RESIDENT EVIL 7: Welcome to the Family.
Gameplay
I recently got into the Resident Evil series with Resident Evil Requiem being my first game, and after doing some digging around, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard quickly stood out as an entry that seems to hold a special place in the hearts of many longtime fans. After finally playing it myself, I can definitely see why.
The gameplay follows the classic survival horror formula. You’ll spend most of your time exploring creepy environments, hiding from threats, sneaking past enemies when possible, and running for your life when things inevitably go wrong. As you progress, you’ll gradually build up an arsenal of weapons, while crafting becomes an important part of staying alive. Managing your resources, deciding what to craft, and making every bullet count all add to the tension. Truth be told, nobody really plays games like this because they expect groundbreaking gameplay mechanics. The atmosphere, storytelling, and sense of dread are what carry the experience, but that doesn’t mean the gameplay shouldn’t be polished. Fortunately, the gunplay feels satisfying throughout, but it also feels a tad bit easy and some of the sections could def have been a bit harder then they were.
If I had to point something out though, it would be the boss fights. They tend to be a little too simplistic and never quite reach the intensity I was hoping for. And the same can be said about the puzzles. They require no thought at all. Neither issue hurts the experience in a major way, but a bit more challenge and refined systems here could have elevated the game even further.
📕 STORY
Resident Evil 7 doesn’t waste any time pulling you in. The story starts with Ethan Winters receiving a mysterious message from his wife Mia, who has been missing for years. With no other leads, he travels to an abandoned plantation in rural Louisiana, only to find himself trapped in a nightmare.
One thing I really liked is how grounded the story feels. Instead of immediately throwing you into some world-ending disaster, it focuses on one location, one family, and the mystery surrounding them. That smaller scale makes everything feel more personal, and it helps move the story forward in a natural and satisfying way. The game feeds you just enough information to keep you curious without revealing too much too soon. I wouldn’t say this is the deepest or most emotional story you’ll ever experience, but it doesn’t need to be. It knows exactly what it’s trying to do, and it does it well. After finishing the game, I completely understood why so many Resident Evil fans still hold this one in such high regard.
🔈 Sound
The audio does a fantastic job of bringing the horror to life. The ambient audio really stood out to me. Hearing floorboards creak, footsteps in the distance, or random noises somewhere in the house constantly made me feel uneasy. There were more than a few times where I stopped for a second just to listen before deciding if it was safe to keep going.
The voice acting is also very good, especially from the Baker family. They do a fantastic job of making encounters feel unsettling or creepy. While the soundtrack isn’t something I’ll remember years from now, it does exactly what it needs to do and complements the atmosphere perfectly. Overall, the audio is a huge reason why Resident Evil 7 works so well as a horror game. It doesn’t only rely on loud music or cheap tricks to scare you. Instead, it builds a constant feeling of unease from the moment you enter the Baker estate.
Visuals
By today’s standards, the graphics aren’t exactly going to blow anyone away, but let’s be fair here, Resident Evil 7 is almost nine years old. Keeping that in mind, the game has aged surprisingly well. Capcom’s RE Engine does a fantastic job of creating a photorealistic and deeply unsettling atmosphere, with the Baker estate feeling dirty, claustrophobic, and genuinely uncomfortable to explore.
The environments are easily the strongest part of the visuals. The lighting, environmental detail, and overall art direction work together to create a constant sense of tension that rarely lets up. There are definitely a few signs of the game’s age. Some textures can look a little blurry, and a handful of character models don’t quite hold up under close inspection. Even so, those issues are easy to overlook because the atmosphere is so well crafted. Resident Evil 7 shows that good art direction can keep a game looking great long after the graphics themselves have started to age.
Resident Evil 7 is simply a great horror game. Other than the visuals showing their age in a few places, it’s surprisingly easy to forget that this game is almost nine years old. It still feels remarkably modern, and that’s a testament to just how well the game was designed. For me, the setting is easily the standout. Exploring the Baker estate was an incredible experience, and I honestly enjoyed it even more than the setting in Resident Evil Requiem. It constantly keeps you on edge and does an amazing job of making you feel isolated and uncomfortable.
The game isn’t perfect. I would have liked to see more challenging boss fights and puzzles that required a bit more thought, but those shortcomings are easy to overlook. Resident Evil 7 gets far more right than it does wrong, and after finally playing it myself, I completely understand why so many fans rank it among the best games in the series.
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