Resident Evil 6 was an action packed, globe-trotting adventure that alienated fans of traditional horror games, however Resident Evil 7 brings the series back to its secluded horror roots.
The game stars Ethan Winters, a man searching for his missing wife. Ethan’s journey leads him to a plantation in Louisiana that belongs to the reclusive Baker family. This decision ends up being a big mistake as the Bakers abduct Ethan and force him to join their “family.”
Resident Evil 7 drastically changes the gameplay from the rest of the series as this entry is in the first-person perspective. The player can explore the plantation and use weapons such as guns and a handy pocket knife to defend themselves.
Despite the change from third-person gameplay to first-person, this game has the feel of classic Resident Evil. The player can find items such as herbs and gun powder and craft first aid medicine and ammo. Players can rest and store items they want to use later in save rooms which is a series staple.
Puzzle solving returns to this installment, as players will need to complete objectives. These objectives include finding animal themed keys to access locked parts of the property or solving a riddle in the Baker family’s odd coroner room.
Stalker enemies return in Resident Evil 7 and take the form of husband and wife team Jack and Marguerite Baker. Jack will chase the player with a big metal shovel in the main mansion while Marguerite will send mutated bugs she controls to attack the player in a hurricane damaged building called “The Old House.”
Players can defend themselves against the couple, but they can’t take them out during these sequences. Despite being human in appearance, the Bakers can regenerate from any of Ethan’s attacks. The player will have to complete their objectives while the couple is trying to find them.
Regular enemies take the form of the Molded. These monstrosities are a combination of deceased humans and a toxic mold that the Bakers seem to be under the influence of. These creatures can be seen all over the Baker plantation and the surrounding swamp.
Another big addition to Resident Evil 7 is Virtual Reality support. The entire game can be played in VR, but this feature is only available on the PS4 version which utilizes PlayStation VR.
Resident Evil 7 has a ton of extra content for those who have beat the game. The unlockable Madhouse difficulty mode will change enemy and item placement. This will also restrict game saving and make enemies substantially tougher.
Resident Evil 7 has an array of DLC (Downloadable Content) for players to enjoy. The free “Not a Hero DLC” stars Resident Evil veteran Chris Redfield. He is tasked with tracking down Lucas Baker, the insane son of Jack and Marguerite.
The “End of Zoe” DLC is about Joe Baker, retired soldier and Jack Baker’s surprisingly less crazy brother. Joe is tasked with rescuing his niece from a new mold themed monster called The Swamp Man.
“The Banned Footage DLC” series contains a bunch of challenges involving the Baker family and their victims. One involves Lucas Baker forcing people to play a dangerous game of Blackjack while another shows the Baker family before they were crazy and the transition that made them the villains of the main game.
Resident Evil 7 has sold 7.5 million copies as of May 2020. It is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A streamed Cloud version of the game was released on Nintendo Switch, but it is only available in Japan.
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