Resident Evil 7 Demo Initial Impressions

During Sony's E3 conference, we were treated to a creepy trailer for Resident Evil 7. The atmosphere and raw feeling of the video was delightfully unsettling, not to mention very different from Capcom's past Resident Evil games. One of the most exciting parts of the trailer, however, was the news that a demo for RE7 is out for download immediately. So, I cracked my neck, purchased a month of PS+, and downloaded the demo. I was excited and nervous, but I wasn't fully prepared for what I experienced.

Alright, so I think I'm gonna get scootin'

Even moreso than the trailer, the demo was all about atmosphere. Every subtle creak stopped my stride cold. I practically tiptoed through the house, careful to watch every corner, check under every table, and peak in every doorway. This wasn't because of anything specifically. There was no direct threat I was expecting, and that's the beauty of the demo. It's all about what we don't know. Nothing can terrify a person more than utter uncertainty.


Just as uncertain as the trailer

The demo played that up perfectly well. Players are given general freedom in the house. Rooms are free for investigation. Items are free to pick up. And from my multiple playthroughs, there are more than one way to finish the trailer. One of the most attractive qualities are the little hints scattered throughout. If you find the tape, you can hear about some of the haunting lore behind the house. If you find your way into the attic, you can answer a chilling phone call about choice and look at a photograph of an Umbrella corp. helicopter with a note on the back. There's no telling what the future has in store for Resident Evil 7, but based on the trailer and demo, many of us are going to be keeping on eye on it.