Seven Reasons I'm Excited for Resident Evil 7

It’s been five years since the release of Resident Evil 6, and I was largely unimpressed with the game. In recent years, I’ve always been interested in horror games, and when a major title like a new Resident Evil game comes out, it’s certainly time to take notice. Although I’ve never disliked the gameplay from any of the games in the series, I have been growing less fond of the series since Resident Evil 4. But, it appears as though Resident Evil 7 will feature a number of changes that are sure to shake the series up for the better. Below, I will rank them my Seven Reasons I’m Excited for Resident Evil 7.

Gameplay
First and foremost I love the gameplay, and although I haven't played a Resident Evil game where I've ever disliked the gameplay, I like how Ethan feels very different to control as opposed to Leon or Chris from previous Resident Evil games. Ethan will run out of stamina if he runs for too long, and he isn't as skilled as previous playable characters when using weapons. That sense of vulnerability brings the ‘survival’ element in survival horror to the very forefront in this instance. Also, from what I’ve seen so far, Resident Evil 7’s scenes of conflict are in rather confined areas, which adds an extra sense of fear and tension to the game.

VR
Now while I feel much safer watching video walkthroughs of this game, I really want to experience this title for myself. I currently don't have access to VR, but the fact that this will be the first Triple-A title that is fully VR compatible is very exciting. Playing Resident Evil 7 on your TV won't detract from the overall experience on offer - but it’s fair to say the inclusion of VR will certainly heighten it! In many ways, it’s also a big test to see how Virtual Reality holds up for a major game. Should it be a success, horror games of the future could be revolutionised.

Visuals
After playing the demo, one major detail that I loved was how striking the graphics were. The game is absolutely stunning. The Baker House is chilling, atmospheric, captivating and ominous all rolled into one. I can't speak highly enough of the visuals and the lighting, especially the way the latter utilises striking differences between light and shade which blend together to create an oppressive and eerie tension. I’d anticipate that people’s peripheral vision will cause them some mini jump scares all on their own, especially with those creepy mannequins!

Protagonists
I really like how the main protagonist, Ethan, is just a ‘regular’ guy. Like I said earlier, he's not Leon or Chris from previous games, he's a civilian who is looking for his missing wife. From the demo and gameplay snippets I’ve seen, the fact that Ethan isn't well versed to the paranormal world around him adds a real sense of vulnerability not only to the game, but to the character as well. This style is something reminiscent to that of my favourite horror game of all time, Outlast.

Another exciting element of this game are the Baker family. Jack and Marguerite are the stars of the show, but the eerily still Aunt Rhody is absolutely terrifying. It's often said that actions speak louder than words - and although at first glance she appears to be still and silent - she will terrify people from a distance with her unnerving singing that pierces the halls of the vast house. I’m dreading the thought of an Aunt Rhody jump scare.

YouTube Content
And as I mentioned briefly earlier, one reason I'm looking forward to this game is because I enjoy watching videogame playthroughs, especially in the horror genre. Because I'm not at all brave, I love watching like-minded people on YouTube getting scared senseless by horror games, and the YouTube gaming community is sure to benefit from the release of Resident Evil 7.

A Fresh Change of Direction
As I’m sure fans of the series are aware, Resident Evil 7 will be played in first person, and I think it’s a step in the right direction. It's a hugely refreshing change for the series to go against the familiar model of its predecessors - and so far it appears to have been a popular decision. I believe it adds an element of fear and immersion, and from that, I believe the Resident Evil series will have set a strong benchmark to build on from here.

Playable Videotapes
One thing that was apparent in the demo was that when Ethan found videotapes and placed them into the TV, players could play out what is seen on the videotape. It’s such a cool idea and I look forward to seeing more of these video captures in the full game. It adds an extra level of depth and discovery to Resident Evil 7, and although you might revisit areas you’ve seen while playing as Ethan, you might discover more hidden clues in the videotapes.

So there you have it, my list of reasons why this Resident Evil game could be truly amazing. Let me know if I’ve missed anything out, or if there is something else that has you excited for this game.