Dubbed “Lantern,” the new found footage trailer for Resident Evil VII: Biohazard shows the horror series taking a drastic turn from its typical third-person horror/shooter roots.
It expands upon ideas introduced earlier this year in Capcom’s playable Beginning Hour demo, showcasing a new first-person viewpoint and an enhanced focus on stealth over combat (similar to Outlast).
What I’m loving most here is how important the environment feels. The mansion from Resident Evil was just as much a character as Chris, Jill, or Wesker, much in the way Hyrule is to any Legend of Zelda title. It’s a feeling that’s been absent ever since, and I’m sincerely hoping the plantation house and whatever other environments end up in Biohazard continue to provide more than dilapidated backdrops that’ll remain forgotten after their initial visit.
Seriously, how great is the fenced-in bridge adorned with the bodies of old dolls? Or just how similar one of the hallways feels to the famous “dog jump” in the original game. How creepy is the basement, full of old tackle boxes, pet carriers, boots, and farm equipment? It looks like a house that time forgot, and so far Capcom is nailing the atmosphere.
Hopefully it delivers on everything else.
Resident Evil’s seventh main entry will no doubt prove to be the most divisive in the series, but I’m incredibly excited to move on from the last few shooter-focused games and on to something steeply rooted in horror above all else. It may not be the same theme, and that’s fine. Zombies have been done to death, after all, but you could argue that first-person combat-free horror has as well.
What do you think of Resident Evil’s new direction?
Cheap Boss Attack 