Resident Evil 7 Review: A Terrifying Reinvention of Survival Horror

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marks a bold and effective reboot of the franchise. Returning to its roots with tense survival mechanics and claustrophobic dread, it hides its horror behind a familiar doorway, but once opened, you’re drawn into a nightmare you can't escape.

What Makes It Work

• Immersive First-Person Perspective
  The switch to first-person brings horror incredibly close. Every creak, every shadow, every breath feels personal. It’s even more chilling in VR, where the lingering dread becomes physically palpable.
• Haunting Atmosphere and Setting
  From the decaying mansion to the oppressive silence in empty halls, the game's environments ooze tension. The sound design and lighting elevate ordinary spaces to unsettling places of horror.
• The Baker Family: Intimate and Instantly Iconic
  These aren’t zombies. They’re warped, terrifyingly persistent, and disturbingly human. Their presence lingers long after each horrific encounter.
• Narrative and Storytelling
  The tale of Ethan Winters searching for his missing wife draws you in with emotional clarity. Strategic use of eerie VHS tapes shifts reality and deepens the dread.
• Survival Horror Roots Reborn
  Inventory limits, scarce resources, and tense boss fights emphasize survival fear over action spectacle, recapturing that original Resident Evil spirit.

What Falls Short

• Action-Shift in Later Stages
  As the game progresses, combat-heavy sequences give way to more predictable mechanics, reducing the earlier creeping dread.
• Puzzle and Gameplay Simplicity
  Puzzles are serviceable but seldom innovative, and some late-game bosses feel more repetitive than challenging.
• A Bit Too Forgiving
  More save points, generous ammo, and a forgiving difficulty curve can tame the horror a notch. Especially for survival purists.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard pulls off a near-miraculous balancing act, melding tense, gothic horror with classic survival gameplay, all seen through the intimate lens of first-person perspective. It’s emotionally grounded, frighteningly real, and even after years, it remains one of the best modern horror experiences.

TL;DR: Resident Evil 7 in a Nutshell

A masterful return to survival horror. Resident Evil 7 plunges you into a terrifying, claustrophobic world where every shadow hides a nightmare, and every resource feels vital. Do not play in the dark.