Capcom’s upcoming first-person perspective horror fest, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, may be slated for a 2017 release, but as its launch date inches forward, the developers are giving fans an increasing amount of information about what to expect from the game. Still there is a lot of mystery about the title that adds to all the heavy anticipation surrounding it.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was announced at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo, and ever since it has been at the centre of a lot of speculation. First off, it will be the first main instalment in the long-running series to be played from a first-person perspective. Secondly, from what we have seen so far, there is a concentrated focus on catering to all the horror junkies in the gaming world. Of course these two go hand-in-hand, as playing it as the main character instead of controlling it will provide for a more immersive horror experience, which is, after all, what the Resident Evil series is all about. The game will also offer VR support thanks to a new engine, which will add further weight to the developer’s endeavours to scare players out of their wits.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gameplay
Judging by all the footage we have seen of the game so far, it looks like Capcom is going a little easy on the full-blown action components that many of the series’ more recent games have become known for. Instead, the trailers and gameplay videos showcase a large chunk of the formidable atmosphere that the developers have built for Resident Evil 7.
The plot follows the story of a man named Ethan who is on a mission to find his missing wife. Most notably, the new protagonist of the upcoming game will possess none of the brilliant combat skills like his earlier predecessors. His quest leads him to the sinister setting of the derelict Baker Mansion, whose primary inhabitants are a bunch of evil beings who have an interesting appetite.
From the description itself, one can make out that the creators are headed in a very different direction with the upcoming game. But Resident Evil 7 is not without its fair share of series staples when it comes to some of the elements. The aim is not to alienate players familiar with the Resident Evil franchise, but to provide them and new players with an experience that is vastly different from anything they have ever played before while still being true to the core theme of the franchise. In order to that, the materials that Capcom has released so far celebrate the uncanny atmosphere and the game’s first-person mechanics above all. But that is not to say there will be no combat. In fact, while fans have repeatedly questioned the toned down action in all the material that has surfaced, the creators have assured time and again that there will be enough fighting to keep them engaged. But it may not cater to your regular combat cravings.
For this purpose, players will have access to a variety of weapons ranging from guns to chainsaws; basically anything that will help them take out the zombies. Judging by previous leaks, it is assumed that there will also be a trading system (something that was popular in the earlier Resident Evil games) with the help of a unique in-game currency.
A few new teasers that span around thirty seconds each were recently released by the game’s makers which hint at game’s retainment of some of the older instalments’ elements. The newest ones are titled “Recorder”, “Stock Up”, “Shotgun in the Box”, “Mysterious Caller”. The videos are all equally creepy and show off some of the things that players might experience or need in the game. For instance, the Recorder video comes with the description, “Take the time to save in #RE7… You never know what will be lurking in the shadows,” while the Stock Up video advises players to keep their knife close to them for all kinds of situations. The Mysterious Caller video shows an old phone in the decrepit mansion ringing, upon answering which an unknown female voice tells the player, “You really shouldn’t have come here.” While some of them showcase the necessity of being smart at utilising resources for survival, others, especially the last one, amp up the sense of foreboding in the atmosphere.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Multiplayer Mode: Being fully immersed in the horror element while playing alone is the game’s primary aim, and in keeping with that purpose, Resident Evil 7 will not feature online multiplayer modes.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Release Date
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has been in the making since 2014 and will finally release worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PS4, and Xbox One on January 24, 2017. The game is slated to land in Japan on January 26, two days later.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Price
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is available for pre-order on Amazon at $59.99. At TGS 2016, Capcom announced a price hike for the updated Deluxe Edition, which previously included the core game and a season pass (with access to two added story episodes). The new deluxe version of Resident Evil 7 will now come with an additional story episode and will be priced at $89.99 compared to the earlier price of $79.99. However, customers who had already placed their orders for the Deluxe Edition before the hike will get the third episode as part of their purchase for no additional cost.
