Welcome Back: Resident Evil 7

Yes, barring light-gun shooters and extra game modes (I'm looking at you, Code Veronica), this is the series' first major foray into First-Person; and it does a pretty amazing job at it! Controls are pretty tight and responsive, which is what you'll need when you're running away from the things that you meet, be it the tenants of the home, known as the Bakers, or this game's version of “zombie”, known as the Molded. The shooting feels great in that you'll actually get to SHOOT monsters in the head, instead of aiming up and hoping for the best! And being able to look around in the first person (and examine items in 3d, which is still a thing) gives a new twist to solving puzzles. And trust me; you'll need this on some of the more deadlier ones. The game also has a sort of built-in hint system in the form of videos, that are scattered in different parts of the house; most of these are optional. While they share the lore of what has happened within the house, there's also considerable hints as for what to do when these puzzles come up. Afterward, it's up to your wits to solve them; especially considering one such tape is...well, you'll see for yourself, should you play the game :3. The overall atmosphere of the game is downright unsettling, as it truly feels like you're nigh alone in this house, with almost no-one to turn to, except for maybe one person and your wife (from time to time). There aren't that many musical moments as you're exploring the house, so you have either the sounds of your own footsteps, clocks, or...unnatural sounds to keep you company. The game does a real good job at holding it's monster cards until it's time to show them, which amps up the apprehension of moving through the house, since you don't know just what might pop up; although you may have an idea when you cross by certain...moldy branches...which is probably one of the ways to describe them. And when the monsters DO show up, they're quite effective in their arrival. Many aspects of the Resident Evil series are in full force in this game; outside of obscure and direct references to the series, classic items and game mechanics return. Herbs, EKG meters, knives, item boxes and item management, guns and more guns, horrific-and, at times, over the top-monsters, traps, convoluted mansions all make their return, and then some. I'd even argue and say that it wouldn't be a Resident Evil game without them. What it does well is really bring back the idea of survival horror, for if you're not careful, you can run out of ammo quickly, as well as healing items...at literally the worst possible moment. So item management and monster dodging (or efficient slaying: HEADSHOTS, YO!) will be your best friend as you run through this game.Though I haven't finished RE7's story, I gotta say I do find it pretty cool and, also, still pretty down to Earth compared to the story of previous RE's. Most of what Ethan does is him basically trying to survive the horrors, and his reactions to some of the things he meets range from surprise, to fear. As he goes on through the story, however, he, like other protagonists in the Resident Evil series, starts to adapt to the horrors that he sees, though he's still glad to be rid of them once he either deals with them, or avoids them outright. We get to see the effects that this game's particular virus has on the family, and how it's...changed them. They're still very coherent, and they're still...living their daily lives, but you can tell that they are changed for the worst. As you encounter them, you'll soon realize that it's changed for much...much...worse.