RE7 was the only Resident Evil I have played before doing this massive series playthrough. I got it around launch because it was marketed as being very standalone. So this review is a retrospective with the added benefit of knowing it's context in the greater series.
It's almost a cliche to say that RE7 brings things back to basics for the franchise, but it does. This is a very small horror story, one smaller than the first game, and it's about survival and escape before any concept of international intrigue and bioterrorism. The game feels wildly fresh just by doing the shit that made Resident Evil famous, a true shocker for all involved.
It wears the influences of hillbilly horror on its sleeve with homages and sometimes direct callouts to Texas Chainsaw, Evil Dead, and Hills Have Eyes. The Baker family is a shot of personality into what was becoming a fairly sterile franchise. They ride the line beautifully between true horror and camp enjoyment. Yes, you don't want to be locked in a room with any of them, but you can't help but want to watch what they do next.
The game is the scariest it's been since REmake, maybe scarier. Even on this 2nd playthrough the sequences where I know I'm safe still have me unnerved because the sound design makes it clear that you are never alone on the Baker property.
Many say that the game falls apart in the last act, once you've dispatched the Bakers and turn to the true villain (who's twist reveal is the best in the series). Last time I played I agreed with that, but this time it didn't bug me as much. If the game is too long, it's only by an hour or so. The experience goes by super quick if you're not scouring the environment for every possible advantage.
My complaints are minimal. I think it could have used more enemy variety, the blood splatter on the screen showing your level of damage is obnoxious, and I think a lot of the gore and goo effects already look dated.
I love Ethan Winters so much.
It's almost a cliche to say that RE7 brings things back to basics for the franchise, but it does. This is a very small horror story, one smaller than the first game, and it's about survival and escape before any concept of international intrigue and bioterrorism. The game feels wildly fresh just by doing the shit that made Resident Evil famous, a true shocker for all involved.
It wears the influences of hillbilly horror on its sleeve with homages and sometimes direct callouts to Texas Chainsaw, Evil Dead, and Hills Have Eyes. The Baker family is a shot of personality into what was becoming a fairly sterile franchise. They ride the line beautifully between true horror and camp enjoyment. Yes, you don't want to be locked in a room with any of them, but you can't help but want to watch what they do next.
The game is the scariest it's been since REmake, maybe scarier. Even on this 2nd playthrough the sequences where I know I'm safe still have me unnerved because the sound design makes it clear that you are never alone on the Baker property.
Many say that the game falls apart in the last act, once you've dispatched the Bakers and turn to the true villain (who's twist reveal is the best in the series). Last time I played I agreed with that, but this time it didn't bug me as much. If the game is too long, it's only by an hour or so. The experience goes by super quick if you're not scouring the environment for every possible advantage.
My complaints are minimal. I think it could have used more enemy variety, the blood splatter on the screen showing your level of damage is obnoxious, and I think a lot of the gore and goo effects already look dated.
I love Ethan Winters so much.