Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Looks To Usher In A New Era

In 1996, video game aficionados came to experience a new game that would come to redefine the survival horror genre as we know it today, Resident Evil. While known for the terror and atmosphere it created, along with its terrible voice acting, Resident Evil would go on to be an immensely popular product that began a brand new series. Twenty years later, computer technology has advanced so much that designers can create vast new worlds that are nearly photo realistic. With the Electronic Entertainment Expo in full swing, bringing us the delights of new products and incredible technology. One of these new products is the latest game in the Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

E3 is the first time that Resident Evil 7 was confirmed to be in production, along with this they not only had a teaser trailer but a demo as well. This new chapter in the series seems to be a return to its survival horror roots, with less emphasis on action and more emphasis on horror. The trailer is dark and gritty along with a disgusting aesthetic that is reminiscent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It is entirely centered on a farmhouse and is littered with creepy and disturbing images that provoke our fears and inspires investigation.  Along with the trailer for Resident Evil 7, there is a downloadable demo that is available now on the PlayStation 4. It is only available to PlayStation plus members but it is worth checking out if you are brave enough or want to get a taste of the beautifully grotesque world that Capcom is creating. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is still in its infancy with a release date set for some time in 2017. This means that Resident Evil fans, including myself, have plenty of time to wait and ponder where Capcom is taking one of their flagship properties.

I have been a fan of this series from the moment that I placed the original Resident Evil’s game disc into my PlayStation. The sense of dread and painful fear about what lurks behind the door once I open it. To the moment everyone remembers of the dogs jumping through the windows on your way through a corridor. Fear bled out of the TV screen and made all of us run through a dark hallway in a desperate attempt to turn on the light. These are fond memories and experiences that I still enjoy to this day. Even as the series has shifted towards a more action oriented style of game play, I truly love the Resident Evil series.

As soon as my YouTube feed announced the new trailer for Resident Evil 7 I was like a kid again, awaiting the arrival of Resident Evil 2. After watching the trailer I was blown away by how beautiful and polished everything looks. Even this early on the game is stunning and a feast for the eyes, from the character animations to the horribly disgusting farmhouse, everything looks fantastic. This, however, is when I noticed that this does not feel like a Resident Evil game. We are still so early on that there is a good possibility that this is mainly a tech and atmosphere demo rather than how the finished game play will be. I still cannot help but be disappointed by how it feels like many of the new survival horror games such as Outlast or the Slender series. These are great games but they’re nothing like what Resident Evil should be. So far there is nothing that in these two pieces of marketing that reminds me of Resident Evil, aside from the name itself. There is no Umbrella Corporation or S.T.A.R.S, there appears to be no zombies or zombie like creatures. It appears to have no ties to the Resident Evil universe at all. It truly seems to be embracing its survival horror roots which is fantastic, but this could mean they are changing everything. It’s too early to tell what the final product will be like, for now all we can do is wait and see. Have you seen the trailer or played the demo, if so, what are your thoughts on Resident Evil 7? Is it good that they are doing something completely different? Are you more or less excited for this possible new era of the franchise? Leave a comment down below and let’s discuss all the good bad and ugly of the series and its upcoming releases.