Capcom’s Attempt to Resurrect a Beloved Series a Striking Success?

Horror is a major genre within today’s entertainment industry - when it comes to video games - no series is more well known and loved than Capcom’s “Resident Evil.” From the first “Resident Evil”, fans were hooked by the game’s expertly integrated action and horror experience. Things were looking good for the series; however, things changed in 2012 - when “Resident Evil 6” was released. Fans were outraged, many claiming that Capcom was merely attempting a cash grab by ignoring true horror within its games for a more mainstreamed and action-packed experience. After seeing the backlash from its fans, Capcom decided to take some time and rethink their strategy for Resident Evil over the next 5 years. With the announcement of Resident Evil 7, Capcom heavily focused on revitalizing the series for its 20th anniversary.

Before I played Resident Evil 7, I was completely unaware of this series; however, after my first playthrough, I was hooked. You play as Ethan Winters for most of the game, your average joe who is searching for his wife--Mia--who’s been missing for three years. You receive a video, supposedly from Mia, telling you to come rescue her. You arrive at what appears to be an abandoned home and slowly begin your search for your wife. However, you quickly realize that something is seriously wrong with the house and the few inhabitants you encounter within.

One of the many things that this game does especially well is creating an atmosphere to immerse the player in. I’ve played this game countless times and every playthrough has me glued to the edge of my seat, jumping at every creak. Its jump-scares are sparse so it heavily focuses on using the player’s imagination against them - nothing is scarier than the unknown. The game’s use of a first-person perspective also greatly adds to the immersion as you don’t have the security of being able to see directly behind you at all times. More than once, the game had me bolting out of rooms after my character’s feet accidentally kicked something lying on the ground.

As you progress through the game, you are introduced to “the family,” the game’s main antagonists that you are at constant odds with throughout the game. There are also a few other enemies known as “Molded” that you encounter as well, these are “run-of-the-mill” enemies and act as bullet sponges. While initially the molded are genuinely scary, after awhile they become tedious to deal with especially in the latter sections of the game.

One of the main pillars of any good Resident Evil game is the lack of control and movement given to the player. So, when you actually do find a weapon to defend yourself, don’t expect to start landing headshots like you can in “Call of Duty”. All that being said, I love the shooting. I wouldn’t have it be any other way. The lack of control and movement really adds to the fear factor as you desperately attempt to land crucial headshots before you waste all of your bullets.

Verdict

From the moment you enter the eerie and mold ridden house to the final boss fight, this game will have you caught in its grasp. As you try to keep yourself from panicking as you expend your last bullet on a boss and are forced to evade it and search every nook and cranny for bullets. You will be enthralled by this game’s world, atmosphere, soundtrack, and enemies. The game is an excellent addition to the series and is a must have for anyone interested in horror.