E3 2016: Resident Evil gets scary again with REVII

Capcom’s long running horror franchise is back in a big way in early 2017. And Resident Evil VII just might be scariest edition yet.

So for those of you out there who wanted a more ‘horror’ themed RE, I think you got your wish. Despite some saying this is a reboot of sorts, the new game will take place after the events of RE6. And it gets back to the series’ starting point in a big way with a focus that’s narrowed on the American Midwest.

Fans know of course, that that’s where the fictional Raccoon City was (it was nuked) in the very first Resident Evil game. While RE7 won’t take place in the smoldering ashes of that former burgh, it will re-center the series on a creepy small town setting, and some mysterious goings-on. As you can see in the trailer, things are getting a little hairy once again for the RE Universe.

Capcom is promising more than just new locales too, with their impressive new RE engine crafting the visuals, and a feel that should recall the “elements of exploration and tense atmosphere” that fans know and love. Resident Evil VII will have a “a complete refresh of gameplay systems” as well, though there’s no word on what that means exactly for now, and a brand new point-of-view – first person.

Yes, RE7 will be cast in the first-person, though I’m fairly certain it won’t be a shooter. What it will do though is make full use of the PSVR helmet for the PS4. You can not only expect to play parts of RE7 in VR, but all of it, if you so desire. Obviously, this is a little bonus that the PS4 will have over other platforms like the PC and Xbox One, since VR (or eventual VR) on neither one of those platforms will apparently be supported.

And though January 24th, 2017 is the official launch date for Resident Evil VII, you can play it much sooner than that… like right now. PlayStation Plus subscribers on the PS4 can grab a special demo at this very moment, with the awkwardly named Resident Evil 7 Teaser: Beginning Hour.

The short taste of the eventual game’s gameplay will lead you out of RE6 and into the very start of RE7, and give you a feel for what you can expect from the final horror-fest.