--Mia Winters, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Just as Resident Evil 4 reinvented the Resident Evil franchise by replacing a fixed camera with third-person gameplay, Resident Evil 7 reinvents the series with its introduction of first-person mechanics. The new perspective allows for some terrifying moments in the immersive environments of the Baker household and the surrounding areas. The game does have problems--but they are minor by comparison to its successful elements. While many of the lines in the script are mediocre, despite being a great improvement over much of the dialogue in something like Resident Evil: Revelations 2 [1], the atmosphere is incredibly well-constructed. In fact, it is the game's greatest strength. It is thankfully maintained by a relentless sense of gravity that is devoid of the cheesy execution of several other Resident Evil games.
For the most part, character models look great, especially those for enemies. The Molded, a group of corrupted humans, are a potent example of this, but not every model looks so spectacular. Mia's hair looks strikingly unrealistic due to its unnatural movements and texturing, which seem outright ridiculous particularly when everything else has a normal appearance. The sound matches the visuals, with random noises preserving a tone of uncertainty. Is a sudden sound an indication that an enemy is nearby? Perhaps, but perhaps not; sometimes it seems as if there are footsteps in the area when there are no enemies around. The audio is in large part responsible for any sense of immersion players experience. One of the only issues with the sound is speech that does not correspond to onscreen mouth movements, though this problem seemed to only arise in the later half of the game.
Gameplay
A spectacular combination of combat and puzzles awaits players, and neither overshadows or detracts from the other. The smooth transitions from shooting to item hunting, or vice versa, facilitate the worldbuilding in a very natural way. The world of the game itself offers a variety of enemies that can be bothersome and intimidating, which are exactly what the enemies needed to be. When you start out, you have no weapons or medical objects. Consequently, the slightest confrontation can be lethal for your character. The lack of weaponry and equipment at the beginning contrasts with other recent entries in the series: Resident Evil 7 is not an action game, but a survival horror and exploration title. Nevertheless, Ethan wields a very full and dangerous arsenal by the end, so the vulnerability of the first 60-90 minutes is certainly not permanent.
The madness of the Baker house(s) can be endured, but everything from limited ammunition to dark, claustrophobic areas makes the house an unforgiving and dangerous place. Thankfully, there is a block mechanic that shields players from at least some damage, but direct attacks can still be costly. Details like this ensure that care is required when in the immediate presence of any enemy. It is possible to become better fortified against enemy attacks, thanks to health upgrades that can be obtained either by using collectible coins or by finding a secret location. Enhancements to health (and reload speed) are quite appreciated as the narrative unfolds.
Story
Spoilers!
Ethan Winters travels to a property in Louisiana after receiving a video message from his wife Mia, who vanished three years ago. The start of the story is somewhat laughable--Ethan is literally searching for a person who has been missing for a very long time by driving to a secluded part of Louisiana he has never visited prior and by entering a home (belonging to the Baker family) without permission from the owners. As soon as he finds his wife Mia still alive, though, the story becomes gloriously dark, thanks to the cannibalism and violence of the Bakers. As Ethan explores more of the house, he is contacted via phone by Zoe Baker, the one member of the family that has not collapsed into insanity. He defeats Jack Baker multiple times, the man and his family in possession of incredible regenerative abilities and superhuman strength. It becomes apparent that there is something abnormal about the family beyond their sadism. They are infected with something that horrendously alters their mental and physical states.
Ethan gathers materials for two cures with the help of instructions from Zoe, but he uses one to save himself from a grossly deformed Jack, and the other is administered to either Zoe or Mia, depending on player choice (the ending where Mia is saved seems to be the canon outcome, as evidenced by DLC). A subsequent revelation shows why Mia was in the house. Years ago, she was involved in a bioweapons corporation that enabled a young girl named Eveline to be capable of telepathy, mind control, and the use of an infection to corrupt other living organisms and turn them into the Molded. After the bioweapon escaped, she was found by the Bakers, whose home she was taken to. After confronting Eveline in the attic of the Baker house, Ethan is given a powerful weapon by a man who later identifies himself as Redfield, a member of a team dispatched by Umbrella to contain the situation. If Mia was saved, both of the Winters leave the area by helicopter.
Yes, Chris Redfield is now working with Umbrella, but the nature of this is detailed in the DLC expansion titled Not a Hero, which I will likely review along with the other Resident Evil 7 DLC in the near future.
Intellectual Content
The emphasis on puzzles and exploration is a welcome thing for players who appreciate intellectual challenges. There is even a fair degree of variation in the activities that require concentrated thinking. Solving shadow puzzles, evading enemies, and recalling where to use certain keys are among these tasks. Although there are no major conceptual themes present, the nature of the gameplay and progression through the story inherently calls for strategy and contemplation.
Conclusion
I unhesitatingly recommend Resident Evil 7 to anyone who savors a sense of isolation, powerlessness, and dread. From the suspense to the puzzles, so many aspects of the game are executed with excellence, and the mediocre or problematic areas pale in comparison. This is certainly one of the best horror experiences to be found in all of gaming up to this point. I sincerely hope that the next Resident Evil sequel is this atmospheric and frightening!
Content:
1. Violence: Killing enemies with various firearms (or a knife) results in explosions of a blood-like substance from their heads, at least when the fatal shots/blows land on their skulls.
2. Profanity: Ethan uses strong profanity on occasion, as do the Bakers.
[1]. https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2018/12/game-review-resident-evil-revelations-2.html
No comments:
Post a Comment