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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