“VR mode is close to real life torture”
Name: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Released: 24, January 2017
Platform: PS4, PSVR, Xbox One, PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 4 & PlayStation VR
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is meant to set a new course for the series, while it also goes back to its roots. This is also the first Resident Evil game where we play in first person mode.
Unfortunately I had my hands on the game on for the PS4 with PSVR compatibility.
So how scary or good is Biohazard?
Story
The main story sets after the events of Resident Evil 6. Where we are introduced to the Baker family, who has been missing and have no contact to anyone anymore. We play as Ethan, his wife Mia went missing three years ago. And with a mysterious message from here, are now Ethan on a plantation in Louisiana trying to find and save his wife. But unfortunately this plantation are owned by the Baker family. Jack and Marguerite Baker just to mention two of them, psychopaths, crazy and cannibals is the nice description of these people. Along our search for Mia in the house, we discover a mysterious virus. Without spoiling to much for you, but yes we have to search for the virus. But hey, we get help by a girl named Zoe on the phone who seemingly says that she’s the daughter of Marguerite Baker. We can’t possible get into any problems now?
Graphics
The graphics in Biohazard are extremely well done. It’s almost way to realistic, the little details, animations and just the whole textures are realistic. The developer team here has done an incredible job to make sure that the graphics keeps the mood/setting in the game. There are few minor details on the little stuff, but that is just me trying to find something to pick on. But the textures, brightness and light effects are perfected.
Gameplay
The game comes with three different difficulties, easy, normal or madhouse. No matter what difficulty you choose, this game will scare the s*** out of you. The controllers are very basic and easy to learn, aiming and shooting controllers are a little clumsy sometimes.
My main issue with RE7: Biohazard is that this game is incredible fun and scary to play the first time. And around 15 hours gameplay it’s over. You can play the story again on higher difficulty, or play again to earn a different ending (found two different endings so far) or even just play again to collect all the collectibles. Another thing I reacted on, but in a frustrated good way is how challenging the game is. Some hard puzzles, special boss fights and so on. It is frustrating challenging and I like it. This remember me about the old times, when video games was hard to play.
VR Experience
Connect into a VR system and put in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in, here lies the main experience.
If you own a PlayStation VR (or other VR compatible system for this game), you should try to play this game. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is to this date the best video game on the VR for PlayStation. But there is a big but here, If you choose to play in VR mode I warn you. This game is terrifying when you play as normal, but once you put on the VR the adrenaline, feelings and experience is close to real life torture. It sure was fun for my girlfriend to watch me play in VR, so I took it slow regarding playing in VR.
The Verdict
Even though Resident Evil 7 plays outside it’s main storyline from the rest of the series, does this game hold a good standpoint. The attempt to run RE7 in first person mode will I say is successful. Playing the game normally is fun and terrifying, but the best experience lays in VR mode. A few minor details of graphics and aiming / shooting but not an issue. The replay value isn’t quite there for yourself, but ask friends and family who never had tried it yet and enjoy.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard keeps your adrenaline up all the time, the story is thrilling and exciting. “So welcome to the family, son!”
9/10
+ Realistic graphics
+ A true terrifying horror game
+ VR mode
– Replay value
– Aiming / Shooting can be little clumsy
