It’s hard to believe, butResident Evil 7turns five years old today. When it launched,RE7performed something of a soft reset of the franchise by introducing a new protagonist, perspective, and threat. With the subsequent games in the series – be they remakes or entirely new entries – being more highly regarded thanResident Evil 5and6,it’s easy to see thatRE7’s change of course is to thank for where the franchise is today, five years later.
Horror, in general, was in an interesting place beforeResident Evil 7back in 2017. It was a transitionary period for the genre, as longstanding franchises leaned into action elements, while newtriple-a IP likeThe Evil Withinand indie games likeOutlastwent back to the basics, emphasizing resource management and survival over fighting enemies. InOutlast’s case, fighting enemies wasn’t even an option.
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Resident Evil 7 Sets New Standards for the Series
At E3 2016,Resident Evil 7was revealed during PlayStation’s showcase, giving glimpses at the first-person perspective, dilapidated house, and enemies that players would face off against along the way. This time around, players would be looking through the eyes of protagonist Ethan instead of being locked in a third-person perspective. The Baker family was still mysterious, with Jack Baker taking center-stage as the primary antagonist in marketing material.
The response to the trailer was positive, as disenchanted fans mulled over the possibilities of what a return to the franchise’s horror roots would look like on the PS4. There was a split over the shift to first-person, as fans debated whether it could still qualify as aproperResident Evilgame. In retrospect, the argument was a bit silly, as time has shown that the franchise’s DNA is still clearly present with the change.
Still, gamers will dig their heels in over changes no matter their significance, and so it isn’t surprising that the shift got a mixed reception beforeRE7launched. However, the first-person perspective also brought in a bevy of new opportunities. Perhaps the biggest was VR support on the PS4, which madeRE7far more immersive for those that picked up aPSVR headset. It’s one of the earliest examples of seeing virtual reality on approachable hardware with a triple-a game, though the feature never came to the PC version.
Beyond those gimmicks and changes, though, whatResident Evil 7really brought to the table was compelling, atmospheric horror. The story and characters were interesting, the map was perfectly suited for scares, and returning characters kept the story feeling familiar. It was a grand departure from the norm, it was a return to the roots that made the franchise popular in the first place. For many, it was the most compelling entry in the series, or perhaps second only toResident Evil 4.
Resident Evil 7 Stands the Test of Time 5 Years Later
In the past 5 years, theResident Evilseries has seen remakes, new games, and accessory projects that expand the offerings in new ways.Resident Evil 2andResident Evil 3remakesbrought the classic games forward into a new generation, whileResident Evil Villagegrow inRE7’sfoundation. Of all these games, though, it’s difficult to not hand the crown toResident Evil 7for what it did for the franchise.
Resident Evil 7is still a riveting horror game, creating tension in every corridor that players are forced to slowly trudge their way down. The Baker family provides a compelling roster of adversaries to tangle with, and the Molded – zombie-esque enemies that are the most common enemies inResident Evil 7– are a great blend of terrifying and threatening. All of these elements combine to make one of the best horror games out there, andResident Evil 7may hold onto that title for a while yet.
Eventually, another game will come along and snatch away the throne. In fact, there have already been some contenders. But thePS4 and Xbox Oneera saw horror games become more popular than ever, andResident Evil 7was an important part of the genre’s growth. Its contributions can be undervalued, as it’s rare to see such a return to form for long-established franchises. For evidence, just look toBattlefield, Call of Duty,andMass Effect.
Resident Evil 7 is a Classic Among Classics
Perhaps the most glowing endorsement ofResident Evil 7is how it shines among the other entries in the franchise.Resident Evil 7was an instant classic, a feat that not many games are able to accomplish. It’s not going to be as notable as famous horror movies likeTexas Chainsaw Massacre,but its scares are evergreen, even worth returning to each year to play during Halloween. Truly, it’s a masterclass of horror, even though it has some faults.
Resident Evil Villagewalked back somechanges thatResident Evil 7made to the franchise, leaning more heavily into the action side of things at the cost of horror. It still has its terrifying moments, but few players completedResident Evil 7because it was too scary, which is simultaneously a problem and a glowing endorsement. There’s the accessibility argument, and then there’s argument that horror should be terrifying. No matter which way fans lean, though, it’s clear thatResident Evil 7has pushed the boundaries.
The next 5 years will be equally interesting forResident Eviland the horror genre at large. Horror has grown rapidly, and fans will likely see even darker experiences make their way to consoles. Luckily,Resident Evil 7is now a constant; a place for fans to go back for whenever they so desire. With any luck, Capcom will remember just how great the changes to the formula were for future entries.
Resident Evil 7is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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