As you may have read in my review-in-progress, I had a little bit of an issue when it came to playing Resident Evil 7 on the PlayStation VR headset. Actually, quite a big bit of an issue, given that on my first go I came within one retch of forcefully expelling the contents of my stomach.
It's with a degree of regret that I report that the issue didn't really go away. More than any other game I've played on the PSVR, Resident Evil makes me feel sick.
I accept that, maybe, it's because I hadn't played anything in VR since the autumn, and my tolerance threshold has been reset. Or maybe there's something fundamentally wrong with VR which means it doesn't work so well with some people. The jury is out.
Fact is: I can't play Resident Evil 7 in VR for more than half an hour without sweating profusely and feeling nauseous. Hilariously, that nausea then stays with me at a low level until I go to bed. Frankly, it's a massive, massive, shame - because, without a shadow of a doubt, the scariest version of Resident Evil 7 is the VR version of Resident Evil 7.
But hey - how is it for those who didn't fork out for a piece of hardware seemingly designed to make them do a big blow-off (vomit)?
It's with a degree of regret that I report that the issue didn't really go away. More than any other game I've played on the PSVR, Resident Evil makes me feel sick.
I accept that, maybe, it's because I hadn't played anything in VR since the autumn, and my tolerance threshold has been reset. Or maybe there's something fundamentally wrong with VR which means it doesn't work so well with some people. The jury is out.
Fact is: I can't play Resident Evil 7 in VR for more than half an hour without sweating profusely and feeling nauseous. Hilariously, that nausea then stays with me at a low level until I go to bed. Frankly, it's a massive, massive, shame - because, without a shadow of a doubt, the scariest version of Resident Evil 7 is the VR version of Resident Evil 7.
But hey - how is it for those who didn't fork out for a piece of hardware seemingly designed to make them do a big blow-off (vomit)?
TALES FROM THE SCRIPT
In true Resident Evil style, the acting and script in 7 aren't exactly up to par. None of the characters are convincingly real, through a mixture of melodramatic acting and poor dialogue.
You sort of expect it from these games now, but how much better would they be if they actually sorted it out? Fortunately we don't come to Resident Evil for a logical, well-rounded, plot and engaging characters. We're here for the frights. And - oh - what lurid frights there are in Resident Evil 7.
The biggest news here is that while many of the hallmarks remain intact - yes, there are medicinal herbs, inexplicable puzzles, and limited ammo gun action - the series has gone first-person. It's not the first time in Resident Evil history where you've viewed the action through your character's eyes - remember the assorted light gun games? - but it's the first time we've had it in one of the core instalments.
It works brilliantly. Due to the first-person graphics, what would've been a mildly scary game becomes a genuinely terrifying game. The psychological tricks they play - footsteps, shadows, the blink-and-you-miss-it-corner-of-the-eye-what-was-thats? - are predictable and original, and mostly lifted from a dozen horror movies, but no less effective for it. When hiding from those who wish you harm, it feels like Alien Isolation done right.
Not playing in VR improves the graphics, and is significantly easier to play - but the most significant way the game improves when on the TV (other than not making me want to hurl) is that it dilutes some of the scares.
Honestly; I'm not someone who gets freaked out by horror films, but I don't like the idea of something jumping out at me. Seriously; try it and I don't care whether you're a white supremacist or a four year-old girl - do it, and I'm going to kick you in the throat.
Suffice to say, there's a lot of that in Resident Evil 7, with a lot of waiting for it to happen in between. Indeed; it was usually a relief once I had been attacked, and there was some action - because it meant I was rewarded with a few minutes where nothing was going to jump out at me, hissing or screaming, and flashing its teeth.
In true Resident Evil style, the acting and script in 7 aren't exactly up to par. None of the characters are convincingly real, through a mixture of melodramatic acting and poor dialogue.
You sort of expect it from these games now, but how much better would they be if they actually sorted it out? Fortunately we don't come to Resident Evil for a logical, well-rounded, plot and engaging characters. We're here for the frights. And - oh - what lurid frights there are in Resident Evil 7.
The biggest news here is that while many of the hallmarks remain intact - yes, there are medicinal herbs, inexplicable puzzles, and limited ammo gun action - the series has gone first-person. It's not the first time in Resident Evil history where you've viewed the action through your character's eyes - remember the assorted light gun games? - but it's the first time we've had it in one of the core instalments.
It works brilliantly. Due to the first-person graphics, what would've been a mildly scary game becomes a genuinely terrifying game. The psychological tricks they play - footsteps, shadows, the blink-and-you-miss-it-corner-of-the-eye-what-was-thats? - are predictable and original, and mostly lifted from a dozen horror movies, but no less effective for it. When hiding from those who wish you harm, it feels like Alien Isolation done right.
Not playing in VR improves the graphics, and is significantly easier to play - but the most significant way the game improves when on the TV (other than not making me want to hurl) is that it dilutes some of the scares.
Honestly; I'm not someone who gets freaked out by horror films, but I don't like the idea of something jumping out at me. Seriously; try it and I don't care whether you're a white supremacist or a four year-old girl - do it, and I'm going to kick you in the throat.
Suffice to say, there's a lot of that in Resident Evil 7, with a lot of waiting for it to happen in between. Indeed; it was usually a relief once I had been attacked, and there was some action - because it meant I was rewarded with a few minutes where nothing was going to jump out at me, hissing or screaming, and flashing its teeth.
TOTALLY TAUT & PANTS
Essentially a reboot for the franchise, following a few instalments which - contrary to the perceived narrative - were solid enough, but felt like they were missing what made the series great, it's primarily set in one claustrophobic location.
As absurd as the plot is, the setting feels more grounded and relatably real-world, and that in itself helps to keep the atmosphere taut.
The first half is undoubtably the best - there are some left-field plot twists which take the action in a slightly different direction, and your enemies become less human (and somehow less scary) - but the tension remains high throughout.
The few downsides - the combat remains as frustrating and relentless as it always has in the franchise (you do now have the option to block, although not that it seems to do much good; one early encounter ensures your character is irreparably scarred) - are easy to overlook in the face of what it manages to nail. Namely, that this might be the scariest game ever made. Especially if you don't have an inner ear, and can play it in VR for extended periods.
From that point of view, it has to be considered a success.
SUMMARY: The biggest biohazard is the one you'll have in your underwear.
SCORE: 5.123123123123123123 out of 5.2323232322323
Essentially a reboot for the franchise, following a few instalments which - contrary to the perceived narrative - were solid enough, but felt like they were missing what made the series great, it's primarily set in one claustrophobic location.
As absurd as the plot is, the setting feels more grounded and relatably real-world, and that in itself helps to keep the atmosphere taut.
The first half is undoubtably the best - there are some left-field plot twists which take the action in a slightly different direction, and your enemies become less human (and somehow less scary) - but the tension remains high throughout.
The few downsides - the combat remains as frustrating and relentless as it always has in the franchise (you do now have the option to block, although not that it seems to do much good; one early encounter ensures your character is irreparably scarred) - are easy to overlook in the face of what it manages to nail. Namely, that this might be the scariest game ever made. Especially if you don't have an inner ear, and can play it in VR for extended periods.
From that point of view, it has to be considered a success.
SUMMARY: The biggest biohazard is the one you'll have in your underwear.
SCORE: 5.123123123123123123 out of 5.2323232322323
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