode on this game, so we can enjoy shooting hodes of enemies. Whats really cool about the PS4 version is that you can also play the game with the VR headset which giving the player a more horror experience which is also nice edition for PS4 version.   

Overall, it has amazing combat gameplay, excellent puzzle-solving and useful items inventory.



Graphics

I got to admit this is by far the best looking graphics in 2017. The character models has realistic use of animations and greater details to make them look more human-alike which is very damn impressive for next-gen gaming. I also liked the dark setting of house environment and the shady lighting are quite fascinating to see what the game developers could do with the overall game design. The game is quite gory because it has blood particles everywhere in the whole room and the use of gibs effects are also quite bloody which is pretty amazed to push the next level of horror genres. I'm sure the graphics on VR headset does look pretty awesome for whole game.

Overall, it has realistic animations, dark environments and horrific use of gory effects.


Music and Sounds

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is definitely has hands-down the best overall soundtrack in gaming. I really liked the terrifying ambient soundtrack that fits well both the in-game mode and presentations. The save room theme music does have a The Last of Us vibe to it which I kinda prefer this save room theme music lot better in my opinion. The song "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" was performed by folk singer Jordan Reyne did a impressive job for the main theme of the game. The sound effects in the game are actually pretty well done due to marvellous sound works and background noise that surprises the player a lot which giving their positive overall horror experience and the voice actors are pretty okay for some characters, but could have done more professional job than this.

Overall, it has outstanding soundtrack and marvellous sound effects, but okayish voice cast.


Special Features

The game comes with downloadable content such as Banned footage vol 1 which includes two scenarios and new game mode called "Ethan Must Die", while vol 2 has another two scenarios and another new game mode called "Jack 55th Birthday."

There are more upcoming DLC chapter which is going to be released on this December such as Paid DLC chapters "End of Zoe" that focuses on Zoe, while the Free DLC "Not a Hero" where you get to play as the returning character Chris Redfield from the older Resident Evil. 

You can purchase these released DLC available on PS Store, Xbox Marketplace and Steam services, while the upcoming DLC will be released soon on December.

Overall, it has fantastic DLC content that we need it for this game. 



Advantages

Incredible story

Horrific horror elements

Chaotic Villains

Amazing combat and puzzle-solving

Gruesome graphics

Outstanding soundtrack

Fantastic DLC content



Disadvantages

Long loading times

Lack of battle mode

Weak protagonists 

Disappointing final boss battle   



Final Verdict


Presentation 8.5/10 - incredible story presentation, great horror atmosphere, amazing villains and impressive settings design.

Gameplay 8.5/10 - amazing combat gameplay, excellent puzzle-solving and useful items inventory.

Graphics 9/10 - realistic animations, dark environments and horrific use of gory effects.

Music and Sounds 9/10 -  Outstanding soundtrack and marvellous sound effects.

Special Features 9/10 - Fantastic DLC content.   


Overall 8.5/10 - Its by far much better than the lackluster Resident Evil 6. Capcom finally has taken the right direction by sticking with the survival horror roots is just what Resident Evil is supposed to be a fantastic horror video game franchises. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is surprisingly a great horror titles of 2017 which offers an incredible stuff for fans to enjoy the overall single-player mode with stunning story, impressive combat, darker tone atmosphere, and brilliant puzzle elements.

This is definitely must play game and I hopefully to look forward a another sequel and of course my hopes on the Resident Evil 2: Remake. My second opinion is Resident Evil 4 are always being one of my favourite game in the series along with Code: Veronica, first and second.

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Top 5 Hidden Gems PS1 Games

We all know Sony Playstation is one of the best-selling consoles in fifth generation era completing with their rivals such as SEGA Saturn and Nintendo 64. It's one of the Sony's first game console made a first debut in year 1994-95 which are very known for amazing 32-bit graphics, ability to play music's CD, introducing memory cards designed for saving and loading the game files, innovative game controller including DualShock version and of course it has the best games library that made the PS1 a huge success such as Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer, Time Crisis, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Soild.

Despite PS1 has well known games, I'm now focusing on the most obscure PS1 games that are not so popular, but it's considered to be must own PS1 games for collectors. The terms Hidden Gems is where the game is somewhat being undiscovered for long time due to weak sales or not many people have heard the game before, so there are quite impressive PS1 titles that plays really good and to give reason why these are worth picking up for your video game collection.

I'm now going to make my top 5 Hidden Gems PS1 Games.  

5 - Super Dropzone 

       

One of the sequel to Archer Maclean's 1984 original called Dropzone is a 2D shoot em ups game for SNES, PS1 and GBA. This game takes place in the surface of Jupiter's moon where human scientific research base is under attack by aliens. Your mission is to wipeout the aliens and rescue the scientists by returning them to the base. 

This game borrows a similarities from the Midway's arcade classics Defender for the arcade style gameplay which can be played on a horizontally side-scrolling game field and it also introducing added new weapon types and end-level bosses. The goal of the game is to to rescue the scientists to the base's dropzone, so the player must shoot the enemy aliens and catch the remaining falling scientists. This game has addicting gameplay with excellent weapons types and challenged waves of levels. The graphics has cool level design and arcade style animation that really suits the game's presentation. 

It may not be well known as the original game, but you can get this PS1 version for less than £5 up to £20, so I'm lucky I got this for £1.99 from Ebay. 

4 - Sanvein 

  

Another great arcade title for PS1 Sanvein (AKA Shooter Starfighter Sanvein) is a is a top-down shooter game which was developed by Success in 2000. This game involves the attempt to escape and destroy a giant corrupted space station called St. Schutz. You take control of Sanvein to battle with station's defense mechanisms. 

Your goal is to survive through the stages by wiping out many of the enemies and bosses within time limits, so the player has the options to select each floor they want to go. 

The player has three different elements for their ship's movement, normal and special attacks. It include Gluon that fire attack patterns in spread-shots while its uses special fired missiles, the Photon fired concentrated shots while its uses short-range laser blade and the Graviton fired the explosive bullets and special laid land mines. 

I was far impressed with the ideas of having to select any of different floors which adds the replay value of the game and I also liked choosing the choices of weapons and movements to suit the player's style. It has unique levels, cool boss battles, and decent gameplay controls. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're into with arcade genres then you should able to pick this game up for less than £5 before the game goes expensive later.      

3 - Apocalypse 

   

Imagine having badass 90's action star Bruce Willis in video game seems to be an awesome ideas for development teams to make, so they bought the amazing third-person shooter game for PS1 was Apocalypse which is a game that are not based on the movie. It was developed by Neversoft made their first original game before they launching their later popular franchise Tony Hawk series. The story starts off with evil scientist named The Reverend has created a powerful theocracy based on the idea of a apocalypse. He uses his expertise to create his demonic beings known as four powerful horsemen of the Apocalypse in order to take over the world. The one and only hero Trey Kincaid (voiced by Bruce Willis), who managed to escape from prison, has his mission to save the world by stopping The Reverend's devious machinations. 

This game has 11 single-player mission and it was played on third-person view with 3D multi-directional gameplay which is quite similar to classic twin-stick shooter such as Smash TV and Robotron allowing the player to shoot in 360 degrees directions. This game features awesome weapons type such as machine gun, laser gun, rocket launcher and flamethrower, and it has wicked platforming stages such as the first city of level 3 where you run down the streets, across the lava pits and running along the roofs of apartment buildings which giving the players a well challenged platforming shooter with amazing level designs. The story in the game is very well done with simple plot, impressive FMV cutscenes and fantastic voice performer from Bruce Willis thats adds the overall presentations. 

It's a shame that this game had become time forgotten, so is it the fans of Bruce Willis's films have never owned the game consoles or have they not heard the game before? I suggest you to go buy this underrated gems under £5 because it's by far one of the best shooter for PS1 system.  

2 - O.N.E

     

One man, One solution, One state of mind. This game is simply called O.N.E for PS1, which was developed by Take Two Interactive's teams Visuals Concepts are known for various of 2K's Sport titles. It is a 3D Run N Gun game that you take control of John Cain, who suffered with his memory loss, awakens on the floor of an apartment building with a gun in place of one arm and escapes the buildings from the attack of the police helicopter. His goal is to battle and evade from military and police forces in order to survive the attack. 

The game features 6 mission levels to complete and the gameplay style is somewhat pretty similar to 3D Run N Gun titles such as Contra: Legacy of War and Millennium Solider: Expandables. What I liked about the combat in the game is the speed of firing attack which depends on rage rate of character's health. For example, if you shoot many of the enemies without damaging the player then your character's health increases the rage power allowing player to fire rapidly and the more powerful you can damage the enemies easily which is really cool ideas for Run N Gun genres. It has epic action stages with intense environment and excellent boss battles that will satisfy your Run N Gun experience. 

It may be hard to find game on online store due to bizarre name title on the cover and the price is raised up to £10, so you can able to get this game from Ebay faster before it's runs out of copy.  

1 - Silent Bomber 

          

Silent Bomber is a top-down action game for PS1, which was developed by CyberConnect who are well known for their gaming franchises such as .hack (simply pronounced Dothack) series and Naruto Series. The story starts off with war criminal named Jutah Fate being drafted into a covert military operation by his home planet of Hornet. His mission is to destroy a space cruiser called Dante that is threatening the planet.

The game borrows the similar arcade style gameplay like Bomberman series where the player blows the enemy up by using bombs instead of shooting. It has 14 levels to complete the game and your player has ability to detonate and blow the enemy by stacking many of bombs on the ground or launching them with lock-on recticle which is pretty straightforward to play and what makes the game interesting is that you can able to collect E-Chips to upgrade your character's ability which increases the bomb capacity lets you stack more bombs, the reticle range that improves the targeting distance and shields protection level that keeps the character's health last long which is very unique and creative for the game's genres. The game is considered to be hardest PS1 game I ever played, but I still really enjoying 14 epic action levels and fantastic boss battles that are worth for challenge. I liked the overall graphics design which is looked pretty good for PS1 hardware, it does have wicked soundtrack that fits the action of the game and overall decent story with cinematic design and characters in the game. 

I wish the developers team should able to make another sequel to such amazing game that nobody has played before, so it will cost in between £7.50 to £10 at the online store. This is one of the most obscure PS1 titles that everyone should must own this game.       

           

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