Title: Video Game Review: Resident Evil 7... High 5
Author: Constantine104
Recovered Author: www.facebook.com/104constantine
Published Date: 2017-02-10
Original URL: https://geeknode.co.za/2017/02/video-game-review-resident-evil-7-high-5
Wayback URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20170706093926id_/http://www.geeknode.co.za/2017/02/video-game-review-resident-evil-7-high-5/
Recovery Confidence: high
Categories: Video Game Review
Tags: biohazard, Capcom, Constantine104, Resident Evil, resident evil 7, video game review
Notes: Author normalized from archived handle: www.facebook.com/104constantine

- Developer Capcom
- Publisher Capcom
- Genre Puzzle
- Game modes Single Player
- Reviewed on Playstation 4

- Available on PC, Xbox One

- Constantine104

- 5 months ago

- 0 0

If I think back to games from my past that really stand out, and I’d even go as far as to say they are reasons for me sitting here writing this review right now, then there are three definite game franchises that stand out.

When I was a small child it was the Kings Quest games, they were responsible for lighting the fire of my love for adventure games. Then when I got older it was the Final Fantasy series, these games made me fall in love with and completely immerse myself in a whole new world. Then finally there was the Silent Hill collection, I fell in love with them because of how they could make me FEEL. For the first time in my life, a game came along that made my heart race, my hands sweat and my breathing catch – I felt like I was there living in this terrifying world myself.

But what does any of that have to do with Resident Evil 7?

Absolutely everything.

Resident Evil 7 went and captured the reasons that I loved all of these other games, and brought that together in one exciting package – and yes, it’s every bit as good as you’d expect.

Now firstly, I’ve tried to make this review as ‘spoiler free’ as possible, but it is a review so… just be warned. Okay now I don’t think Resident Evil 7 is perfect, not by any means, but I do think that it’s the best game to come out of the franchise in years and it’s definitely paved a golden path for the future of the series.

Let’s first get all the things that bugged me about it off my chest.

I think the game was over hyped, boo me all you want but its true.

Now to clarify, I don’t think that the game was over hyped in terms of how much fun it is (because it definitely rocks a solid 9.5 on the fun scale) but I feel like people made to much fuss about how scary it is. Playing it in VR? Terrifying, playing it on Console or PC? Not so much.

One of the reasons that I loved this game as much as I did was because of how atmospheric it was, it seemed to have taken a page right out of Silent Hills book when it came to setting up this ominous scene, but even so, it just wasn’t scary as much as it was creepy. Now that’s not to say that it didn’t have its moments, because it did. I flinched, jumped and cringed like the best of them, but it was just that, moments.

And you know what? Honestly, and this comes from a self-proclaimed horror movie/game junky, I don’t think that the game being creepy with just moments of fright holds it back even slightly, in fact, I think that is one of the things that makes the game as good as it is. I never found myself reaching a limit or wanting to put the game off, instead, I binged played it over a weekend-well into the dark of night and just let the story envelop me entirely.

Then there are two, maybe three, things that I didn’t really love.

Related Article PlayStation 4 - The Art of War

Number 1:

It can be linear. If you don’t understand what I mean, I’m talking about hitting an invisible wall that stops you from going beyond certain points and forcing you along this predestined path. Now when you are inside, it’s really not an issue, you can forget about it very quickly because you EXPECT to be surrounded by things that stop you from having free roam, but the moment you go outside it becomes painfully obvious. Bushes will just stop you from getting too close, and places that seem accessible will be blocked by these invisible fields. But, even though it bugged me, and I feel like they could have hidden it from me in a lot more ingenious ways (fences, gates, rubble etc) it’s really not a deal breaker, your trips to the outdoors are fleeting and you’re usually so distracted by your need to survive that you don’t particularly want to spend more time outside in the dark than you need to.

Number 2:

If you’re like me and grew up on adventure games then you are probably going to want to explore as much of the game as you can before just rushing through the story, now the problem with this is that you are probably going to find yourself finding things before the game actually wants you too. For example, you might find the blueprints of how to make a Flamethrower but only after you’ve explored a side room and found, assembled, and most likely used said Flamethrower already. Again, not really a deal breaker and I didn’t think this took away from my game experience any, but I definitely think that if you only plan on playing the game through once, and you aren’t all that bothered with achievements, then rather follow the story and let yourself explore that way.

Number 3:

My last negative is going to feel like a very salty negative, but it’s a negative all the same. It’s the heavy focus on VR that the game has. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that they brought a real, full, AAA title to VR and that it was a focus for them, I really do, BUT with the boss fights, mainly the end boss, in particular, it really feels like you’re missing out and that it’s just not as spectacular experience as it can be, by not playing it in VR…

But that’s really not the games fault… I blame my empty pockets entirely… Damn my Rabbits for eating so much.

Now for everything that the game did right:

As I’ve said the atmosphere is simply amazing. I loved it. Everything from the music, ambient noise, to the AMAZING visuals and voice acting, its all only further complimented and brought to life by the amazingly terrifying location that it’s all set in.

I remember back in the day when the clumsy controls were the reason you were scared in a Resident Evil game, the controls made sure you were rendered powerless, but this time around it’s just not like that.

This time, the world and the characters in it, are what keeps you panicking, this time it’s personal. I firmly believe that the move to the first person is the best move that the franchise has made, Resident Evil 7 feels brand new and different, yet somehow still like Resident Evil. It kept everything good, went and refined it and made it better. There are puzzles to solve and bosses to fight, and while they’re challenging they also aren’t hard. They are there to compliment the game and give you a sense of accomplishment rather than hold you back for long stretches of time.

Related Article Review: Beat Cop is a satirical cop-out

This is the Resident Evil game that Resident Evil was always supposed to be.

They really did keep true to the heart and feeling of what Resident Evil always was, there are just so many nods to the games past that you come across while playing. Resident Evil 7 isn’t out here trying to be Silent Hill or The Evil Within or any other horror game, it’s out here being the Resident Evil that it’s parents always believed it could be.

Resident Evil games have always been brilliant at how they tell the story of the game beyond just what you see in the cutscenes and Resident Evil 7 is no different, I can’t even tell you how much of the time I spent playing was spent reading newspaper clipping, diaries and looking at old photos scattered around the world, trying my best to uncover the story before the game told it to me, arguing with myself about what’s going on only to constantly find myself grasping at straws and needing to know more. But you don’t need to, you can easily play through the game without reading anything much – all of that is there to give you more, to be that little bit extra that brings this story to life, and I love it.

Resident Evil 7 is the most fun I remember having, not just in a Resident Evil title, but in any survival horror in a good long while. It gave me a full weekend of pure entertainment, tension, suspense, and fun.

Also, there is a free DLC coming in the Fall, called Not A Hero – could there be more to the story than what is uncovered by the end?

Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

If I think back to games from my past that really stand out, and I'd even go as far as to say they are reasons for me sitting here writing this review right now, then there are three definite game franchises that stand out. When I was a small child it was the Kings Quest games, they were responsible for lighting the fire of my love for adventure games. Then when I got older it was the Final Fantasy series, these games made me fall in love with and completely immerse myself in a whole new world. Then finally there was the Silent Hill collection, I fell in love with them because of how they could make me FEEL. For the first time in my life, a game came along that made my heart race, my hands sweat and my breathing catch - I felt like I was there living in this terrifying world myself. But what does any of that have to do with Resident Evil 7? Absolutely everything. Resident Evil 7 went and captured the reasons that I loved all of these other games, and brought that together in one exciting package - and yes, it's every bit as good as you'd expect. Now firstly, I've tried to make this review as 'spoiler free' as possible, but it is a review so... just be warned. Okay now I don't think Resident Evil 7 is perfect, not by any means, but I do think that it's the best game to come out of the franchise in years and it's definitely paved a golden path for the future of the series. Let's first get all the things that bugged me about it off my chest. I think the game was over hyped, boo me all you want but its true. Now to clarify, I don't think that the game was over hyped in terms of how much fun it is (because it definitely rocks a solid 9.5 on the fun scale) but I feel like people made to much fuss about how scary it is. Playing it in VR? Terrifying, playing it on Console or PC? Not so much. One of the reasons that I loved this game as much as I did was because of how atmospheric it was, it seemed to have taken a page right out of Silent Hills book when it came to setting up this ominous scene, but even so, it just wasn't scary as much as it was creepy. Now that's not to say that it didn't have its moments, because it did. I flinched, jumped and cringed like the best of them, but it was just that, moments. And you know what? Honestly, and this comes from a self-proclaimed horror movie/game junky, I don't think that the game being creepy with just moments of fright holds it back even slightly, in fact, I think that is one of the things that makes the game as good as it is. I never found myself reaching…

Video Game Review: Resident Evil 7… High 5

Video Game Review: Resident Evil 7… High 5

2017-02-10

Constantine104

Total

Total - 9

90
9

If you're a fan of the series I would definitely pick it up, and if you aren't - then this might just be the game to win you over.

Related Article DiRT 4: How Codemasters code their groove back

User Rating: 4.8 ( 1 votes)

9

The following two tabs change content below. - Bio
- Latest Posts

Constantine104

Arielle "Constantine104" Pieterse, is a walking, talking, breathing contradiction to the age old insult that girls can't game. Yes she's for at playing The Sims, but she's also pro at other games... Or so she's said. She is a co-host of the NAG podcast and the full-host of a YouTube channel that can be found somewhere on the Internet machine. Her mother is her biggest fan, and her only viewer.

Latest posts by Constantine104 ( see all )

-
Video Game Review: Alwa’s Awakening - April 7, 2017

-
Video Game Review: Ghost Blade HD - March 24, 2017

-
Comic Book Review: Wayward Vol. 2 - March 20, 2017

-
Video Game Review: Zelda – Breath of the Wild - March 15, 2017

-
Competition: Join us as we watch Ghost in the Shell on the big screen [Closed] - March 14, 2017

Article Tags:
biohazard · Capcom · Constantine104 · Resident Evil · resident evil 7 · video game review

Article Categories:
Video Game Review
