Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is finally a reason for people to buy PSVR

THE view that PlayStation’s virtual reality should be viewed as nothing more than a gimmick is about to change.

WHEN PlayStation released its virtual reality kit I was excited, but had my doubts if it would be worth the $698 investment.

The first run of games on the PSVR confirmed my initial hesitations, with many of the titles feeling like nothing more than a gimmick you would only play once or twice.

This feeling of disappointment was echoed during every new game I tried, which left me wondering if the technology would ever evolve past offering bleak 20 minute ‘experiences’.

Thankfully, this all changed with the recent release of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

I will admit that I was extremely cautious about getting my hopes up for the release because I had already been let down with PSVR on multiple occasions and the most recent games in the Resident Evil franchise left more than a little to be desired.

What I am happy to report is the fact this game not only exceeded my expectations, but made me believe virtual reality is a viable concept for the next-generation gaming.

The game itself can be played as a standard console gaming or in virtual reality, with the later offering the most polished and immersive experience to date.

The first person perspective is a first for the Resident Evil franchise.

To make the game compatible with the VR experience, Resident Evil 7 is now played from a first-person perspective, which is a first for the long running series.

The most exciting part of making the game compatible with VR is the fact it had to remove all aspects of action-adventure gaming as it would be too complex for the format.

Instead, the game has a renewed focus on survival horror and puzzle solving, which is bound to impress long-time fans of the franchise like myself — Resident Evil 2 is my favourite game of all time.

The game followsprotagonist Ethan Winters who is drawn to a derelict plantation in Dulvey after receiving a message from his wife who has been missing three years.

He finds her imprisoned in the basement and attempts to escape with her, but when some is possessed by an unknown force, Ethan is forced to kill her.

Ethan attempts to escape the plantation, but is captured and held hostage by a creepy family living at the residence.

From here it is a journey of survival, as Ethan tries to escape from plantation and find answers about what happened to his wife.

Ethans wife becomes possessed and it’s pretty bloody scary.

GAMEPLAY

While I have only played the game in VR, I can attest that it handles very smoothly and feels like the most polished title to date.

Unlike other VR games which position you on a set path from which you cannot deviate, Resident Evil 7 gives players free roam of the environment.

Walking is performed with the left joystick, while the other stick moves the camera left or right in 30 degree increments — this helps avoid the feeling a motion sickness felt in VR.

While the VR does miss some of the finer detail offered from the standard playmode, the environment is extremely well designed and comprehensive — all the way down to being able to peer through boarded up windows to get a glimpse of what is outside.

In addition to a design that really gives the impression of walking in a dilapidated old house, incredible voice acting and an eerie music really add to the horror vibe.

The fact the game doesn’t have constant action only helps fuel the scares it offers, with players always on edge for what might be just around the corner.

You might not always encounter enemies, but when you do it’s terrifying.

And even though you are always expecting something to jump out, when it does happen the natural reaction is usually still a string of expletives bound to upset the neighbours.

While the game does allow for hand-to-hand and combat with weapons, these moments are limited as a large part of the game is spent exploring the environment and running from enemies.

Combat itself is also easy to pick up, with the shoulder buttons aiming, blocking and attacking.

When not encountering enemies, Resident Evil 7 requires players to solve puzzles and collect valuable items — although, I find it hard someone would stop to pick up an antique coin when trying to escape certain death.

The VR format adds an interesting component when it comes to examining items, with players are literally forced to physically position their body in real life to mimic what needs to be done in the game — think looking over a pot to see what is inside.

Another exciting aspect of the game is how it allows you to interact with cutscenes and other characters.

As the in-game view is controlled by wherever you are looking in your headset, it allows you to decide what is seen — essentially making you the director of your own horror flick.

The attention to detail in the design of this game is off the charts.

VERDICT

Fans of the Resident Evil franchise are going to love this game regardless of whether they play it standard or in virtual reality.

Resident Evil fanatics aside, the game is honestly the best virtual reality title I have played to date and I would suggest anyone interested in the format to purchase it.

While there are still some room for improvement, the game is highly polished and feels like it had been designed from the ground up to shine on the next-gen format.

It has the perfect balance of simplicity and fear, which results in a thrilling gaming experience unlike another else on the market.

After a decent gaming session, I did feel a little nauseous, but this is something that is supposed to subside overtime once you get used to the mechanics of the VR world.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard has given me faith in the VR format and if this is the type of product they can produce in the early days of the technology, I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Now excuse my while I slip into my VR headset and try not shit my pants.

Have you tried Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in VR? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Twitter or Facebook.

Originally published as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is finally a reason for people to buy PSVR