Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
- January 23, 2017
- CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
- 9h median play time
Despite being a reboot for the series, Resident Evil VII’s return to survival horror is both familiar and fresh, and it’s easily the best horror game in years.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard brings the survival horror series to a first-person perspective, immersing players in a terrifying experience set in a derelict plantation mansion. As Ethan Winters, search for your missing wife while encountering the Baker family and unravelling a horrifying conspiracy. Gameplay focuses on exploration, resource management, and puzzle-solving while combating grotesque enemies.
Reviews
- story9,494 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Resident Evil 7 is widely praised for its engaging and immersive narrative, focusing on Ethan Winters' harrowing journey to rescue his wife, Mia, from the twisted Baker family. Players appreciate the well-crafted atmosphere, character development, and unexpected plot twists that keep them invested throughout the game. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a lack of connection to previous Resident Evil titles, the overall consensus is that the story successfully revitalizes the franchise with a fresh perspective and compelling storytelling.
“Great story, great atmosphere and setting with a well-polished gameplay.”
“With its brilliantly designed compact but diverse world, remarkable characters that get ever more interesting with each level and an amazing original story, Resident Evil 7 is a genre-defying masterpiece.”
“The story is extremely immersive.”
“This is a full on shooter where if you don't manage your resources correctly you are gonna run out of options very soon and get stuck without any way to advance the story.”
“In conclusion the combat is just too frustrating and it only takes away from the horror experience and story.”
“The story is a complete mess, it isn't related to the franchise in any way, it's a mix between Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Evil Dead and F.E.A.R.”
- gameplay4,260 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" has received a mix of praise and criticism, with many players appreciating its return to classic survival horror mechanics, such as resource management, exploration, and puzzle-solving, all enhanced by a first-person perspective that heightens immersion and tension. However, some reviews point out issues with sluggish controls, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of enemy variety, particularly in the latter parts of the game, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is generally regarded as a successful revitalization of the franchise, blending traditional elements with modern gameplay innovations.
“Great story, great atmosphere and setting with a well-polished gameplay.”
“The gameplay in Resident Evil 7 is a perfect combination of survival and action.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Resident Evil 7 strike a perfect balance between tension and action.”
“Great story and atmosphere but the controls (gameplay and UI) for mouse and keyboard are horrible.”
“The gameplay largely consists of navigating through a maze-like Texas Chainsaw Massacre-inspired house looking for items and keys while bizarre murderous rednecks and gooey, vaguely humanoid blob monsters chase you.”
“The gameplay has been turned into a wannabe movie with far too many scripted events, slow walking sections, and cutscenes that you can't skip.”
- graphics3,555 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Resident Evil 7" are widely praised for their stunning realism and atmospheric detail, effectively enhancing the horror experience. Many players note the game's photorealistic visuals, particularly in indoor environments, while some textures can appear dated or low-resolution in certain areas. Overall, the game is considered visually impressive, with a strong emphasis on creating a tense and immersive atmosphere that keeps players engaged throughout.
“The graphics are stunning and the environment/art is fantastically disgusting.”
“The graphics add to the immersion, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The game's atmospheric presentation is one of its greatest strengths, with haunting visuals, chilling sound design, and masterful use of lighting and shadow to create an oppressive sense of dread and tension.”
“The graphics in Resident Evil 7 can occasionally show their age, with some textures appearing low-resolution compared to others.”
“The graphics seemed dated even for 2017, which was my biggest issue with the game, that as well as pacing, and not porting the VR version to PC upon release of the PlayStation VR version.”
“The atmosphere is also ruined for me because the dull color scheme and overall graphics of the game look... just terrible.”
- atmosphere3,295 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout the game. Players appreciate the game's detailed graphics, sound design, and the first-person perspective, which enhance the eerie environment of the Baker family's estate. While some reviews note a decline in atmospheric intensity in the latter parts of the game, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for horror enthusiasts.
“The game's atmospheric presentation is one of its greatest strengths, with haunting visuals, chilling sound design, and masterful use of lighting and shadow to create an oppressive sense of dread and tension.”
“The atmosphere is oppressive, and there's this constant feeling of dread as you never know what's lurking around the corner.”
“The atmosphere of the game is so thick you could cut it with a knife.”
“The fear of the unknown lurking around each corner of the baker family house adds to the intense atmosphere.”
- music797 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in Resident Evil 7 is noted for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many players praising the haunting soundtrack and effective use of ambient sounds that contribute to a sense of dread and tension. While some tracks, like the safe room music and the main theme "Go Tell Aunt Rhody," are highlighted as memorable, others feel underutilized or forgettable, leading to mixed opinions on the overall soundtrack. Overall, the sound design is considered a strong point, effectively complementing the game's horror elements and immersive experience.
“The music and sounds in Resident Evil 7 greatly enhance the immersive experience.”
“The atmosphere is breathtaking, so is the soundtrack.”
“The music hits the spot really well too; the safe room music is straight up majestic, and the music when fighting off enemies heightens the tension of the grimy environments and enemies themselves.”
“Music barely existing, get ready to hear some ambience a whole lot.”
“Voices would suddenly stop, then resume with a 3 second delay, music would cut out, silence, voices back, two voices playing over one another...totally ruined the intro for me.”
“Additionally, the soundtrack is barely noticeable.”
- replayability749 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its multiple endings, unlockable content, and challenging modes like "Madhouse," which enhance replay value. However, many reviewers express disappointment in the overall replayability, citing a lack of engaging content after the initial playthrough and the presence of unskippable cutscenes that detract from the experience. While some find it highly replayable due to achievements and DLC, others feel it falls short compared to previous titles in the Resident Evil series.
“Great characters, epic replayability, just all around solid experience.”
“This game is awesome with lots of replayability and tons of extra content.”
“The dlcs are great and they make the game even more replayable - thus absolutely making it worth the purchase.”
“This game sucks ass... fr capcom wtf... zero replayability!”
“I'm happy this game happened so we can get more resident evil, but frankly, this game lacks replayability and loses its charm once you finish it the first time.”
“I would only recommend it if it comes cheap, because despite everything it's still entertaining on the first playthrough, but beyond that the game has no replay value at all - unless you happen to be a fan of lame and stupid repetition of course.”
- optimization685 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older systems, while others report significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly when transitioning between areas. Some users have noted that the game is well-optimized for low-end PCs, but others have experienced problems related to VRAM usage and the implementation of DRM, which can negatively impact performance. Overall, while the game showcases impressive graphics and performance for many, it is marred by optimization challenges for certain configurations.
“The optimization is superb and I heard that this is the first RE game that uses the new RE engine, the same engine as the newer RE games on the list.”
“My GPU is about 6 years under par for this game and yet I still get decent visual settings with nearly unseen drops. I don’t know what they did to make the engine so optimized, but they made it great.”
“Performance - 10/10 || one of the best optimized games I've ever experienced on PC.”
“They added malware that intentionally broke mod support and community bugfixes and noticeably lowers performance.”
“The optimization is god awful, absolute baboon coding.”
“Horrible fps drops and the overall performance and optimization in this is just the worst I have ever encountered.... I may not have the most modern computer but if I can run Battlefield 5 smoothly I should be able to run this game.”
- humor348 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with horror elements effectively. Players appreciate the absurdity of situations, particularly the quirky dialogue and memorable characters like Jack Baker, who is both terrifying and hilariously entertaining. The game manages to evoke laughter amidst fear, creating a unique experience that resonates with fans of both horror and humor.
“The bakers definitely make up for any downsides I could think of with being such amazing antagonists, being both terrifying and hilarious as hell in the creepiest way possible.”
“This is my favorite Resident Evil game, right behind the fourth installment; it mixes humor and horror together so perfectly.”
“The small cast of characters are so comical that when they are serious to you and chasing after you, it is funny because their lines are silly but terrifying because of what they are capable of.”
“The game devolves into a really poorly conceived, unfunny, and tedious joke about rednecks and B-horror films.”
“The humor falls flat, relying on tired stereotypes and lacking any real wit or creativity.”
“What was intended to be funny ends up feeling forced and cringeworthy, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- grinding258 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Common complaints include repetitive backtracking, unskippable cutscenes, and lengthy boss battles that feel more like chores than challenges. While some players found moments of fun, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game requires excessive grinding, leading to a desire for a more streamlined experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Loots and item management is not tedious; you need to keep your eyes peeled and search every nook and corner for supplies and ammunition.”
“I had fun; I wasn't grinding over and over doing restarts too often.”
“So the fight was just frustrating and tedious and sucked any fun I may have been having right out of the game.”
“It was fun at first, but completely and utterly tedious and mind-numbing after a while.”
“The puzzles weren't puzzles, but a bunch of tedious fetch games that are pointless.”
- emotional222 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Resident Evil 7" is highlighted by its well-developed characters and a deeply engaging storyline that evokes a wide range of feelings, from fear and disgust to empathy and heartbreak. Players often describe the game as an emotional roller coaster, with moments that resonate long after gameplay, particularly the tragic backstory of the Baker family. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth in the protagonist, the overall narrative and immersive voice acting contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact.
“The well-developed characters, intriguing plot twists, and emotional depth offer a memorable journey that stays with you long after you've finished playing.”
“The emotional moments really got to me, especially the final scene with Jack.”
“The story is psychologically twisted and emotionally heartbreaking, the characters feel authentic and the game in and of itself is beautiful in terms of map design and the atmosphere they managed to create.”
- stability180 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates on various hardware setups, while others have encountered significant bugs, glitches, and freezing issues. Some users noted that the game runs well overall but experienced occasional stuttering and minor glitches, particularly during boss fights or when alt-tabbing. Despite the positive visuals and gameplay, the presence of persistent bugs has led to frustration among players, suggesting that stability remains a concern for many.
“The game runs great with no issues, and plays great too.”
“I had zero issues running this game, no freezes, no stuttering, no nothing.”
“The game is also very well optimized and runs great on PC.”
“Game is trash, glitches out everything on my PC, not to mention it keeps putting my display into HDR when I don't have HDR enabled in my settings.”
“Considering this game has been out for 3 years at this point and none of the glitches at least have been fixed just goes to show that they don't care about making a good game, they just care about making a quick buck off a once respected title.”
“I went through the game with constant crashes, freezes, and stutters.”
- character development80 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in "Resident Evil 7" receives mixed reviews, with many players noting that the main characters, particularly Ethan, lack depth and personality, resulting in weak or nonexistent development. However, some reviewers highlight the compelling development of antagonists and the unique character designs that enhance the overall experience. While the game excels in atmosphere and storytelling, the inconsistency in character development leaves some players wanting more.
“One thing that really sets it apart is the antagonist's character development; they feel like actual people and not some cartoony villains.”
“The character development is excellent; I didn't want to put down the game once I started.”
“This game was a fresh new perspective, and the designers did a fantastic job with character design, motivation, and game progression.”
“Ethan's reactions and character development are completely shallow.”
“Character development is weak to nonexistent.”
“The main cast have little personality and no character development throughout the game.”
- monetization46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising the absence of microtransactions and DLCs that feel like cash grabs, which is a departure from typical Capcom practices. However, some users express disappointment over the presence of a season pass and criticize the game's pricing relative to its content length, labeling it as a cash grab. Overall, while the lack of aggressive monetization strategies is appreciated, concerns about the game's value and additional costs remain prevalent.
“Triple 'A' game with normal optimization on day one without microtransactions is not common in these days.”
“I guess on a plus side there's no microtransactions - which are cancerous to the gaming industry... oh no, wait, season pass...”
“No ads (aim down sight) I really wish they had the option; it would have helped the gameplay.”
“Do not support this anti-consumer company; they want to destroy modding to sell you skins and microtransactions!”
“I'm sorry if this annoys people, but to retcon its own story is such an obvious cash grab and is completely unacceptable.”
“After all the hype I heard from friends and ads, I felt like I got ripped off for $60 or $70...”
Critic Reviews
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Review – The Survival Horror King Returns
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a true return to form, and one of the scariest games in years. It’s only let down by the fact it loses its fear factor by slightly outstaying its welcome.
85%Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Review
Don't let the change in perspective or the different aesthetics fool you; this is definitely a Resident Evil game, and, even more importantly, one that returns to the core of its roots in the best way possible. Perfect? No. Will players miss the more comic book-like vibe of the original? Sure. However, while Resident Evil 7: Biohazard isn't everyone's cup of stagnant swamp water, it's a cup that everyone should get a taste of, at least once.
80%Welcome to the family, son: Resident Evil 7 review
Resident Evil 7 feels as terrifying as it does modern, all while returning the series to its roots. It hits some familiar bumps along the way, but this is the best this series has felt in years.
85%