Resident Evil 7 is a title that pulled the franchise out of the action quagmire and brought it back to its roots. The first half of the game is quite tense and well done. In the second half, we return to the older RE games and see plenty of action. Even though it is the favorite RE game for many people, I find some of the praise exaggerated. Is it bad? Definitely not. It is successful, but not as much as hyped. We could easily give it an 85-90 score, but going above that is impossible in my opinion. Story and Characters The game's story begins with the mansion we head to in order to find Ethan Winters' missing wife. The design of the Baker family is great. Especially the dialogues between us and Jack add a distinct humor to the terrifying environment we are in. As in most games, the plot can be predictable in some places, though that may vary from person to person. The choice mechanic between Mia and Zoe is a nice idea, but on the other hand, equally absurd. The main story is already about us coming to save our wife. While our wife is right there, expecting us to choose Zoe, who has only helped us 1-2 times and whom we barely know, is quite ridiculous. If they didn't expect something like that, I don't think they would have offered such a choice. By the way, those who chose Zoe instead of our wife Mia have probably forgotten our objective in the game, in my opinion... Mia might attack us depending on the situation, but we shouldn't forget that she is under Eveline's influence. In fact, during the ship section, we see much better how Evie manipulates her. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails?id=3678994638 If you ask me, Ethan Winters became one of the best characters in the series. Considering he has received no special training, he resolves problems impressively. His reactions to situations elevate the game's humor and create great moments. Personally, I would prefer playing as Ethan Winters over most of the characters in the franchise. Since we chose Mia and left Zoe behind, questions like "what happened to Zoe now?" might have crossed the minds of some players, including myself. CAPCOM thought ahead here and released the End of Zoe DLC for those who were wondering. In addition, we shouldn't forget the DLC where we play as Chris Redfield and take down Lucas. In fact, with the DLCs, we basically bring an end to the Baker family. Alongside these DLCs, there are 1-2 more enjoyable and well-thought-out DLCs as well. Gameplay and Mechanics After most players got used to the over-the-shoulder camera, switching to an FPS perspective was a bold move. Of course, we all know that moving to an FPS camera heightens the horror element, which greatly helps the RE series return to its roots. The mechanics can sometimes be annoying with their sluggishness, but overall the gameplay is enjoyable and good. Inventory and resource management are similar to other games in the franchise and well executed. As we get closer to the end of the game, Ethan literally turns into a Terminator xd. Once you get the grenade launcher, the shotgun, and a powerful handgun, the monsters don't stand much of a chance. The puzzles keep the Resident Evil spirit alive. It has solid, yet occasionally frustrating puzzles. The game asks us to think environmentally; the solutions aren't hard, they just require a bit of thought. Maybe because I was expecting a complicated puzzle, I couldn't see the answers right in front of my eyes :d https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails?id=3678995409 Additionally, hit feedback and responsiveness are very successful. Shooting the creatures in the legs and watching them crawl toward us after their limbs are severed is great. When you blow off both legs, seeing them try to lunge at us with their torso is equally well done. On the other hand, when you shoot off their arms, their inability to do much without closing in adds that much more realism. As for what slows down the game's pacing, in my opinion, it's the sections where we play as Mia. Yes, it helps us understand the story better, but switching to Mia after getting used to Ethan's pace makes the game boring in my view. Additionally, while playing as Mia, we learn some striking truths. Overall, the story is very delicately crafted and successfully woven into the game. Graphics and Atmosphere The RE Engine is exceptionally good. It captures that damp, rotten, and gloomy feeling inside the mansion very well. Great details like our guns and clothes getting covered in blood after killing a monster, or getting mud on our weapon when moving through muddy areas, reinforce the atmosphere. It is a solid title in close-ups and details. The game's atmosphere is crafted with high quality. I assume that's the reason why so many people are fond of this game. Technical and Performance Capcom's games are generally well-optimized. They have maintained their discipline on this front for a long time, and that's a very good thing. Issues like FPS drops or glitches almost never occur. Music and Sound Effects We've arrived at one of the biggest elements supporting the atmosphere. Details like creaking wood, distant footsteps, and Ethan's heavy breathing are handled brilliantly. The creature audio is also very successful. The music is spot-on: it builds tension where it needs to be tense and offers peace in safe rooms. Putting music players in safe rooms is basically a signature of the RE series. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails?id=3678993066 Overall Releasing a title like this after Resident Evil 6 is a massive success. No matter how much RE6 sold, it wasn't liked by the majority, including myself. As we near the end of the game, with action ramping up, the storytelling starts to feel a bit pale. Getting the player used to a fast pace and then slowing things down by making them play as Mia isn't very sensible, in my opinion. Of course, I know it strongly supports the plot, but it also makes the final stretches a bit tedious, the ship section in particular didn't really fit the game and doesn't match its quality. Still, the variety of content and the DLC strategy the game offers deserve appreciation. Especially the DLCs made for Mia and Chris are great. It is one of those titles that raised the bar in terms of atmosphere and visuals. Our protagonist Ethan Winters is also very well designed. Overall, an accomplished game. Yonderly Score | S (88) [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45377045/] Follow My Curator Page For More Reviews